Truck problem driving me crazy!!!
I have a sqeak coming from the front of my truck. It's an 03 Dodge 4x4 with the Cummins. I've been all under it and the nothing really makes a noise if I hand turn it. I have a sqeak coming from the front drive shaft, but it's not very loud and it seems to be coming from the middle of the shaft where there's not bearings or joints. The front end doesn't make any noise and everything seems tight. The noise isn't very loud I have to have my windows down and radio off to hear it. If I'm driving next to a wall I can hear the noise echo and it's louder.
Right now I'm thinking the front drive shaft, it seem to get loud on turns. So frontend?
I'm leaving for Dale Hollow in a couple of weeks and I will be towing a 29 foot boat so I need to have this fix or know it's not going to break on me.
Right now I'm thinking the front drive shaft, it seem to get loud on turns. So frontend?
I'm leaving for Dale Hollow in a couple of weeks and I will be towing a 29 foot boat so I need to have this fix or know it's not going to break on me.
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Don't know much about the truck, but we're heading to Glen Flint next week.
Dad and I are heading on a trip to their place on the Raccoon and we're going to take the boat down to Waveland for a day and Glen Flint the next day.
Enjoy Dale Hollow!0 -
We had a problem with all of our Dodge trucks with Cummins....the lower mount on the frame for the lower control arm....was cracking and coming off the frame.....the transmission crossmember mount on the frame was also cracking.
Dodge sent us bigger lower control arm buckets to weld onto the frames for a fix......but I don't think they ever publicly stated their frames can't handle a Cummins.
Us Govt. fleet folk got inside treatment from Detroit.....free replacement parts....to be quiet and not force a recall of every Dodge Ram with a Cummins.[:p]0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
We had a problem with all of our Dodge trucks with Cummins....the lower mount on the frame for the lower control arm....was cracking and coming off the frame.....the transmission crossmember mount on the frame was also cracking.
Dodge sent us bigger lower control arm buckets to weld onto the frames for a fix......but I don't think they ever publicly stated their frames can't handle a Cummins.
Us Govt. fleet folk got inside treatment from Detroit.....free replacement parts....to be quiet and not force a recall of every Dodge Ram with a Cummins.[:p]
It could very well be, but I don't think my squeak is that. My noise is a consant with the rotation of the wheels. I has to be something on the driveline it speed up and slows down with my speed.
I'll look at what your saying when I get back out there. What year are you Dodges. Is this a problem with the current models or the last generation?0 -
Traci,any grease fittings on the shaft or joints themselves? maybe one you could have missed? Loko [:D] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ObiWan
We had a problem with all of our Dodge trucks with Cummins....the lower mount on the frame for the lower control arm....was cracking and coming off the frame.....the transmission crossmember mount on the frame was also cracking.
Dodge sent us bigger lower control arm buckets to weld onto the frames for a fix......but I don't think they ever publicly stated their frames can't handle a Cummins.
Us Govt. fleet folk got inside treatment from Detroit.....free replacement parts....to be quiet and not force a recall of every Dodge Ram with a Cummins.[:p]
Yours must be a 2 wheel drive. I don't have upper or lower control arms. It's a soild front axle with a 4 link suspension. and it all seems okay.0 -
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
Traci,any grease fittings on the shaft or joints themselves? maybe one you could have missed? Loko [:D]
I didn't see any. It's going to have to go to the shop I'm afraid or I may have to ask my dad to look at it. My dad and I have a Ford vs. Dodge and Chevy thing going on so this has to be a last resort.0 -
you dont have a brake caliper hanging up on you do ya,the squeak would speed up as you do, 0 -
How about greasing the front right wheel bearing. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Cutiegirlracing
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
Traci,any grease fittings on the shaft or joints themselves? maybe one you could have missed? Loko [:D]
I didn't see any. It's going to have to go to the shop I'm afraid or I may have to ask my dad to look at it. My dad and I have a Ford vs. Dodge and Chevy thing going on so this has to be a last resort.
how many miles are on it now?0 -
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
you dont have a brake caliper hanging up on you do ya,the squeak would speed up as you do,
That was my first thought, but if I hit the brake theres not differance in the noise. The wheels don't make the noise when I hand turn it.
The front drive shaft is two pieces with a joint about 3/5 of the way down. It's seem to be coming from this joint with has a rubber boot covering it. It's all tight. I run it without the front shaft to see it it stops but was told not to because it would empty the tranfer case out. It doesn't have a carrier bearing on the shaft.0 -
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
quote:Originally posted by Cutiegirlracing
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
Traci,any grease fittings on the shaft or joints themselves? maybe one you could have missed? Loko [:D]
I didn't see any. It's going to have to go to the shop I'm afraid or I may have to ask my dad to look at it. My dad and I have a Ford vs. Dodge and Chevy thing going on so this has to be a last resort.
how many miles are on it now?
81K0 -
quote:Originally posted by Cutiegirlracing
quote:Originally posted by LOKO383
you dont have a brake caliper hanging up on you do ya,the squeak would speed up as you do,
That was my first thought, but if I hit the brake theres not differance in the noise. The wheels don't make the noise when I hand turn it.
The front drive shaft is two pieces with a joint about 3/5 of the way down. It's seem to be coming from this joint with has a rubber boot covering it. It's all tight. I run it without the front shaft to see it it stops but was told not to because it would empty the tranfer case out. It doesn't have a carrier bearing on the shaft.
try putting it in 4wh hi and driving it up to about 25mph and see if it still does it,shift out before going any faster,or turning sharp.see if it stops in 4hi0 -
You didn't say it was a two piece shaft.
