2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front

Posted By: 74Charger

2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 12:57 AM

My truck has developed a faint chirping noise that speeds up and slows down based on wheel rotation speed.

I checked the calipers, shims, and pads last weekend but could find nothing wrong

I rotated the front hubs with calipers removed and could feel it was a bit less than consistent as far as drag goes.

I'm wondering of the front hub bearings are worn and approaching failure. Truck has 142,000 miles.

Anyone know of any history on this symptom, and a solution or it?

Hub replacement is fairly difficult and costly from what I have heard.

Posted By: RUNCHARGER

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 01:14 AM

Axle U-joint.

Sheldon

Posted By: 74Charger

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 01:18 AM

Have you "been there and done that" or speculating? No insult intended.

Posted By: HEMIDOG 70

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 02:06 AM

Does it chirp more when turning? Mine was doing this and it was the axle u joint. 98 1500 ram 99,500 miles on it.

Posted By: superwrench

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 02:18 AM

The rear CV joint in the front drive shaft can squeak. The centering ball between the two joints and it's seal get dry. Try spraying a decent lube (not a penetrating oil) up between the joints. This was a real problem with Dakotas and 1500's thru the late 90's and early 2000's. People changed a lot of stuff they didn't need to....

Posted By: 383man

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 02:56 AM

Quote:

The rear CV joint in the front drive shaft can squeak. The centering ball between the two joints and it's seal get dry. Try spraying a decent lube (not a penetrating oil) up between the joints. This was a real problem with Dakotas and 1500's thru the late 90's and early 2000's. People changed a lot of stuff they didn't need to....

Yep as I fixed that a few times working at the Dodge dealer. Ron

Posted By: RUNCHARGER

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/11/13 04:52 AM

The front axle U-joints are easy to check as well, tire off, crank the wheel to one side and wiggle the rotor back and forth while watching the u-joint. They fail lots and are easy to change.

Sheldon

Posted By: 74Charger

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/16/13 10:10 PM

After more investigation I think the chirp is coming from the wheel hub/bearing assembly. It may be the u-joint, but there is no play there.

If I go into it, I'll be replacing the u-joint for insurance while I am there. For the cost of the u-joint, it isn't worth going back into it.

Posted By: DAYCLONA

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/16/13 10:39 PM

Quote:

My truck has developed a faint chirping noise that speeds up and slows down based on wheel rotation speed.

I checked the calipers, shims, and pads last weekend but could find nothing wrong

I rotated the front hubs with calipers removed and could feel it was a bit less than consistent as far as drag goes.

I'm wondering of the front hub bearings are worn and approaching failure. Truck has 142,000 miles.

Anyone know of any history on this symptom, and a solution or it?

Hub replacement is fairly difficult and costly from what I have heard.

Let's face it, even if it's "just" the U joint you still have to pull the hub assy to pull the axle shaft, best to replace the hub and U joint if your going to tear it down, the factory hub assys are good for about a max of 150K, your just about there, whatever you do, buy the premium hub assy, don't cheap out, I did this and got about 20K on a cheap China set before I had to pull them again, busting them out the first time can be tough, a cold chisel, or impact chisel helps force them out of the knuckle, you'll need a thinwall socket, 36 MM IIRC for the front axle nut, and be sure to torque it back in place, 125 ft lbs IIRC, the hub assy is pretty simple to deal with, it's just prying them out of the knuckles that's a PITA, 2 bolts holding the caliper, 3 12 point bolts holding the hub assy from the backside of the knuckle, and of course the axle nut, put some anti-seize inside the hub bore before installing the new hub assy, and install a premium GREASE-ABLE U joint...

Mike

Posted By: GarageDodge

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/19/13 02:48 AM

175 ft lbs on the axle nut,as per chry service manual&mitchell pro demand.

Posted By: ZIPPY

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/19/13 09:35 PM

Quote:

Quote:

My truck has developed a faint chirping noise that speeds up and slows down based on wheel rotation speed.

I checked the calipers, shims, and pads last weekend but could find nothing wrong

I rotated the front hubs with calipers removed and could feel it was a bit less than consistent as far as drag goes.

I'm wondering of the front hub bearings are worn and approaching failure. Truck has 142,000 miles.

Anyone know of any history on this symptom, and a solution or it?

Hub replacement is fairly difficult and costly from what I have heard.

Let's face it, even if it's "just" the U joint you still have to pull the hub assy to pull the axle shaft, best to replace the hub and U joint if your going to tear it down, the factory hub assys are good for about a max of 150K, your just about there, whatever you do, buy the premium hub assy, don't cheap out, I did this and got about 20K on a cheap China set before I had to pull them again, busting them out the first time can be tough, a cold chisel, or impact chisel helps force them out of the knuckle, you'll need a thinwall socket, 36 MM IIRC for the front axle nut, and be sure to torque it back in place, 125 ft lbs IIRC, the hub assy is pretty simple to deal with, it's just prying them out of the knuckles that's a PITA, 2 bolts holding the caliper, 3 12 point bolts holding the hub assy from the backside of the knuckle, and of course the axle nut, put some anti-seize inside the hub bore before installing the new hub assy, and install a premium GREASE-ABLE U joint...

