Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Shooter_308

Shooter_308

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 9, 2012
329
2
36
Long Island, New York
#1
Hey guys, i noticed this a few days ago but up until now decided to let it slide thinking maybe i'm just being crazy. Here'e the situation: It's an '03 Ram 1500 2wd Reg cab work truck, v6 Magnum, little over 42,000 on it.

Basically what i'm noticing is this weird pulsing sound when i'm up around 55-65mph. It's not really noticeable below that, but is most noticeable on the highway on smoother pavement. I don't notice any wobbling or vibrations when this happens, just the sound. Checked all my fluids, all checks out okay. At first i thought the sound was 100% coming from the motor, but i noticed i don't hear the sound if the car is stationary parked, in traffic or in neutral.

Here's what's been done to this thing since i bought it 3 years ago with 25k on it:

-Gears in the rear diff were replaced (old owner i believe did some heavy towing they shouldn't have and worked it a bit too hard)

-Driver's side front Hub bearing was replaced

-New tires put on 2 years ago, have not been rotated due to my lack of common sense

-New exhaust put on 2 years ago (i know this has nothing to do with it, just listing)

-Regular oil changes

-Regular inspections, front brakes are O.K.

-AAMCO did a complete tranny flush and check up about a year ago, everything is good to go.

I'm not hard on my truck at all, it's my daily driver to and from work or around town, the farthest i drive during the week is about 25 miles to the range i go to. Other than that ii'm not too demanding on it. Just wondering if anybody has any ideas on what i should look into. All honesty i'm going to have to bring it to a mechanic and i'm not inclined in auto repair, but i'd like to have a "sort of" idea what it could be.
 
#3
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Any signs of wear on the tires? Caster/Camber indications?

Could be a vibration coming from a loss of balance. Also could be a transmission issue. Not sure of course. How does it shift at high speeds? Is it always in overdrive? any change when you take it out of overdrive?

Your mileage is pretty minor for a 9 year old truck.

I have two Rams: a 2000 I gave to my daughter and a 2008. I had to rebuild the transmission on the 2000 at 90,000 miles as 1st and 2nd gear were largely cooked! To be fair, it was always pretty heavily loaded with my tools.
 
#4
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

I hear it at highway speed around 55-65, but NOT in neutral.

I don't see any unusual wear on the tires, but i'll check again. It shifts fine at high speeds, but i have noticed it to be a little sluggish on pick-up. It's always in over-drive, i thin k it's been out of over-drive twice since i've had it. The only difference i've noticed when not in overdrive is it seems to have a little more "oomph" behind it.
 
#7
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Oh it's most definitely a mechanical sound, not electronic. I just had my sister's boyfriend over her (turns out he's a mechanic, who knew?) We checked it in neutral, ran the engine, had it to about highway speed in neutral, nothing. Not a sound. So at least i know it's not the engine.

I have been hitting some NASTY potholes in the area lately however with all the ungodly amounts of rain we've been getting, as well as the "wonderful" state our roads are in here in NY as it is. I'm thinking could it be possible that my aligment could have been thrown off, or possibly a wheel weight got thrown causing a balance issue??

Also, i hear it pretty much always at these speeds, it's just MORE noticeable on smoother paved roads due to less imperfections bouncing me around.
 
#9
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

It is possible that you threw a wheel weight, or even a drive line weight ( these are rarer as they weld them ) Alignment issues usually are easier to notice as it will pull to one side or the other while on a flat surface with no pressure on the steering wheel,( note most roads have a camber in them and are not flat, big parking lots are better for checking this) while driving or under braking. When you say it is overdrive mostly are you referring to you turning on the towing assist or having it off? U joints are also easy to check for play, and a tell tale sign is if you hear a clunk when you go into forward or reverse.
 
#10
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Couple things try.
take truck to interstate,remain out of overdrive and cruise at highway speed or when noise is usually present. If no noise,put into overdrive and see if the noise will come back.
check trans fluid after interstate driving and truck at Max opperating temp.
 
#11
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Get it up to highway speed and get the pulsing sound to start. While it is doing it lightly left off the accelerator to unload the drivetrain. If the sound goes away then it is either ring&pinion related or driveshaft(U-Joint). If the sound is not dependant on accel or decel then it is possibly axle bearing or tire related.

Rick
 
#12
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

There are no clunks or rattles when i go to take off or go in reverse, so that's a good sign. Towing assist is off.

I checked the tranny fluid right as i pulled up after a 40 minute drive from the range, fluid was the right color and perfect level. It makes the noise in or out of O/D

Rick, thats eactly what i was doing when i noticed it, letting off after i got up to speed. The sound remains, but peters out as the truck slows down. Once i get on the gas again it picks up. But it is not dependant on if i'm, givin' her gas or not, just on motion.
 
