Testing for a bad CV shaft and other front end mystery sounds.

[Guyfromthenorth]

2019 Ram 1500 big horn 4x4, 100,000km of highway (but rough highway, potholes, etc)

I'm about ready to dig into the front end this week as I think I have a few issues going on.

Issues and thoughts:

1) I have a rumbling\knocking sound in the front end when going over sharp bumps (pavement seams, small potholes\washboards), but not large bumps or dips. I did a ton of digging and found a video on youtube of a guy who had a sound almost exactly like mine (as best I could hear from a phone video) and his was sway bar links. I'm pretty sure that's what my sound is, I'm guessing I just unbolt from the low control arm and see if they feel loose? The dealer is the only place I seem to be able to source new links from, the parts rep said the sway bars often go bad on these trucks and it's not often the links. Anyone with any experience on that?

2) When pulling up close to a drivers side building\wall (drive-thru for example) and rolling at 0 or slightly more, coming to and leaving a stop where the sound can be reflected from my truck to the open drivers window, I often hear a clack sound, it kind of reminds me of a kickshift gearbox on an old ATV or two magnets snapping together. It's not regular or in a pattern, and doesn't feel like it effects driving or handling at all. Could this just be the transmission or torque converter engaging a solenoid or something like that? The transmission shifts BEAUTIFULLY, I mean this is the smoothest transmission I've ever owned, so other than the clack sound I hear randomly in drive-thru's there's no symptoms. Is this normal or could it be a bad CV shaft maybe? How do you test them, besides looking for torn boots and flung grease? I only ask about CV's because my only experience with a clacking sound was my old solid front axle trucks and worn ujoints, but those sounds had a pattern as they followed the rotation of the shaft\tire.

3) I have a howl from the front end drivers side on the highway and any speed above 20mph. I don't feel play in the wheel, handling feels ok, and the tone doesn't change when cornering left or right. It does seem to stop\mute for a half a sec when traveling over a bump or dip in the road (when tire pressure changes from the movement). I'm thinking I'm about due for wheel bearing\hubs so I suspect it's that, but I'm unsure. It could also be the BFG KO's I have, but my only other tires are studded winter tires, so changing to a different set to "test" for sound changes isn't really an option as the winters sound like a chainsaw going down the highway on dry pavement. Thoughts? I changed both wheel bearings on my friends 2015 and it was a nightmare getting them out. 20mins of sledgehammer beating on the back of the hub flange before they finally moved.

To be honest I'm just heavily crossing all fingers that the howl and other odd sounds are NOT the front differential. I had a 2014 that threw a bearing in the front diff and it was a 4000$ part (whole axle replacement), but was luckily within warranty. If my front diff is the issue here I doubt I could afford that and would have to just pull the CV's and call it a 2wd for now lol.

 

[Guyfromthenorth]

Wheel bearing felt fine. No play at all with the wheel still attached, no audible grinding or hum when on the jack.

CV looks good. No tears, no grease spray, no play in it up and down from the mid shaft. About an eigth of play at the front diff in and out but if my memory serves correct they aren't locked in place or anything so some movement is expected, no fluid leaks at all from the diff. Also no sounds from the diff when spinning the wheel so that at least appears ok.

Sway links. What a pain how they attach. You need a ratchet (or it's best at least) but also have to hold the stem. Got it eventually. They feel loose to me which makes me think they are out of tolerance so probably need replacing as expected.

Sway bar. That's the weird one. The dealer did mention they replace them alot. Mine has bizarre etching/corrosion at the bushing. I can't feel play, but they are definitely wearing out. It almost looks like crevice corrosion or alloy pitting where just some parts of the metal burn away like a cannon fuse and other parts don't. Very weird.

At this point it's 250$ for sway bar links. Or 700$ for the entire bar/link assembly. Trying to picture what is best at this point as I'm no millionaire.

Anyone else seen a bar wear like this?? Disregard the standard rust. This is a northern Ontario truck. Rust is part of life.

 

[rzr6-4]

If you are sure the links are part of the problem then go for it on the $250 for new ones. Otherwise I'd just remove the thing as there's no way I'm paying $700 for a new part that you don't *need*.

The knocking in your first point could be the shocks. I had a similar sound in mind when trying to offroad and got wheel hop. Replaced mine and haven't heard it since, but I also haven't done any meaningful offroading since so take that how you will.

For the front end howl, wheel bearings / cv joints would still be on my radar but if you weren't able to feel or hear anything when turning them by hand I wouldn't worry too much yet.

No idea on the tranny. I personally would ignore it if it's that hard to hear.

 

[Guyfromthenorth]

Thanks for the reply! I agree on the bearing/CV. It may very well be the howl, but no play in it at least means it not imminent failure potential.

Here's a YouTube video I found while searching front end noises. I have no affiliation with this guy at all but the sound he recorded sounds 99% match to mine:

BAD SWAY BAR LINK SOUND! | Simple-Fast-Professional-DIAGNOSIS

Knocking, clunking, thumping, banging sounds are all bad sway bar link symptoms. What is the worst that can happen driving with bad sway bar link noise? Best...

youtu.be

I do enjoy having the sway bar because I drive long secluded highway with no police. Because it's long, boring, and unpatrolled I drive it briskly. Having the body roll support for corners is welcomed.

I found some aftermarket links finally just now and they don't use a ball and socket joint but rather a polyurethane bushing joint. Same price as the dealer so I may order them up instead. It the dealers are going to crap the bed every 5 years might as well try something else.

As for the clicking I think I narrowed it down too. I noticed one of my brake clips scrubbing on some rotor crud making a very similar sound. I also now suspect I'm hearing the AC clutch kicking in and out too adding to the randomness.