Front end clunk while turning - FIXED - TSB # 23-047-18

[Northeast16SS]

No . I know . My brother is a master Toyota tech and I know he works his *** off. But he also tells me how many do not. It’s a difficult situation to know just who to go to. If you were in my area I would take you my truck in a heart beat.

I can’t thank you enough for all the information and work you put Into this. I really can’t. I have tried to credit you as much as I can.

i know dealers are in a hard place because they have difficult and unreasonable customers and they have customers that just want their truck fixed. I am well aware of the tech world and how hard it is these days chasing rattles and noises. I know they are not money making adventures. So I try to do it myself as I’m capable.

These forums are what it’s all about for all of us. I think dealers should maybe work more with DYIers to streamline easy fixes. Because you getting 2/10 an hour for something that takes 3 hours isn’t fair but the guy that isn’t close to a dealer willing to spend all weekend fixing it would love to be able to know what and how and also get the parts. They could easily do a core exchange on warranty DYI parts.

Anyways I do not mean to bash dealers as I know there are good maybe great ones I was trying to tel you I know. It’s just for the average consumer about like winning the lottery to get a good one because one the turnover. And two just how many dealers there are .

I always do some poking around at the dealer and ask questions before I take my truck in. I make sure I get the best mechanic and I request him every time I make an appointment. If he isn't in, I reschedule.

 

[Northeast16SS]

I just picked up my Laramie last Friday and within the first two days I noticed the thump from the front suspension on the driver's side. Like others have said, you could feel it in the floor pan/foot well area and it was at low speed and a tight turn (if not full lock) on a left hand turn with maybe a change in grade thrown in there, like pulling out of my driveway which is on a hill. I crawled under there and my eyes gravitated to the body mount as the closest thing to where I felt the thump while driving. So glad that I found this forum/thread. I made an appointment but I may actually cancel and wait until the TSB comes out, or at least start the email with the svc advisor and provide the STAR #'s in advance of the visit. Thanks Delmonico!

 

[Delmonico_19]

I just picked up my Laramie last Friday and within the first two days I noticed the thump from the front suspension on the driver's side. Like others have said, you could feel it in the floor pan/foot well area and it was at low speed and a tight turn (if not full lock) on a left hand turn with maybe a change in grade thrown in there, like pulling out of my driveway which is on a hill. I crawled under there and my eyes gravitated to the body mount as the closest thing to where I felt the thump while driving. So glad that I found this forum/thread. I made an appointment but I may actually cancel and wait until the TSB comes out, or at least start the email with the svc advisor and provide the STAR #'s in advance of the visit. Thanks Delmonico!

I will be shocked if this gets released as an actual TSB ever. You will be waiting a long time.

 

[Bwarren2]

I will be shocked if this gets released as an actual TSB ever. You will be waiting a long time.

Does Air ride mean there is no thumping?

 

[Delmonico_19]

Does Air ride mean there is no thumping?

? Don’t know what you mean. There’s plenty of guys complaining of this noise with air suspension.

 

[YoAdrian]

Did you get in touch with them Awd1990tsi? Let me know if you need any help closing the gap in communication with the dealer.

Jasmine
Ram Social Care Specialist

Hi Jasmine, you might know this, but typing the “at symbol” in front of member user names (like @Awd1990tsi in your above message) will flag your message for them, calling attention to it. I’m always happy when I see you @RamCares folks reaching out to help us.

 

[19RamLimited]

Does anyone that’s 2wd have the clunk? Just curious

 

[Lbdyll]

Does anyone that’s 2wd have the clunk? Just curious

Yep mine is 2wd. I have had the clunk since about 200 miles on the truck. I have been following this post seeing what everybody else is getting done to get it fixed.

 

[OgRedd]

Does Air ride mean there is no thumping?

I have the air suspension option. There's clunking with mine as well.

 

[warvet]

I thought the same thing about the lower body mount bushings. I took pictures of the gap under the isolator that 19Ramlimited mentioned. You can see the clean area on the bracket where the lower bushing occasionally comes in contact. The bushing appears to rotate, which indicates it’s loose at some point.

Is the black thing the isolator? I had isolator, absorber and bolt replaced thus far. The new bolt is shorter, I’m not sure if other parts are diff than original. I know what the bolt is, but looking at it pic, what’s the absorber and isolator? I still have one more piece to get installed that they call “foam block” that’s supposed to go between two pieces of metal. After two days of the new parts, I have heard the clunk once and it was a pretty hard “rock” back and forth of the truck. They told me that I should notice it nearly gone, but the foam block should eliminate it totally.

