Low hum noise on 4WD

[Gnix]

Hi guys,

Is anyone experiencing low hum noise when braking on 4WD? Everything is normal on 2WD!

My truck is a 2022 Ram Laramie. 3 month old, currently at 7800km. I did my first oil change at 6000KM.

Could use some diagnostic help please!

 

[kapinallinen2]

I would think that it`s most likely normal.
Has not snowed here in a while, so can`t remember what my drive-line sounds like in 4X4 under braking.

 

[Gnix]

I would think that it`s most likely normal.
Has not snowed here in a while, so can`t remember what my drive-line sounds like in 4X4 under braking.

That’s what I’m hoping too lol.

It’s weird cause normally I would be hear exhaust more than anything. But the noise comes when I brake from 60-70km down to 30-40km and it would be gone again.

 

[stevj]

4WD or 4WD Auto?
Do you have limited slip differentials?
Stock-sized tires?

Steve

 

[Gnix]

4WD auto. And I’m on 33” with 2.5” lift front 1” back.

I actually don’t know if I have LSD.

Winter is coming. I thought I might as well post to see if anyone experienced. I am switching back to stock tires next week to test if it was my tire weight/size. But yeah I didn’t experience that with OEM when I first got it. Then I never ran 4WD until recently

 

[theblet]

Haven’t heard anything when braking when I’m in 4 auto or 4 hi. I have open diffs

 

[Gnix]

I have no idea what this sound is. It sounds like bushing being squeezed tight type of humming.

I’m gonna reassemble/grease my endlinks and sway bar again. Or is it the sway bar being set at the stiffest setting? It’s kinda driving me nuts right now lol

I did set core end links @ 60lb torque, sway bar bushing at 30lb torque. Is this too tight?

 

[theblet]

I have no idea what this sound is. It sounds like bushing being squeezed tight type of humming.

I’m gonna reassemble/grease my endlinks and sway bar again. Or is it the sway bar being set at the stiffest setting? It’s kinda driving me nuts right now lol

I did set core end links @ 60lb torque, sway bar bushing at 30lb torque. Is this too tight?

I've had wheel bearing him like this in the past too. Might be something to check.

 

[Gnix]

I've had wheel bearing him like this in the past too. Might be something to check.

I think you may be right, I searched the web and wheel bearing / CV axle shaft is the two other concerns.

I just swapped out my tires to OEM and swapped out the front end links.

Noise is still active on 4WD when turning left and right and also occasionally when breaking. In fact louder. It might have gotten louder or it’s just me being paranoid…

I will have to tackle all my rear end parts this weekend (Panhard bar, end links, and sway bar) I am hoping this fixes the noise. Low hope since everything is torque to spec (or 5 under)

Very hard to describe this noise. Deep Hum? Bushing squeezing sound…I donno anymore lol

If not. Time to go to the dealer and hopefully they can replicate that noise….

 

[Quint]

Your truck is new, so this doesn't address the issue, but I remember a mechanic once told me to engage my 4x4 occasionally throughout the year. Of course, this was back in the day when you had to walk around and manually engage the hubs! However, his point was valid. Use it or lose it.

That's good advice for mechanical parts as well as body parts as we age!

 

[Gnix]

Your truck is new, so this doesn't address the issue, but I remember a mechanic once told me to engage my 4x4 occasionally throughout the year. Of course, this was back in the day when you had to walk around and manually engage the hubs! However, his point was valid. Use it or lose it.

That's good advice for mechanical parts as well as body parts as we age!

Thanks,and yes bought it new at 155km but sat at parking lot for a year lol.

I been running on 4wd auto since I posted this. Had my krown rust proof sprayed yesterday,so it’s brakes are squeaking but I will keep ppl updated on what I find!

 

[6of36]

Thanks,and yes bought it new at 155km but sat at parking lot for a year lol.

I been running on 4wd auto since I posted this. Had my krown rust proof sprayed yesterday,so it’s brakes are squeaking but I will keep ppl updated on what I find!

They use junk metal in the rotors these days. If it sat for a year, after it was driven to wear off the factory coating, they rust bad. I would think it would have worn enough by now to stop, but they may actually be pitted.

 

[Gnix]

After doing 300km on highway and retorquing my front end links/sway bar and tires. It seems like the noise is gone. I honestly don’t know what is wrong before but it definitely could be the 4WD auto not being used often. I did disassembled the front sway bar bolts and tightened it back to 30ft pound.

I didn’t grease up my parts either.

Someone did experience noise only on 4WD auto on left/right turns and they greased up the front sway bar bushing. Going to give it a few days again and if it’s back i will try greasing front sway bar!

Hope this update helps anyone who had experience low him/squeeze noise only on 4WD.

 

[Quint]

Years back my boss sold me his old Honda Pilot. He only used it when he was in town, so it often sat for 6mo to a year without being driven. Those rotors would make all kinds of noise for years until I finally had them turned. Modern cars don't like to sit very long.

 

[Gnix]

Okay. Just updating this post.
I brought my ram in the dealership today.

