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

[RamCares]

I am experiencing the same issue on a 2 week old Laramie. Working to get a service appointment scheduled with my Dealer. My production date is June 30th. Not at all happy this issue sprang up so early on a brand new (and expensive) truck.

Hi cashcar1979,
We're glad to see that you are planning to bring this to your dealer's attention. Please send us a private message with your VIN so we can look into this further and offer you any assistance you may need while your truck is being serviced.
Lydia,
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[warvet]

I’ve just attached that part of my service ticket so u can see. In addition to what I said they checked in an earlier thread, They said they found loose bolts at lower strut/shock mount to control arm. It was 10lbs under torqued.

So, my drive home was 13 paranoid miles listening and feeling like a hawk. I could have sworn I heard it twice, but I’m just not sure. What I do know is I would usually have heard it about 6-7 times or more without even trying to. So I pulled Into the hospital parking lot by my house and I drove that parking lot making each turn in and out of “rows” and around the hospital completely making sure to make the truck rock hard. I probably made 15-20 hard turns and I should have heard/felt, but I didn’t. Pulled into my neighborhood which is a turn that has a dip and I always feel it there, but I didn’t. Backed into my driveway as usual, but then pulled out completely as I turned about 10 times in both directions. I always hear it pulling out in the mornkng, cuz my driveway dips down into the road and as I turn, the truck rocks. I didn’t feel it.

Because I swear I heard it twice, but not sure —I can’t report it’s fixed. I’m comfortable reporting that before today, I would have felt it a million times with all those maneuvers I made at the hospital and out of driveway.

I’ll come back tomorrow after driving to work. That’s only about 15 miles too. Buy I always hear it pulling out of my driveway and about 3 more turns I make.

Sorry this is sideways. Its basically what I reported a few threads above along with new info about the bolts they found loose.

 

[warvet]

They did this wrong...
You are supposed to re-torque suspension components with the weight of the vehicle on them, at least from what I've learned

Maybe they did it wrong, maybe I reported it wrong. I’m not sure. I’m no mechanic but I’ve turned a lot wrenches in the army on some big machinery and I’ve seen fasteners torqued while on a lift especially suspension parts that may be unreachable without it being on a lift.

I’m sure different mechanics with diff instructors, courses, teachers, working in diff shops, diff experiences, etc have learned so many different techniques over the years. I’ve seen certified Harley mechanics arguing over how to properly fix something. I just watched and laughed. Lol

 

[warvet]

Let me know if you find anything. Only thing I could find that could be questionable was a little play in the CV joints but I suppose some is normal to a degree. My dealer is talking with the higher ups on what move to make next. If I open a STAR case, I have to leave the truck with them for who knows how long. Be nice if FCA would find a problem truck and use it as a lab rat and start replacing things and figure out what the heck is going on.

My advisor said he opened STAR case. He said he put one in just in case I have to come back. He explained it like this—they talk to these “supermen” who ask what’s been done and what hasn’t worked. Then they say —-do this next and give the truck back to him to see if it’s fixed. My advisor said it can go back and forth like that until they find a fix. I’m new to Ram and have no clue how STAR works but what he explained is exactly what Harley does. “Big Harley” gives the local dealership a fix to try and the owner leaves with the bike. It pisses us off. They say go ride for 1,000 miles and come back so we can recheck.

 

[immersivenc]

Thanks for the thorough response @warvet. I got the same info on STAR, they went ahead and opened one just in case re-torquing doesn't work. I did not see the attachment for your service ticket, can you try to repost that?

 

[warvet]

Trying again to post the ticket

 

[Old member 1160]

Hi cashcar1979,
We're glad to see that you are planning to bring this to your dealer's attention. Please send us a private message with your VIN so we can look into this further and offer you any assistance you may need while your truck is being serviced.
Lydia,
Ram Social Care Specialist

Thanks - sent a private message with my VIN

 

[immersivenc]

Thanks - sent a private message with my VIN

Bet they won’t reply. Told me the same thing. No response

 

[Old member 1160]

Bet they won’t reply. Told me the same thing. No response

I'll give them 24 hours to reply. If no reply, I'll be attempting to escalate over the phone to someone. To get a fix put into place we are going to have to be vocal and ensure the Ram team realizes people expect proper customer service and repair service on faulty items.