Mike

what he said.

If you like the truck and want to keep it, replace both hub bearings and the u joints with quality pieces. It is not an easy job but once you get it done it will be all set for a long time.

Posted By: 74Charger

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/28/13 07:36 PM

Well, i have replaced both hub bearings, both front axle u-joints,and the upper RH ball joint, and I still have this chirp that gets faster with wheel rotation.

I''m now thinking driveshaft issues......

Any ideas?

Posted By: NITROUSN

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/28/13 07:54 PM

Quote:

Well, i have replaced both hub bearings, both front axle u-joints,and the upper RH ball joint, and I still have this chirp that gets faster with wheel rotation.

I''m now thinking driveshaft issues......

Any ideas?

Remove the front shaft and drive it.

Posted By: superwrench

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/28/13 08:19 PM

Quote:

Well, i have replaced both hub bearings, both front axle u-joints,and the upper RH ball joint, and I still have this chirp that gets faster with wheel rotation.

I''m now thinking driveshaft issues......

Any ideas?

...Like I said on here two weeks ago..... could have save ya a lot of money and aggravation

Posted By: 74Charger

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/28/13 08:36 PM

I don't see anywhere to spray anything. Driveshaft has a boot over a "in & out" sleeve and then a double u-joint at rear. ???

Posted By: superwrench

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/28/13 09:20 PM

I'd just unbolt the whole shaft. If you look close the shaft, it "MAY" have a inverted grease fitting at the ball socket in the CV joint. I don't believe it will in those years.If you can get a small pick under the lip of the seal and squirt some sprayable grease (even white lithium spray) under the lip,in a few spots.
The noise could actually be one of the u-joints...look for a rusty residue around the cap seals at the inner part of the crosses.
All I can say is that this particular problem caused more headaches than I can count..... and as you have shown, a lot of unneccesary work. On the bright side, you now know your front end is in pretty good shape.

Posted By: bdusted440

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/29/13 06:42 AM

well why not do a proper diagnosis instead of shotgunning it.[throwing parts at it].Get it in the air all 4 wheels, start it and put it in drive. Now listen for the noise.is it there? If no put it in 4wh. Is the noise there? If you here the noise try to isolate it. I use a stethoscope.a long screwdriver works good to. Put one end on the part the other up to you're ear tight and listen. Put the screw driver on the closest to the noise NON MOVING PART. Then move say 6" away. Is it louder or not? If you hear it at the trans or rear diff listen on both sides as it will travel. And narrow it down. A very abbreviated diag formula. Hope it helps.

Posted By: poboyengineering

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/29/13 03:47 PM

a couple of points:
ive seen many a chirp, squeak, type sound caused by the anti rattle shims dragging on the rotor. also rust on the outer edge of the rotor hitting the caliper.
to remove the hub, I back the bolts out until there is 1/2" or so clearance to the knuckle, and use the socket with an extension to brace against the spring, axle housing, whatever is easiest, start the engine and turn the wheel. pops them right out. (this doesn't seem to work on the 1500's)
and IIRC the axle nut torque is 175#.

Posted By: 74Charger

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/31/13 04:39 PM

Your diagnosis was "dead-on" correct!

I lubed that center of the double u-joint at transfer case and no more chirping! FYI - the 2004 models have no inverted grease fitting like the 2008 and later trucks.

I'm not feling too badly about the hubs and u-joint replacements at 142,00 plus miles. I got the "best" out of them, and should be good to go for a long time now.

Also, I had to replace an upper right side ball joint that was loose, so I would have replaced hub and u-joint at the same time regardless. Now it is close to time for new tires! I wasn't doing that and front end alignment with a bad ball joint. Thanks!

Posted By: superwrench

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 07/31/13 08:27 PM

Good to hear!!!

Yeh..I don't know why Chrysler didn't put a fitting on those shafts. All my old trucks from the 70's and 80's had one.

Richard

Posted By: dodgeboy11

Re: 2004 Ram 2500 4x4 - Chirping noise from front - 08/02/13 03:23 AM

An '04 I worked on had the same problem. No grease fitting and the ball dried up and started squeaking. The '06 had a fitting and a sticker on the radiator support that said to grease it at every oil change. My dad's '03 got Dynatrack hubs and spindles so he doesn't have to worry about it anymore, plus serviceable bearings and a solid 1 mpg increase. It'd be difficult to justify the price of that conversion if he wasn't planning on keeping that truck for the rest of his life.