#13
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter_308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are no clunks or rattles when i go to take off or go in reverse, so that's a good sign. Towing assist is off.

I checked the tranny fluid right as i pulled up after a 40 minute drive from the range, fluid was the right color and perfect level. It makes the noise in or out of O/D

Rick, thats eactly what i was doing when i noticed it, letting off after i got up to speed. The sound remains, but peters out as the truck slows down. Once i get on the gas again it picks up. But it is not dependant on if i'm, givin' her gas or not, just on motion. </div></div>

And being in gear, right?
 
#14
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RHallenbeck</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get it up to highway speed and get the pulsing sound to start. While it is doing it lightly left off the accelerator to unload the drivetrain. If the sound goes away then it is either ring&pinion related or driveshaft(U-Joint). If the sound is not dependant on accel or decel then it is possibly axle bearing or tire related.

Rick </div></div>

Solid info there.

You can also shift it into nuetral and see if the noise changes. You mentioned your lack of tire rotation in a prior post. Is there any irregular wear on the tires? Try rotating the tires in a X pattern if the drivetrain test doesn't reveal anything. A change in the pitch or level of the sound could be caused by "cupping" on the tire. To check the bearings simply jack up the truck and spin the tire/wheel assembly and listen for any noise. You can go a step further and remove the tire/wheel and spin the rotor/drums and get a better feel and listen for any bearing noise. Noises can be tough to determine the cause as the sound can transfer through various areas of the vehicle and are usually diagnosed through a process of elimination.
 
#15
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Get the front tires in the air one at a time and check to see if there is any play in the wheel by putting a hand at 12:00 and one at 6:00 and pushing back and forth. If there is it's a wheel hub bearing assembly. I owned a 2002 1500 and replaced both of mine about a year apart. They aren't a particularly strong component and smacking a pothole good will definitely tear them up.
 
#16
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Check and be sure you have not run over a stick and push the dust shield into the rotor as well.. Those can deal you misery.. Sure sounds like a cupped tire or axle bearing though..

Rick
 
#17
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RHallenbeck</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Check and be sure you have not run over a stick and push the dust shield into the rotor as well.. Those can deal you misery.. Sure sounds like a cupped tire or axle bearing though..

Rick </div></div>
+1
There are so many little things that can cause this, I have even known to have a rear trans mount (bolts loosened just a little)to cause faint vibration noise.
 
#20
Re: Issue with my Ram 1500, looking for input

Tire noise is very rarely load induced in rear wheel drive and if a front wheel drive it is suspension related and you WILL notice steering issues. As said before it does sound like drivetrain issue. If I were to jump to a conclusion without diagnosing myself (most of the time a bad idea) I would say either a bad outer pinion bearing (check to see if the pinion seal is leaking), a bad output transmission bushing (check for leakage at the driveshaft transmission yoke)
Can't seem to find my big noise checklist

BOOM—Rhythms sound like a drum roll or distant thunder. May cause pressure on ear drums.
BUZZ—Low pitched sound, something like a bee. Usually associated with vibrations.
CHATTER—Rapidly repeating metallic sound.
CHIRP—High pitched rapidly repeating sound, like chirping birds.
CLICK—Light sound, like a ballpoint pen being clicked.
CLUNK/THUMP—Heavy metal to metal sound, like a hammer striking steel.
GRIND—Abrasive sound, like a grinding wheel or sandpaper rubbing against wood.
GROAN/MOAN—Continuous, low pitched humming sound.
GROWL/HOWL—Low, guttural sound, like an angry dog.
HISS—Continuous sound like air escaping from a balloon.
HUM—Continuous sound of varying frequencies, like a wire humming in the wind.
KNOCK—Heavy, loud, repeating sound like a knock on a door.
PING—Similar to a knock, except at a higher frequency.
RATTLE—A sound suggesting looseness, such as marbles rolling around in a can.
ROAR—Deep, long, prolonged sound like an animal, or winds and ocean waves.
RUMBLE—Low, heavy continuous sound like that made by wagons or thunder.
SQUEAK—High pitched sound, like rubbing a clean window.
SQUEAL—Continuous, high pitched sound like running fingers across a chalkboard.
TAP—Light, hammering sound like tapping a pencil on the edge of a table. May be rhythmic or intermittent.
WHIR/WHINE—High pitched buzzing sound, like an electric motor or drill.
WHISTLE—Sharp, shrill sound like wind passing a small opening.
 
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