Couple questions - 96 1 ton 15 passenger Van

Hello, I just bought a 96 1 ton 15 passenger van. It does not have a "tow" package but I believe, from what I've seen, it has a transmission cooler mounted to the front of the radiator.
Could someone tell me if a cooler was standard of a van of this type?

Also, when driving over small sharp bumps or road imperfections I am hearing a thumping/rattle from the left front. I don't feel anything in the wheel just hear the noise. I assume it's a ball joint or bad shock or ???. Whats the best way to jack the beast up to check for this? From the frame? From the bottom of the front suspension?

Thanks, Jon

Jon,

All of the 2nd Gen Dodge Ram Vans got the tranny cooler.

As for the bump in the night ... Oh, the thump/rattle from the left front, just crawl upder the van. No lifting is needed. These vans are already high off of the ground to take a quick peek. A nice large sheet of cardboard helps too.

My thumping/rattle was the heat shield that compliments the dog-house underneath. Check that first. It's a simple fix with thick wide washers. The aluminum nuts may look corroded, but they are not. The come off easy.

Other than that, some of the other people will chime in too.

I got the 12-passenger B2500. One less bench seat than yours.

Welcome to the forums, stick around, and visit often.

Stev

Originally Posted by jbirdmotox

Also, when driving over small sharp bumps or road imperfections I am hearing a thumping/rattle from the left front. I don't feel anything in the wheel just hear the noise. I assume it's a ball joint or bad shock or ???. Whats the best way to jack the beast up to check for this? From the frame? From the bottom of the front suspension?

Thanks, Jon

I am actually getting my van checked for this same exact problem on Thursday and whatever they tell me I will try to post it as soon as possible. They suspected maye it was a shock.

My '94 doesn't have an auxillary trans. cooler or the HD radiator.

What you have may have been standard on the one-ton 15-pass. maxi vans.

Have your ball joints checked...what happens is that the upper ball joints tend to be forgotten about when the chassis is lubed during an oil change.

Thanks for all the replys. I will be towing a camper with the van so I'm glad it already has a tranny cooler.

I will also check the on the heat shield. I hope it's that easy of a fix. I have crawled under there a couple times and even jacked up the front end by the bottom of the shock and felt or saw no obvious movement or worn parts. I just grabbed the front tire and tried to move things up and down/ side to side.
It almost sounds like at this point it could be broken shock....

Jon

Hey went to our Dodge dealer today to get trans fluid changed and get the moise in our left front checked. They diagnosed the problem as Rotor Worpage and they said they (i guess) would rotate the rotors or something like that. But of course always check and do trial & error to determine your problem as it could be totally different.

jbirdmotox,

So you're a Ram Van towing a camper man! Same here. Check out www.RV.net/forums as well. I go by the same name there too. Acutally I go by the same name in every forum I belong to.

Stev

Yep, I will be towing a 1996 25' Sunline camper with a 2003 KX250 dirtbike in the back of the van. I just ran the wires and hooked up my Prodigy brake controller/7 pin harness last night.
I spend a bit of time on rv.net. It's a great site.

jbirdmotox,

Do you have the 5.9L or 5.2L in that van?

Stev

5.9

I have a 96 3/4 ton van with the same noise. It was the brake calipar holder. It was broken. It took us nearly a year to find it and wasnt till the calipar fell off and locked up the wheel when we did. On inspection the other side was ed and needed to be replaced also.

The caliper bracket was broken? Man that is pretty stout steel and surprised it broke. I wonder what caused it.

I wonder if it had anything to do with the really rough road I live on . Dont you think this has however been the best vehicle I have ever owned. Love it so much i put a new complete power train to take it another 10 years.

Well, I figured out what the noise is. It's the caliper bracket/caliper. There is about 1/16 " play between the the caliper and the bracket. One or the other is worn. I looked at the bracket very closely and didn't see any cracks etc. It is made out of very thick steel to be sure. I made a temp. shim to take up the gap and the noise was gone.
What to do next I have no idea. With my luck I would buy a caliper and it would be the bracket. Although, I would think both part could be had for not too much cash???

Jon