Differential or Transmission Clunk

[The_Chemist]

Well here's a wild thought. If you had water that can't be explained in the rear diff, I would ask them to crack open the front diff and the transmission so see if water got in there too. That could explain your front end noise since no one knows how the rear got wet.

I'm thinking that the water had to have been in there from the factory. I didn't see the oil myself, I'm only going by what the service manager told me. He stated that it looked like milk.

Perhaps there was a contaminated batch of oil at the factory. That would mean there are other trucks out there with water in the oil as well. We would have never known about mine unless the Chrysler rep instructed the dealer to replace the ring, pinion and bearing.

I used to manage an oil sampling lab for a Caterpillar dealer. We got our oil from Mobil. That actually happened to us as well. Our entire storage tank had to be pumped out and cleaned.

 

[NDanecker]

How many miles do you have on your truck now?

I have a similar axle symptom as to what you described as unwrapping. My truck did the same thing at low speed at a parking lot stop sign. I actually thought someone hit my rear bumper. This happened Saturday, right after I picked the truck up from the dealer.

8k miles and change. The axle wrapping is getting worse and very noticeable. Although I'm a FCA fan I'm not too impressed with something that should be academic for them at this point (i.e. drivetrains).

 

[The_Chemist]

8k miles and change. The axle wrapping is getting worse and very noticeable. Although I'm a FCA fan I'm not too impressed with something that should be academic for them at this point (i.e. drivetrains).

You are right. One would think a drivetrain in a pickup truck would be rudimentary stuff! How many years have they been making them now?

I drove my Longhorn to work today. After I got off of I-83 on the way home. I hit some back roads and turned the fan speed on the climate control down low so I could easily hear noises.

I'm pretty sure that the high pitched noise that I am now hearing at 32 mph since the dealer rebuilt the rear differential is gear whine. I could hear the frequency decrease as I approached 0 mph.

I just hope I'm not stuck with this now. This is really starting to get frustrating!

What are you going to do about yours?

 

[The_Chemist]

I heard from FCA today. As I said earlier in this thread, the dealer opened a case with Chrysler on my truck. The agent told me that my truck qualifies to be transfered to the "Enhanced Customer Satisfaction" department. I asked the agent what that means. The agent said she did not know, but only certain vehicles qualify.

Previously the agent on my case would contact both me and the dealer to see how things were going. I don't have an issue with my dealer. They are trying to fix all the factory defects. But the dealer is who opened the case.

I found after driving the truck back and forth to work the past few days that the rear axle makes a lot of noise since the rebuild of the differential. After driving the 26 miles to work the wrapping (as @NDanecker calls it) gets much worse. As I drive through a shopping center parking lot to avoid Route 30 traffic, the wrapping happens at quite a few stop signs in the parking lot. It's not bad with the differential oil cold before the highway trip though.

Also, I noticed there is yet another high pitched whine or noise starting at about 65 mph and persisting to about 75 mph.

So basically, all the intentions of the RAM designed interior quietness are thrown out the window. So much for laminated sound deadening glass and a hushed cabin. The rear axle exhibits so many different noises, that you don't need to use the speedometer to drive the truck. You can tell by the various axle noises when you are centered around 30, 45 and 65 mph. The quiet pin drop interior is all gone. Now it's all axle rumble and whine. Then if you engage 4wd Auto you are entertained by surround sound axle noise both front and rear!

Hopefully I'll get somewhere soon with this.

 

[Edwards]

I heard from FCA today. As I said earlier in this thread, the dealer opened a case with Chrysler on my truck. The agent told me that my truck qualifies to be transfered to the "Enhanced Customer Satisfaction" department. I asked the agent what that means. The agent said she did not know, but only certain vehicles qualify.

Previously the agent on my case would contact both me and the dealer to see how things were going. I don't have an issue with my dealer. They are trying to fix all the factory defects. But the dealer is who opened the case.

I found after driving the truck back and forth to work the past few days that the rear axle makes a lot of noise since the rebuild of the differential. After driving the 26 miles to work the wrapping (as @NDanecker calls it) gets much worse. As I drive through a shopping center parking lot to avoid Route 30 traffic, the wrapping happens at quite a few stop signs in the parking lot. It's not bad with the differential oil cold before the highway trip though.

Also, I noticed there is yet another high pitched whine or noise starting at about 65 mph and persisting to about 75 mph.