 

[Mksrt]

I am having the same issue, picked my limited up sunday. About 100 miles on it now and its clunking away. Pretty dissapointed.

 

[GJohn2]

I am having the same issue, picked my limited up sunday. About 100 miles on it now and its clunking away. Pretty dissapointed.

What is your build date on your limited? It is unfortunate that they are still producing these with the same issue and no guide to fix at this point. I am thinking I can hold out to order a Laramie, longhorn, or limited but they are all still sharing the same problem. I am thinking I will have to go with another trim being the Rebel. Interested in the build date on yours just to see how recent the build is that has the same issues and some of the earlier builds.

 

[Mksrt]

Traded in my perfectly fine 17 rebel with 10k miles for this and its really dissapointing. Also the fact the truck had a nice pillar dent and dent in passenger door. and multiple light scratches here and there most likely from the dealer prep guy who might as well just wash the truck with a wash mitt filled with sand . I didn’t see when I picked up because it was rainy and cloudy . Brought back to dealer today and they said they would make good of it,will see. I believe my production was 6/18. I’m glad I made the right decision in leasing this instead of buying it .

 

[YoAdrian]

If it’s looking like yours is cured, I will relay to my dealer.

Good idea to help by sharing different approaches between service departments, just be cautious how you word the results... cured sounds different than “stopped the noise so far, still waiting on a long term test to see if the suspension noise/behavior returns.”

I love the idea of sonic “ears” being attached to locate the clunk. That is the critical information that is missing!

 

[19RamLimited]

Mine seems to clunk especially when(Trying to explain best I can with words) I am turning and there is some articulation in the body. Such as when turning and there is and incline changing levels of the street. It seems to do it every time when I turn in that situation. So I am starting to think a loose body mount or something.

I have all the Snap on digital Torque wenches so this weekend is open for me so Ill be getting under the truck to see what the current torque is on bolts and then try to see what the recommended torque is and compare.

 

[immersivenc]

Mine seems to clunk especially when(Trying to explain best I can with words) I am turning and there is some articulation in the body. Such as when turning and there is and incline changing levels of the street. It seems to do it every time when I turn in that situation. So I am starting to think a loose body mount or something.

I have all the Snap on digital Torque wenches so this weekend is open for me so Ill be getting under the truck to see what the current torque is on bolts and then try to see what the recommended torque is and compare.

Let us know what you find. You’re exactly right about turning on unlevel surfaces. Seems to make the issue more likely to happen. That seems to be the consensus

 

[RamCares]

I am experiencing the same on my 3 day old Laramie. Pretty frustrating.

Hi Douglas31,

Please send us a PM with your VIN and mileage so we can take a closer look at this and document it further on your behalf.

Darlene
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Jordan2929]

For the DIY'ers out there I would check the most common things associated with clunking noises. With the truck stationary and the wheels turned whatever way you more often hear the clunk I would rock the truck side to side and see if you can hear a noise (it will probably be very faint if it even happens at all) I would also try tightening the sway bar links and sway bar cradles, upper and lower strut mounts, and the brake calipers and the brake caliper hat. Under the dash I would grab the steering shaft and see if it has any play. If all of that fails its time for the unfortunate trip to the dealer.

 

[Douglas31]

Hi Douglas31,

Please send us a PM with your VIN and mileage so we can take a closer look at this and document it further on your behalf.

Darlene
Ram Social Care Specialist

PM sent

 

[Douglas31]

I also have a vibration/shake at 70+ MPH. I am not sure if it is related. Has anyone else noticed the same?

 

[GJohn2]

I also have a vibration/shake at 70+ MPH. I am not sure if it is related. Has anyone else noticed the same?

I had that issue as well and the tires had to be balanced and it fixed the issue.