I don’t know if this fortunate or unfortunate but this was what the service department told me.

The CV/Steering shaft & bearings is in perfect condition, fully greased. The issue with this ongoing squeak/hum noise is because of how the truck was engineered on 4WD Auto.

Due to the dry and uneven road condition, there is traction when I turn or brake, the system is engineered so one wheel is turning faster than the other causing this noise.

So basically saying they’ve found nothing wrong…

Is this true? Should I bring my truck to another dealership? This is my first truck/vehicle with 4WD Auto and I could use some advices

Thank you

 

[theblet]

Okay. Just updating this post.
I brought my ram in the dealership today.

I don’t know if this fortunate or unfortunate but this was what the service department told me.

The CV/Steering shaft & bearings is in perfect condition, fully greased. The issue with this ongoing squeak/hum noise is because of how the truck was engineered on 4WD Auto.

Due to the dry and uneven road condition, there is traction when I turn or brake, the system is engineered so one wheel is turning faster than the other causing this noise.

So basically saying they’ve found nothing wrong…

Is this true? Should I bring my truck to another dealership? This is my first truck/vehicle with 4WD Auto and I could use some advices

Thank you

I have 4wd auto and have never heard this in 2wd or 4wd. Plus we have the most uneven roads I’ve seen. I’d get a second opinion

 

[2021EcoDiesel]

Okay. Just updating this post.
I brought my ram in the dealership today.

I don’t know if this fortunate or unfortunate but this was what the service department told me.

The CV/Steering shaft & bearings is in perfect condition, fully greased. The issue with this ongoing squeak/hum noise is because of how the truck was engineered on 4WD Auto.

Due to the dry and uneven road condition, there is traction when I turn or brake, the system is engineered so one wheel is turning faster than the other causing this noise.

So basically saying they’ve found nothing wrong…

Is this true? Should I bring my truck to another dealership? This is my first truck/vehicle with 4WD Auto and I could use some advices

Thank you

On occasion yes you will hear a little bit of noise especially when running at high speeds or during tight turns on dry pavement. These 4WD AUTO trucks have an electronically actuated clutch in their transfer cases, this allows some slip when in dry conditions so that the differentials/transmission/transfer case don't blow up from binding. what you're hearing is probably just the little bit of binding that will occur during normal use on dry roads, due to differing wheel speed. That clutch can't eliminate all binding without putting the truck completely into 2WD, where the clutch would be in the full unlocked/open position.

My truck makes a similar noise to this in 4WD AUTO, however it isn't more pronounced when braking. If nothing else you at least have on record that the dealer checked out a "4WD noise" and if in the future it gets worse, or a component fails prematurely, that record may come in handy. And a second opinion is never a bad thing if you want to try asking another dealer or an independent truck shop.

Another thing to possibly check out... Did you recalibrate your ABS, 4WD, and Speedometer for the new tire size? though I suppose if you switched back to the OEM tires it wouldn't matter...

 

[Scram1500]

@Gnix Have you checked your tire pressures? That will affect the rolling diameter and change the wheel speed. This isn't a problem for a differential short term, but transfer cases wont like that at all. You may find the rears will need much less psi to achieve the same rolling diameter as the front.

 

[Gnix]

@2021EcoDiesel
Thank you for your advice. I will definitely ask the dealership for a record.
It is exactly what you explained. Dealer told me the same thing and nothing they can do about it. I experience this noise when I’m in low speed. Maybe 20-30km doing left/right turn. The brake squeaks are just random. I did a 2.5” bilstein lift in the front, could it be that the alignment isn’t done properly? Does my ABS/4wd need to be recalibrated?

@Scram1500
Thanks. I did inflate my tires to 39 on all four but the infotainment is showing 1 off on the right tire/rear tires at times.

 

[2021EcoDiesel]

@2021EcoDiesel
Thank you for your advice. I will definitely ask the dealership for a record.
It is exactly what you explained. Dealer told me the same thing and nothing they can do about it. I experience this noise when I’m in low speed. Maybe 20-30km doing left/right turn. The brake squeaks are just random. I did a 2.5” bilstein lift in the front, could it be that the alignment isn’t done properly? Does my ABS/4wd need to be recalibrated?

@Scram1500
Thanks. I did inflate my tires to 39 on all four but the infotainment is showing 1 off on the right tire/rear tires at times.

@Gnix, I'm not sure the lift would have changed all that much except the angle of the front CV axles, I'm unsure that would cause your noise but I wouldn't rule it out (my truck is factory height). However in regards to your random brake squeaks I actually replaced my front brake pad hardware at 10,000 miles. Not the pads, just the little metal pad retaining clips. That solved my little squeaks I had. My brakes only squeaked when hitting bumps in the roads and never squeaked when I was depressing the pedal. It was just an annoying little chirp that made me upset when I had the windows down.

If you want your speedo to be correct I believe that yes you do need your ABS and 4WD calibrated to your new tire size, as those systems work together. I'll try and find the write up of the programming steps in ALFA-OBD.