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Dealer, TSB's and Recalls
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SS
Dodge Dakota
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4/07/2004
11:12:24

Subject: Front end rattle
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I have a 2001 Dakota 4.7 QC 4X4 with 37000km on it. When I drive over any road inperfection there is a rattle in the front end, sounds kinda like tin. I have had it to the dealer twice and they can't find anything that is loose. They can hear the noise also and several mechanics have spent about 2hrs looking. The dealer is not satisfied and wants the truck back (awesome service). Anyone have suggestions on what might be making this noise



mark hosna
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2004
22:18:07

RE: Front end rattle
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I have a 02 sxt 4x4 and i have had the same problem. The dealer replaced both upper control arms then 3 months later both ball joints on the bottom and it still made the same noise as yours does. Finally after the 3rd time in and complaining about the noise/rattle they came to the conclusion that there was play in the tierods and they ended up replacing my rack and tierods on both sides. But the funny thing is, is that its back making the same noise/rattle. maybe you might have more luck. But I love my DAKOTA.



stic
Dodge Dakota
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4/10/2004
23:54:32

RE: Front end rattle
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where exactly is this dealer?mine sucks for lack of a better term.
my '01 QC has the same rattle.took it in and they either dont care or are blind,deaf and dumb.i can hear it and feel it and im definintly no mechanic.
they did however find 1 (one)how?))bad shock and ordered it so i do need to bring the truck back again(3rd time in 3 weeks)ive had it 3 weeks)).im sure in a cpl weeks the other will go and ill be back there.



SS
Dodge Dakota
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4/13/2004
11:31:59

RE: Front end rattle
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Dealer is on Vancouver Island B.C. They are going to order and install a new right side control arm to see if that stops the rattle.



Sasquatch421
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2004
10:53:56

RE: Front end rattle
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I just brought my 2000 Dak in for the same noise and a few other things... Told me if it isn't covered under my extended warranty, then $40 for just looking. Well, that was yesterday morning, they fixed the other stuff under warranty. This morning they said they still haven't found it, checked brake calipers, exhaust was loose, they tightened it but didn't make a diff. Now they say it's going to take about $150 to find and fix whatever it is... BS, BS, BS. I hope it's the balljoints, then I'm going to pursue the lemon law after all the stuff they have had to fix that shouldn't have gone out.



JES
Dodge Dakota
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4/14/2004
14:04:26

RE: Front end rattle
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I'm also getting a 'clanking' sound while going over any imperfections. The dealer couldn't find anything (I don't even think they looked). I have noticed that the clanging goes away with the slightest pressure on the brake pedal. I'm going to look at the brakes this weekend to see if any clips or such have come loose.

Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96




JBark
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2004
10:47:15

RE: Front end rattle
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Reply to JES

Are you sure you aren't driving my truck? :)
I've got the exact same problem, to me it sound like the brake pads are rattling against to rotors?! I really don't think that's the problem, but that's what it sounds like. Slight brake pressure makes it go away completely. It's finally nice outside, so I thought I'd pull the tires off this weekend and have a look as well. Heck, my braking is so bad I might just replace the rotors and pads up front and be done with it.



JES
Dodge Dakota
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4/15/2004
15:57:59

RE: Front end rattle
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JBark -- my plan also. We'll have to compare notes on Monday. I think I have the correct 'star' bit to get the calipers off .. and I picked up some lithium grease the other day to make sure everything's good and lubed when I put it back together. Also, I think I may just have the rotors turned, since they aren't pulsating all that badly.

Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96




JML
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2004
11:23:46

RE: Front end rattle
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Same problem here. All kinds of pops and pings from the
front. I did notice that the lower fan shroud looked loose.
Had my tie rod ends replaced. The mechanic said "was a
little loose down there" Great.... Well the noise is still
there. To me it sounds like a loose wire rattling around.
Almost like it's coming from the fog lamps. I had a rattle
like this on my 1994 S-10. It was the wiring going to the
aftermarket fog lights. My Dak has OEM ones. I'm going to
crawl under there soon to investigate better. I still think
it's the lower fan shroud.

Please keep us up to date on what you find!



JBark
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2004
14:44:38

RE: Front end rattle
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Well, I found the problem on my truck. The pad clips were busted on the inner pad on both sides of the truck. Went to Napa and got some new rotors and premium pads, and spent an hour installing them.
Verdict?
My truck stops awesome now, and the rattle is completely gone. Here's some pics of my pads, you can see they weren't worn down much at all, even after 62,000 miles.
Brake Pad Pictures



JBark
Dodge Dakota
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4/17/2004
14:47:23

RE: Front end rattle
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Oh yeah, the inner pads just fell right off on both sides when I removed the caliper, and the broken clip piece was inside the caliper piston. I've always heard what sounded like two different rattling sounds. I'm guessing the broken clip piece was the quieter one, and the loose pad was the louder, clunkier sound.



