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I need an opinion on a 99 Dakota R/T front end noise

Started by WH23G3G, February 22, 2016, 07:27:49 PM

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WH23G3G

I've posted at the Dakota forums but I guess it's stumped some other owner's and me too. I had a sever popping noise when you turn the wheel all the way to the left to back out of your driveway or parking spot. It continues to make this popping noise until you straighten the wheel back out. It doesn't it do it on the passenger side. I had the upper ball joints, upper control arm bushings, complete lower control arms changed, sway bar links, sway bar bracket bushings, rack bushings, control arm stops, shocks, and even coil spring insulators on top replaced. After all that it still pops when you turn the wheel and back up on the driver's side. I thought maybe it was a defect ball joint because you could feel it when you backed up if you put your hand on the ball joint and had someone back up slowly. So I swapped out both upper ball joints. I also decided to changed out all the front brakes while I was inspecting. So I changed, rotors, pads, calipers, and hoses. I also got stuck replacing both spindles as the caliper mounts were stripped out. Even the driver's side caliper mount hole had split the spindle. I thought for sure that was the thing causing the noise. But after all that it still does the same noise. I even snugged the cab mount bolts thinking it was moving. But still the noise. I believe I narrowed it down to the driver's side coil spring popping. But why would it do that? I had the alignment guy look at it with it up in the air and he said the spring looked correctly installed. Anyone have any experience with something like this? It's a very loud popping noise that doesn't stop until you stop and turn the wheel straight and it's only the driver's side.

68 RT

I had a loud popping noise too coming from the drivers side while turning on my 05 2500 Ram. It was the chrome clad wheels. It drove me nuts till someone told me to swap them front to back. Noise stopped!. Ended up getting aftermarket wheels.

Derwud

I picked up a 98 Dakota and it does the same thing form the right side. Strange.. I haven't been able to spend a lot of time sorting it out cause I am waiting for registration.
1970 Dodge Charger R/T.. Owned since 1981

TexasStroker

How long have you had it?  Was it a recent pickup?

The reason I ask is because my Challenger does the same thing...when it is COLD.

I drive it thru the year and if I were to leave on the 4th of July I could cut the wheel all the way and have no issues.  When it gets really cold I can do the same thing and...pop, pop, pop...you physically feel it in the seat.

I had a few threads and a couple of others had the same issue.  No one really figured it out...some said tires, some said rub...my suspect was the really poor looking UCAs, but it doesn't seem to wear or have any adverse impacts thus far. 

Fwiw, my 01 Ram (original owner) has never done that.  All I know to tell you is to see if it still does so when it is warm (provided you got the truck here in the past few months).

Good luck!
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