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

[Jobrater]

I recently had a clunking sound while turning with my 16 Longhorn Laramie 4x4. Was a loose skid plate on the transfer case. N/C fix.

 

[warvet]

I just got the clunk week ago. I'm a little over 1,000 miles. Today, I had them re-torque the cab to chasis bolts.....I think he said there were four (mentioned on another forum to maybe tighten them). I feel it directly under my left foot, but only on turns......and not on every turn. Just a lil pop/thud sound/feel. It doesn't happen alot, but now I'm riding around with no music, purposely listening and feeling for it.

I think I heard it twice after he tightened things up......on my way home from work, I didn't hear it at all. I'll keep listening and feeling for it. I bet they come out with a service bulletin if enough of us keep taking our trucks in. On another site, some mention to check the sway bar mounts.

 

[immersivenc]

Wanted to update as I received a call this afternoon that they had traced the issue to the steering rack. There have ordered a new rack and are planning on installing it next Tuesday, I will post another update after. I asked my service advisor how certain they were that it was a bad steering rack and he told me 100%, which was encouraging, but I also know they like to tell us what we want to hear. I'm not sure what particular component of the steering rack they believe to be causing the clunk, I'm thinking possibly tie rods, but I really hope that takes care of it. Could have just been a bad batch of them from whatever OEM they came from.

 

[immersivenc]

I just got the clunk week ago. I'm a little over 1,000 miles. Today, I had them re-torque the cab to chasis bolts.....I think he said there were four (mentioned on another forum to maybe tighten them). I feel it directly under my left foot, but only on turns......and not on every turn. Just a lil pop/thud sound/feel. It doesn't happen alot, but now I'm riding around with no music, purposely listening and feeling for it.

I think I heard it twice after he tightened things up......on my way home from work, I didn't hear it at all. I'll keep listening and feeling for it. I bet they come out with a service bulletin if enough of us keep taking our trucks in. On another site, some mention to check the sway bar mounts.

Thanks for chiming in, sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing. I was thinking it was suspension related at first because as you say it only happens when in motion while turning and not stationary turning the wheel. I think something is out of spec and slight body roll and flex in turns causes something to knock around. Did someone drive your truck when you took it in?

 

[warvet]

Thanks for chiming in, sounds exactly like what I'm experiencing. I was thinking it was suspension related at first because as you say it only happens when in motion while turning and not stationary turning the wheel. I think something is out of spec and slight body roll and flex in turns causes something to knock around. Did someone drive your truck when you took it in?

Briefly, but didn't hear the sound. So, they were cool enough to just tighten up what I told them to, which I think was nice. Otherwise, they say ....."didn't hear it" and give you the truck back. My dealership had some bad ratings over the years and new ownership (I heard) has come in and whipped them into shape. Let me know how if this fixes your issue? Funny thing is .....they weren't bothered by me trying to diagnose via a forum.

 

[RamCares]

Wanted to update as I received a call this afternoon that they had traced the issue to the steering rack. There have ordered a new rack and are planning on installing it next Tuesday, I will post another update after. I asked my service advisor how certain they were that it was a bad steering rack and he told me 100%, which was encouraging, but I also know they like to tell us what we want to hear. I'm not sure what particular component of the steering rack they believe to be causing the clunk, I'm thinking possibly tie rods, but I really hope that takes care of it. Could have just been a bad batch of them from whatever OEM they came from.

Hi immersivenc,

We are glad to hear that you are working with your dealer to have this concern resolved. If you are in need of additional assistance while your vehicle is in service, please send us a private message.

Darlene
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[Polaris Man]

Anybody heard any clunking noises while turning? I can replicate the issue fairly easily. Doesn’t happen every time but often. Not sure if it might be air bags, control arms, etc but definitely sounds suspension/steering related. Wondering if it’s something that will break in or a problem I should have looked at.

I first noticed the clink/ popping noise at 700 ish kms. Over the course of another 700 kms it has got noticeably worse daily. It almost always does it while turning left out of my driveway or out of a parking lot where the truck is articulated a bit, it has started doing it while driving straight over bumpyish roads. I had the truck in once for the issue and they could only find a loose connector to tie up but that didn't do anything. I have a thread on ram forumz for this issue and a few people over there have said they have it too, but no one knows what is causing it.