So basically, all the intentions of the RAM designed interior quietness are thrown out the window. So much for laminated sound deadening glass and a hushed cabin. The rear axle exhibits so many different noises, that you don't need to use the speedometer to drive the truck. You can tell by the various axle noises when you are centered around 30, 45 and 65 mph. The quiet pin drop interior is all gone. Now it's all axle rumble and whine. Then if you engage 4wd Auto you are entertained by surround sound axle noise both front and rear!

Hopefully I'll get somewhere soon with this.

Ha! "Surround sound" - nice.

 

[The_Chemist]

Ha! "Surround sound" - nice.

Yeah, it's not Dolby Atmos though.

 

[Edwards]

Yeah, it's not Dolby Atmos though.

Sorry you are going through this though. Hopefully my previous post didn't come across otherwise.

 

[The_Chemist]

Sorry you are going through this though. Hopefully my previous post didn't come across otherwise.

No, not at all. You gotta laugh. I was so careful when I ordered this truck. I spec'd everything out exactly the way I wanted it. I just got a bad one. At least you really can't hear front axle noise at highway speeds. The 70 mph high pitched sound takes over.

Geez, they should have rated this truck's frequency response instead of towing capacity.

 

[The_Chemist]

Just thought I'd post a picture of my pumpkin after the rebuild. Looks like they used a lot of RTV silicone or else some sort of Loctite.

 

[night_train_ram]

Evening all, I’ve been reading this thread as I’m having the same issue. I wanted to provide my experience today as well. I’m in Houston and visited Helfman CJD this afternoon. I explained to the Service Manager the issues I’m having when I start and stop I get a “thump” almost always. He explained that he’s heard of this before for the new 2019 Ram 1500 8 speed and per Chrysler this is “normal.” They’ve not released anything “official” at this time but from what he said some engineers at Chrysler said this is “OK and normal.” I went ahead and brought my truck in and they checked the driveshaft bolts and all was to spec. He also checked for all recalls and TSB’s and I was in the clear. While it’s extremely annoying I’ll have to live with it and continue to check in every so often to see if they’ve found a solid fix. I’ll keep checking in to this thread as well in hopes someone else figures it out before me. Thanks!

 

[Edwards]

Evening all, I’ve been reading this thread as I’m having the same issue. I wanted to provide my experience today as well. I’m in Houston and visited Helfman CJD this afternoon. I explained to the Service Manager the issues I’m having when I start and stop I get a “thump” almost always. He explained that he’s heard of this before for the new 2019 Ram 1500 8 speed and per Chrysler this is “normal.” They’ve not released anything “official” at this time but from what he said some engineers at Chrysler said this is “OK and normal.” I went ahead and brought my truck in and they checked the driveshaft bolts and all was to spec. He also checked for all recalls and TSB’s and I was in the clear. While it’s extremely annoying I’ll have to live with it and continue to check in every so often to see if they’ve found a solid fix. I’ll keep checking in to this thread as well in hopes someone else figures it out before me. Thanks!

Thanks for the info. What gets me is that the definition of normal would indicate that every truck does it and they absolutely do not. How can "normal" cover this range of behavior? There is still an answer out there to explain this behavior.

 

[night_train_ram]

Thanks for the info. What gets me is that the definition of normal would indicate that every truck does it and they absolutely do not. How can "normal" cover this range of behavior? There is still an answer out there to explain this behavior.

I concur!

 

[Ghinesley]

I have a 2019 1500 crew Laramie Sport 5.7L hemi non e-torque, 11/9/18 build. Currently have about 8900 miles on it (bought it with 20 miles on it 12/23/18). I recently noticed (within the last 800 miles or so) that my truck does this "bump" "wrapping" thing when I come to a stop or take off from a stop. Basically feels like the truck stops, but the drivetrain is still going and it clunks at the end, or at take off. I had a Range Rover not long before this that developed it around 90k miles, and it was valve body related in the transmission, but this feels more like its in the rear end/drivetrain of the truck....like the truck stops and the slack hasn't been taken up between the differential/driveline/transmission. I have had the TCM software update done early on (I think released in February) to fix the shift issues, so I doubt it is software related as the only TSB I found for transmission stuff, is the same one issued in February that was completed.

Sounds like those that have taken it in either were told it is normal, or had their flange bolts re-torqued, or grease added into the driveshaft under the boot.

My concern is that this just started, and I don't want to end up damaging anything. Also, its extremely annoying in stop and go traffic as you try to feather the throttle to avoid the clunking. And since it has never done this until recently, I know its not normal, otherwise it would have done it from day 1. I had some teething issues with this truck from the beginning, and some of the issues made me question keeping it (came out of a 2015 F-150 ecoboost, which overall was pretty good with a few less teething issues), but I really like this Ram and it has been fantastic for the last 6k miles (all of my concerns were fixed early on even though it took a few tries on some of them).