SS
Dodge Dakota
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4/19/2004
11:21:34

RE: Front end rattle
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Dealer replaced the right side control arm and it still makes the rattle. They want the truck back and said they will keep replacing things in the front end until the rattle stops. I told them about the pads rattling.



Scout2
Dodge Dakota
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4/19/2004
13:23:56

RE: Front end rattle
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Went through the same annoying problem with my 2000 Dakota. Dealer replaced the front shocks, still noise. The problem turned out to be a broken pad clip rattling around. They replaced the clips and pads (for free!!) no more noise.



JES
Dodge Dakota
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4/19/2004
13:33:39

RE: Front end rattle
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Took my brakes apart expecting to find broken clips as many others have. Turns out my rattling was my brake line on the driver's side. Evidently, when the dealership replaced the control arm/balljoint assembly under warranty, they didn't reconnect the brake line bracket to the upper control arm ... or, shall I say, they tried, but didn't succeed. The bolt was cross-threaded halfway in; had to take bolt out, re-thread, then bolt back up. Noise is all but gone. I think a little noise is coming from the pads as the springs are quite rusty and not very resilient. Nothing worth crying about though.

I also inspected the pads and rotors as I have started to get some pulsating up front lately. The rotors are in serious need of turning ... large grooves and varying thicknesses are quite notable. The pads look like brand new (which is probably why the rotors are shot -- hard pads, soft rotors). I'm gonna get these turned this week and see how many more miles I can get out of them (have 36,500 now, with no brake work). Ultimately, I'll end up replacing the pads and rotors later this summer with some better quality parts from the local parts store.

Eric - http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96




SS
Dodge Dakota
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4/20/2004
18:50:03

RE: Front end rattle
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Dealer will be putting "acoustical ears" on different parts of the frame to pin point the rattle. This was the direction given to them by DC enginnering. Apparently they can shut off each of the ears to narrow down the location of the rattle.



JES
Dodge Dakota
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4/21/2004
14:09:41

RE: Front end rattle
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The dealership CAUSED my rattle. Thank goodness my warranty ran out last weekend. No more dealing with those jagoffs!!!!!

Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96




G-MAN
Dodge Dakota
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4/27/2004
21:32:30

RE: Front end rattle
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started having abad rattle from the front end of my '99 4x4 dakota.Could not find out from where.MY brother who has a trouble free '94 with 280 thousand km.on it told me to spray oil on the steering wheel shaft couplings. I told him he was crazy.Went to the dealer,who changed 3 ball joints for 500.00 cdn.Rattle was still there. Drove for a week with that bastard rattle,until i took my brothers advice.Srayed oil on the couplings.NO MORE NOISE!I drove that truck for over 2 years until i traded it for a '03 dakota.In those 2 years the rattle never came back.TRY IT BEFORE YOU GO TO THE DEALER



MADATMYDAKOTA
Dodge Dakota
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5/12/2004
11:36:45

RE: Front end rattle
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Looks like dealerships everywhere have got the exact same scam going with all dakota owners. My 02 had the exact problems as everyone else here. 5 trips to the dealership, 5 road tests, new ball joints, new upper and lower control arms, and a long list of other new parts and it turns out my anti rattle clips for my pads were missing. The clips were replaced, and never that annoying rattle finally went away.



DAK1210
Dodge Dakota
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5/14/2004
11:45:23

RE: Front end rattle
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I have a 01 4x4 4.7L Quad Cab and had/have the same type of noise's coming from my front end as well. The first noise I have determined is from the bushings squeaking (lack of grease maybe), but the second problem sounded like the tin noise that SS was experiencing. It has something to do with the front brakes because after I had the brake pads replaced and rotors resurfaced the noise went away. I couldn't tell you what the problem was, but all I now is the problem is now gone. Hope this helps!!



SVS
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2004
14:24:17

RE: Front end rattle
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Bought an 02 Dakota SXT about 6 months ago & noticed the same problem everyone else seems to be having, that DAMN RATTLE!!! Any touch of the brakes makes the rattling cease. I am SO glad I stumbled across this site today!!! Thanks to all who posted their fixes on this site!



SS
Dodge Dakota
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6/09/2004
17:41:54

RE: Front end rattle
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Dealer put the acoustical ears on my truck and found out the right lower ball joint was the cause of the rattle. Covered on warranty. Sh*tty part is my warranty runs out in September/04. I guessing the replacement ball joints will last just a long. They have already replaced the rotors, and upper right ball joint. I have 39,000km on this truck.



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