Pull the boot and pack the joint before you burn it out and need to replace it. It's either that or the front wheel bearing.0 -
quote:Originally posted by v35
You didn't say it was a two piece shaft.
Pull the boot and pack the joint before you burn it out and need to replace it. It's either that or the front wheel bearing.
Traci,squeeze the boot and see if theres a zerk/grease fitting in it i dont think there is,wheel bearing would squeal and would speed up and slow down with vehicle speed,which wheel bearing inner or outer? thats a good question,they are famous cummins/dodge for ball joint problems also but the noise wouldn't increase with speed.0 -
Traci -
Your truck should have Dana axles with auto lockouts. If you're not in 4WD, then your driveshaft won't be turning.
Possibly a very late '03 might have American Axle components. AA has no lockouts and allows the driveshaft to rotate any time you move. In either case you may remove the front driveshaft completely as it doesn't couple directly into the transfer case on a spline.
Two possibles here... You could have a bad u-joint on one end of the shaft or the other. There was a run of bad components supplied to Dodge with no lube (or very little) in the joints. The other is that you'll find a very small grease hole in the split shaft and it's in dire need. Not a zerk, but more like you might grease a chainsaw tip with. This exists on some units and not on others. My guess is a bad u-joint though.
If the squeak continues and seems in synch with wheel rotation, then a bad wheel bearing, or less likely a bad c-v joint. Jack up the front end, place the truck in neutral (safely), cramp the wheels and roll the front tires. If a bad c-v (u-joint) you'll feel the tire "tighten up" as you roll it. I think you already know how to check for a failed wheel bearing.
One more thought... If Dana axles, then it's possible that your lockout isn't fully disengaging. Not a real problem other than for the annoyance.
The frame issue that others brought up is pretty much the same kind of wives tale as that Cummins is owned by Ford. There were possible faulty welds on the '94 2nd Gen trucks. Dodge kitted the spring towers and that required a weld job. Past that I know of no other issues.
And another possible just popped into my foggy brain... I assume you have gauges for boost, lift, and turbo. If so, then where is your fuel pressure? Five pounds is minimum. If you don't have a gauge, then put a manual gauge on the system and check it. You may well have a failing lift pump.
Best,
B.0 -
I've have to leave, but I will check what you guys mention. Nord the front axle does turn with the wheels If turn the shaft the wheels also turn, but if I hold the wheels and turn the shaft the wheels won't turn. So I think there's enough resistance on the shaft from the wheels that the shaft turns when I drive. I'm doing to look closer at the joints tomorrow.
The front wheels turn fine with no noise. They are both also tight.
Thanks everyone for your help and keep them coming if it could be something else. I will look at it tomorrow.
I'm riding my bike to work and it looks like rain so I have to be going before it does.
again thanks.0 -
Check the dust cover they sometimes get bent and rub. 0 -
Yep 2wd. 
Junk. Too much motor for what they use it for.....towing itty bitty generators and light carts around with. The engine is what destroyed the frames. Shook them apart.0 -
quote:Originally posted by brier-49
Check the dust cover they sometimes get bent and rub.
Bingo
If its not the dust cover then I bet your U-joint is not in very good shape. The front U-joints on Dodge trucks suck about as bad as their transmissions.
www.dodgetalk.com0 -
Does the squeak get faster as you speed up? If so check the u-joints. They will squeak when they are dry of grease. If they have been dry you better replace them. 0 -
I had a full size Blazer back in the mid 70s.I kept it 10 years and it made the same sound as yours but I could never find it and whatever it was never gave any problems except the sound. 0 -
I will ask my machanic as soon as he returns my call... 0 -
I've look at it closer. The front is always lock in at the axle. In other words I can't turn the front shaft if the wheels are on the ground. Is this normal? The joint I mention that is 3/5ths on the shaft is not a "joint". It's more of a coller with the larger half going into the shorter half. I'm guess it moves back and forth to compensate for wheel travel.
The brake covers are okay. The brakes don't need replace.
Any other ideas?0 -
Traci -
If the front hubs don't have manual lockouts and if there is no vacuum motor mounted to the right (riders) side of of the front pumpkin, then you have an American Axle.If the lockouts or the motor is there, you have a Dana.
If a Dana and you can't disengage the front wheels, then you have a lockout problem. (Front wheels on the ground, transfer case in TWD and you should be able to turn the drive shaft freely.)
If no lockouts and no motor, then the driveshaft will always be engaged and will rotate as the truck moves. That's American Axle.
The "collar" you speak of on the drive shaft (split shaft) is, indeed, splined. This little fellow is the one I was talking about. You have about a 50/50 chance of a grease fitting on the outer shaft member. As I said before, NOT A ZERK. More like the hole on a chainsaw roller tip made for a grease point.
If no lube hole, then it's take apart time. You'll see if it's just dry or if it's worn. My guess on a fairly new truck is just a bit dry and in need of being stuffed with some marine-grade grease.
Good luck!0 -
My dad offered to wash and wax my truck for Mothers day. Heck yeah it'll will take me days to wash and wax that monster and it does need it.
After he got back he told me that my brakes were squeaking and that it was time for new brakes. And guess what he changed them.
It doesn't squeak anymore. YES!!![8D][8D]
When I check them and I couldn't find anything wrong with them they didn't squeak when I turn them by hand. Oh well it's fixed now.
Thanks everyone for all the great advice.0 -
Drive it long enough for it to warm up, then touch your hubs. If they're hot, you've got a wheel bearing going out. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Zulu7
Drive it long enough for it to warm up, then touch your hubs. If they're hot, you've got a wheel bearing going out.
Not always true. If you have a locked up brake caliber(colapsed brake line) it will heat up too.0
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