 

[Polaris Man]

Should have stated that I checked all cab mounts and sway bar links myself with my torque wrench and they were all tight. Can feel the clunk in my left foot and the sound is noticeable now above the average volume of the radio, it has certainly got worse from when it started.

 

[immersivenc]

I first noticed the clink/ popping noise at 700 ish kms. Over the course of another 700 kms it has got noticeably worse daily. It almost always does it while turning left out of my driveway or out of a parking lot where the truck is articulated a bit, it has started doing it while driving straight over bumpyish roads. I had the truck in once for the issue and they could only find a loose connector to tie up but that didn't do anything. I have a thread on ram forumz for this issue and a few people over there have said they have it too, but no one knows what is causing it.

My appointment to replace the steering rack is tomorrow AM. I am hoping to have the truck back (clunk free) by the end of the day. I will report just as soon as I have it back if that fixed it.

 

[warvet]

My appointment to replace the steering rack is tomorrow AM. I am hoping to have the truck back (clunk free) by the end of the day. I will report just as soon as I have it back if that fixed it.

cool.....if it does, can you let us know exactly what was replaced...or screenshot that part of the repair order? I'll take that to the service department. Mine is so intermittent, that some days I think it's gone away. Mine hasn't gotten worse.....it's very faint and can't be heard with the music

 

[Polaris Man]

Hopefully it is fixed. I called my dealer back today about my clunk as it is getting pretty bad and worse by the day, talked to the same advisor that told me last week to keep driving it and he acted like he never heard of the problem, said the dealer hadn't seen this problem yet, which is funny considering my truck was already in 2 weeks ago for the exact problem right after I noticed it. I told him about the posts on these forums and lots of people reporting to have the EXACT same problem and he told me he doesn't place much value in online posts, I said that would be fair if there weren't the number of people with the EXACT same problem on brand new trucks as there is. Going back in next week to see what they can do.

 

[immersivenc]

Hopefully it is fixed. I called my dealer back today about my clunk as it is getting pretty bad and worse by the day, talked to the same advisor that told me last week to keep driving it and he acted like he never heard of the problem, said the dealer hadn't seen this problem yet, which is funny considering my truck was already in 2 weeks ago for the exact problem right after I noticed it. I told him about the posts on these forums and lots of people reporting to have the EXACT same problem and he told me he doesn't place much value in online posts, I said that would be fair if there weren't the number of people with the EXACT same problem on brand new trucks as there is. Going back in next week to see what they can do.

You might want to try another dealer. Mine has been very willing to work with me to figure out what’s going on. The shop foreman even took a ride with me when I brought it in to have it looked at. Dropped the truck off this AM. What they are replacing is the entire steering rack and pinion assembly per what I was told. Rehanging the entire front end. Pretty major surgery but that really ought to do it. If not, possibly the steering shaft would be the next thing we look at. Fingers crossed. All I can encourage everyone to do is bring your trucks in for these issues and make sure they are documenting them with FCA. Based on the small sample size vs the number having this same issue, there has gotta be a TSB coming soon.

 

[Polaris Man]

Hopefully that solves it, was hoping they were only doing steering rack and pinion on yours so we would know if that's what it is, if they are messing with the entire front end you will never actually know what was the problem. I have a hard time believing it is in the steering because I don't feel the clunk in the steering wheel. Hopefully it is fixed up for you and you can provide us some info. I love Ram but I'm not too happy right now.

 

[warvet]

You might want to try another dealer. Mine has been very willing to work with me to figure out what’s going on. The shop foreman even took a ride with me when I brought it in to have it looked at. Dropped the truck off this AM. What they are replacing is the entire steering rack and pinion assembly per what I was told. Rehanging the entire front end. Pretty major surgery but that really ought to do it. If not, possibly the steering shaft would be the next thing we look at. Fingers crossed. All I can encourage everyone to do is bring your trucks in for these issues and make sure they are documenting them with FCA. Based on the small sample size vs the number having this same issue, there has gotta be a TSB coming soon.

oh wow....the entire front end ....I hope it fixes things, but that's what I call a "macro" (big) fix. With that major fix, not really able to pinpoint what the actual issue was. I thought it was just the rack/pinion. Replacing the entire front end kinda says ......not sure what it is, so let's just do it all.

