weird noise from front end

[Mazdax605]

Hey guys,

While I have only owned my 2001 Ram Wagon 2500 for a month,or so when I bought it I knew of a noise from the left front of the van,and I have yet to figure it out. It seems like a noise of the spring being twanged when taking left turns sometimes,and sometimes when just going straight,and hitting a bump it will make the noise as well. I know the upper ball-joint on that side was replaced before I bought it(twice actually,but that is a different story),and it passed a state inspection where they sort of check the ball-joints. It almost seems as though maybe the coil isn't in its perch quite right by the noise of it to me,but I really have no idea about this. Any idea what this could be? For the record the van is a 2500 with the heavy duty suspension with the 8 lug wheels if that helps at all.Is there any way I can tell if the spring is seated right without taking it apart?

Thanks,
Chris

2001 am Wagon 2500 8 passenger SLT Red
1979 Mazda RX-7 GS Yellow
1974 Mazda REPU Green
2001 Jayco Kiwi 23B hybrid travel trailer

[B-300]

I would suspect the strut-rod bushing on th left side. It has a shoulder on it that keeps the rod from banging against the frame. If worn it will bang/clunk, especially if you have a front swaybar.

[Mazdax605]

Where is this strut rod bushing? Is it on the arm that runs from the front end to the chassis under the seat area with a larg ushing on it? On the right side it has an aluminum guard to protect it from heat from the catalytic converter. If not where can I find this part.

[Dodgevanman]

My '94 clunks over harsh bumps too. I have a new set of strut rod bushings...I just have to put them in. I had ball joints replaced two years ago and the shocks are new. I'll need to double check my sway bar end link bushings as well.

[B-300]

The strut-rod bushing is located on the rear part of the lower control arm. I would say under the seat is about the location... It looks like a swaybar end-link on a rod of about 1" diameter.

[van-nut]

Hey Chris -

My van developed a pretty loud "creak" or "grown", I guess you'd call it, a couple of years ago, when going over bumps. Drove me nuts for a while. I finally discovered that one of the ball joints had a zerk fitting which had some really dry and hard grease packed into it, and it would not pass any new grease thru it when I tryed to lube them. I took a small wire and dug out the dryed up stuff, and after another lube, it quieted right down. Not sure if this is your problem or not, but if you isolate the noise to a ball joint, make sure the zerk is working right.

Pete