I'd like to monitor this post....but also want to get my truck checked out. Just don't want to be told its normal as it is a bit of a hassle to drop it off and pick it up when they are done. Any thoughts/feedback?

 

[pinkerton]

I had this "wrapping" occur a few times and the dealer updated my PCM & TCM. I've only driven about 100 miles since the update but no issues as of yet

 

[night_train_ram]

I have a 2019 1500 crew Laramie Sport 5.7L hemi non e-torque, 11/9/18 build. Currently have about 8900 miles on it (bought it with 20 miles on it 12/23/18). I recently noticed (within the last 800 miles or so) that my truck does this "bump" "wrapping" thing when I come to a stop or take off from a stop. Basically feels like the truck stops, but the drivetrain is still going and it clunks at the end, or at take off. I had a Range Rover not long before this that developed it around 90k miles, and it was valve body related in the transmission, but this feels more like its in the rear end/drivetrain of the truck....like the truck stops and the slack hasn't been taken up between the differential/driveline/transmission. I have had the TCM software update done early on (I think released in February) to fix the shift issues, so I doubt it is software related as the only TSB I found for transmission stuff, is the same one issued in February that was completed.

Sounds like those that have taken it in either were told it is normal, or had their flange bolts re-torqued, or grease added into the driveshaft under the boot.

My concern is that this just started, and I don't want to end up damaging anything. Also, its extremely annoying in stop and go traffic as you try to feather the throttle to avoid the clunking. And since it has never done this until recently, I know its not normal, otherwise it would have done it from day 1. I had some teething issues with this truck from the beginning, and some of the issues made me question keeping it (came out of a 2015 F-150 ecoboost, which overall was pretty good with a few less teething issues), but I really like this Ram and it has been fantastic for the last 6k miles (all of my concerns were fixed early on even though it took a few tries on some of them).

I'd like to monitor this post....but also want to get my truck checked out. Just don't want to be told its normal as it is a bit of a hassle to drop it off and pick it up when they are done. Any thoughts/feedback?

Hello,

My “bump” issue didn’t start for the first few thousands miles as well and I bought mine with around 10 miles on it. It just started happening one day after 3k miles or so. Extremely frustrating to have a $50k+ truck and deal with these small issues.

 

[RamCares]

I have a 2019 1500 crew Laramie Sport 5.7L hemi non e-torque, 11/9/18 build. Currently have about 8900 miles on it (bought it with 20 miles on it 12/23/18). I recently noticed (within the last 800 miles or so) that my truck does this "bump" "wrapping" thing when I come to a stop or take off from a stop. Basically feels like the truck stops, but the drivetrain is still going and it clunks at the end, or at take off. I had a Range Rover not long before this that developed it around 90k miles, and it was valve body related in the transmission, but this feels more like its in the rear end/drivetrain of the truck....like the truck stops and the slack hasn't been taken up between the differential/driveline/transmission. I have had the TCM software update done early on (I think released in February) to fix the shift issues, so I doubt it is software related as the only TSB I found for transmission stuff, is the same one issued in February that was completed.

Sounds like those that have taken it in either were told it is normal, or had their flange bolts re-torqued, or grease added into the driveshaft under the boot.

My concern is that this just started, and I don't want to end up damaging anything. Also, its extremely annoying in stop and go traffic as you try to feather the throttle to avoid the clunking. And since it has never done this until recently, I know its not normal, otherwise it would have done it from day 1. I had some teething issues with this truck from the beginning, and some of the issues made me question keeping it (came out of a 2015 F-150 ecoboost, which overall was pretty good with a few less teething issues), but I really like this Ram and it has been fantastic for the last 6k miles (all of my concerns were fixed early on even though it took a few tries on some of them).

I'd like to monitor this post....but also want to get my truck checked out. Just don't want to be told its normal as it is a bit of a hassle to drop it off and pick it up when they are done. Any thoughts/feedback?

Hi Ghinesley,

I'm very sorry to hear of the trouble you are experiencing with your truck. If you decide to address this with your dealer, please send us a private message. We would be happy to have your concerns formally documented as well as connect you with a case specialist for an additional layer of assistance during the process.