 

[OgRedd]

EXACTLY! Thats a great pic. you can even see how they have made contact with the mount. Now put math to how much movement that is in total. Think about the gap plus the give of the lower isolator. its a lot. So at some point the isolator is actually just loose. When the isolator "Reseats itself some noise is made.

Looking at the pic, it almost looks like an intentional design in order to help make the ride less rigid. (?) Another thought - if this is the same on the passenger side, I wonder why I don't hear/feel it there?

 

[YoAdrian]

? Don’t know what you mean. There’s plenty of guys complaining of this noise with air suspension.

We polled that question (I love polls). The current score is 13 air to 14 non-air (to 21 cheeky bastards) so yes both have it:
https://5thgenrams.com/community/threads/front-end-clunk-while-turning-poll-air-or-not.1710/

 

[Accountant]

Looking at the pic, it almost looks like an intentional design in order to help make the ride less rigid. (?) Another thought - if this is the same on the passenger side, I wonder why I don't hear/feel it there?

Are you driving alone or with a passenger? With no one in the passenger seat, there is less compression.

 

[TurdFerguson]

I thought the same thing about the lower body mount bushings. I took pictures of the gap under the isolator that 19Ramlimited mentioned. You can see the clean area on the bracket where the lower bushing occasionally comes in contact. The bushing appears to rotate, which indicates it’s loose at some point.

Where exactly is that? Ive noticed that mine tends to do it more when it is hot outside. Seems like in the morning when it is 70's it doesn't clunk but in the afternoons 90+ the clunk shows up.

 

[OgRedd]

Are you driving alone or with a passenger? With no one in the passenger seat, there is less compression.

Alone, mostly. But when I have passengers, they don't notice anything when I ask. Also, I've tried to drive with the radio off just to listen to foreign noises throughout the cabin. Nothing but the clunk on the driver's side so far.

 

[OgRedd]

I will be shocked if this gets released as an actual TSB ever. You will be waiting a long time.

Man, that's concerning. Especially when the dealer is reluctant to do anything without a TSB.

 

[Accountant]

This may be counterintuitive but would tightening the bolt so there is more preload on the bushing/isolator and where the bolt is always in contact with metal above it also help? Trying to also understand how some trucks have the clunk and some don't since we will have the same parts. Just a thought since maybe it is also something in the assembly process.

 

[19RamLimited]

This may be counterintuitive but would tightening the bolt so there is more preload on the bushing/isolator and where the bolt is always in contact with metal above it also help? Trying to also understand how some trucks have the clunk and some don't since we will have the same parts. Just a thought since maybe it is also something in the assembly process.

You cant.. there is a metal spacer in the middle that goes through the center. You can only tighten it until the washer on the bottom , bottoms out on that spacer. you would have to disassemble it to have a clear picture. Then if you were able to tighten it more you would have a bolt going through the floor board.

My truck is still making the noise. Im looking at he bushings now. Ill have to make a spacer in order to have the bottom isolator be able to have something to preload on. STUPID STUPID design !!!

 

[Northeast16SS]

I've pretty much isolated my clunk to left hand turns. If you think about it, when the truck is leaning to the right on a left hand turn all the weight is on the right side which opens up that space in the isolator. Then when you exit the turn and all that weight shifts back to the left side of the truck is when you hear the clunk when the gap in the isolator closes. I hear an occasional and much softer clunk on an occasional bump but usually in conjunction with a left turn or swerve or after a left turn and then hitting a bump, again all due to weight transfer on and off that gap in the isolator.

 

[Accountant]

You cant.. there is a metal spacer in the middle that goes through the center. You can only tighten it until the washer on the bottom , bottoms out on that spacer. you would have to disassemble it to have a clear picture. Then if you were able to tighten it more you would have a bolt going through the floor board.

My truck is still making the noise. Im looking at he bushings now. Ill have to make a spacer in order to have the bottom isolator be able to have something to preload on. STUPID STUPID design !!!

Got it thanks for your all your effort on this and taking the time to report what you are seeing. Almost seems like you are designing a mini body lift kit. Maybe you could sell your design to Mopar.