I definitely appreciate you keeping us informed. I had all mounting points re-torqued, you are doing something different.....so hopefully, we come to a fix. I'm thinking it's sheet metal because mine is so intermittent and only on such irregular surfaces where the truck flexes pretty hard left/right.

 

[SpeedyV]

I'm sure it's not the same issue, but since (apparently) your issue wasn't resolved with a steering rack adjustment...

My 15-year-old GMC was susceptible to a 'clunk' (perhaps better described as a frame 'pop') in warm weather when the wheel is turned enough (or the body/frame articulated enough) to flex the chassis in the opposite direction. A TSB was released shortly after this was discovered, and it turned out that the bolted connections for a frame crossmember could flex enough to shift and cause the 'pop'. The fix was simply to fully weld the connections.

I haven't studied the chassis of the 2019 Ram closely, so I cannot say whether this could be relevant, but the description of the issue seems similar.

 

[immersivenc]

oh wow....the entire front end ....I hope it fixes things, but that's what I call a "macro" (big) fix. With that major fix, not really able to pinpoint what the actual issue was. I thought it was just the rack/pinion. Replacing the entire front end kinda says ......not sure what it is, so let's just do it all.

I definitely appreciate you keeping us informed. I had all mounting points re-torqued, you are doing something different.....so hopefully, we come to a fix. I'm thinking it's sheet metal because mine is so intermittent and only on such irregular surfaces where the truck flexes pretty hard left/right.

One thing I will do regardless of whether the “fix” actually works is to confirm again what exactly was done. Things have moved pretty fast, and my typical service advisor is out until next week. Everything was completed with a realignment late today, so pickup is first thing tomorrow AM. Will have the cabin as quiet as possible on the way home to listen for any noises. Fingers crossed!

 

[immersivenc]

UPDATE: Picked up from the dealer. Appears the clunking issue is fixed. I confirmed with the service advisor the only components replaced were the rack and pinion assembly, and everything else was inspected and torqued to factory spec. I have not yet heard the popping which was happening quite frequently before. The rack and pinion assembly alone outside of warranty would have been about $2,200. If there are any more issues or I notice again, I will be back here to report. So far so good though.

 

[RamCares]

Hopefully it is fixed. I called my dealer back today about my clunk as it is getting pretty bad and worse by the day, talked to the same advisor that told me last week to keep driving it and he acted like he never heard of the problem, said the dealer hadn't seen this problem yet, which is funny considering my truck was already in 2 weeks ago for the exact problem right after I noticed it. I told him about the posts on these forums and lots of people reporting to have the EXACT same problem and he told me he doesn't place much value in online posts, I said that would be fair if there weren't the number of people with the EXACT same problem on brand new trucks as there is. Going back in next week to see what they can do.

Hi Polaris Man,

We are sorry to learn that you are having a tough time with your new truck. We would like to provide additional assistance while your Ram is in service next week. Please send us your VIN, mileage, and dealer to get started.

Darlene
Ram Social Care Specialist

 

[warvet]

UPDATE: Picked up from the dealer. Appears the clunking issue is fixed. I confirmed with the service advisor the only components replaced were the rack and pinion assembly, and everything else was inspected and torqued to factory spec. I have not yet heard the popping which was happening quite frequently before. The rack and pinion assembly alone outside of warranty would have been about $2,200. If there are any more issues or I notice again, I will be back here to report. So far so good though.

MAn great to hear. Give us an update as u see fit. I have an Apt in several weeks for something else and bringing this up again.

 

[Polaris Man]

Awesome news! Hopefully it doesnt re appear, did they say if they were going the take the rack and pinion apart to forsure out why it was clunking, regardless it's great news!