Mark
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Billy James]

I am very hesitant to post this right now....but. My truck has had the transmission bump since I bought it. It seemed to get worse the more miles I drove. This would primarily occur when slowing down and the transmission was downshifting. It felt like someone had rear-ended me. In fact, A couple times I turned on the rear camera because I thought someone did hit me. I kept thinking that it must be the rear end, drive shaft, or torque converter. In stop and go traffic it was miserable.
The "bump" was one of several complaints that I reported to my Service Department when I took the truck in last week. The Service Department performed software update 18-19-05 MB. It has only been four days since I picked up my truck, so I am cautious. However, I have to report that the transmission feels amazing now. The downshifts are very smooth and precise with no bump. I keep finding myself bracing for the bump and it isn't happening anymore. Honestly, I am very surprised at how good the transmission feels; its like night and day. I'm hoping, of course, that it continues and the transmission doesn't learn bad habits. You can actually see that it is better by watching the gear indicator. Before it would hang on the gears and slam down, often missing a couple on the way down. Now you can watch it sequentially shift down through the all gears without hanging up. Seriously, the transmission feels great now. I wish it had felt this way since new; but I'm glad that it finally feels normal...I'm just hoping that it lasts. Its like driving a new truck.

 

[Edwards]

I am very hesitant to post this right now....but. My truck has had the transmission bump since I bought it. It seemed to get worse the more miles I drove. This would primarily occur when slowing down and the transmission was downshifting. It felt like someone had rear-ended me. In fact, A couple times I turned on the rear camera because I thought someone did hit me. I kept thinking that it must be the rear end, drive shaft, or torque converter. In stop and go traffic it was miserable.
The "bump" was one of several complaints that I reported to my Service Department when I took the truck in last week. The Service Department performed software update 18-19-05 MB. It has only been four days since I picked up my truck, so I am cautious. However, I have to report that the transmission feels amazing now. The downshifts are very smooth and precise with no bump. I keep finding myself bracing for the bump and it isn't happening anymore. Honestly, I am very surprised at how good the transmission feels; its like night and day. I'm hoping, of course, that it continues and the transmission doesn't learn bad habits. You can actually see that it is better by watching the gear indicator. Before it would hang on the gears and slam down, often missing a couple on the way down. Now you can watch it sequentially shift down through the all gears without hanging up. Seriously, the transmission feels great now. I wish it had felt this way since new; but I'm glad that it finally feels normal...I'm just hoping that it lasts. Its like driving a new truck.

Can you confirm that update number? Was it a TSB? I can't find a reference to it or a date to see if I need to go get it applied or if it's one they've already done.

 

[Billy James]

Can you confirm that update number? Was it a TSB? I can't find a reference to it or a date to see if I need to go get it applied or if it's one they've already done.

It looks like the number that they put on my invoice is a Labor Operation number that crosses to the Transmission Control Module. They didn't put a TSB or software part number on there; only that they performed the latest software update. I am assuming this was TSB 21-002-19. Even in the TSB it doesn't say the actual software part number; only to update with the latest. It looks like they release a new TSB when newer software is out and they rescind the old TSB, so it should be TSB 21-002-19 that was performed.

 

[night_train_ram]

I am very hesitant to post this right now....but. My truck has had the transmission bump since I bought it. It seemed to get worse the more miles I drove. This would primarily occur when slowing down and the transmission was downshifting. It felt like someone had rear-ended me. In fact, A couple times I turned on the rear camera because I thought someone did hit me. I kept thinking that it must be the rear end, drive shaft, or torque converter. In stop and go traffic it was miserable.
The "bump" was one of several complaints that I reported to my Service Department when I took the truck in last week. The Service Department performed software update 18-19-05 MB. It has only been four days since I picked up my truck, so I am cautious. However, I have to report that the transmission feels amazing now. The downshifts are very smooth and precise with no bump. I keep finding myself bracing for the bump and it isn't happening anymore. Honestly, I am very surprised at how good the transmission feels; its like night and day. I'm hoping, of course, that it continues and the transmission doesn't learn bad habits. You can actually see that it is better by watching the gear indicator. Before it would hang on the gears and slam down, often missing a couple on the way down. Now you can watch it sequentially shift down through the all gears without hanging up. Seriously, the transmission feels great now. I wish it had felt this way since new; but I'm glad that it finally feels normal...I'm just hoping that it lasts. Its like driving a new truck.

The dealer performed this update on my truck prior to my purchase a couple of months ago. When I took it in for service last week they checked all service bulletins and recalls on my truck and there were zero. I told the service advisor that some members on this forum had success with flashing the ECU but he told me that would not work because it would just be a matter of time and the computer would re-learn my driving and the bump would come back. I’m hopeful this is not the case for you. Keep us posted!