TSB 23-61-97

Oil Canning Noise From Cargo Box

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Models: 1994 - 1998 BR/BE Ram

Symptoms:

Oil canning noise coming from the box are caused by the cargo box cross member contacting the vehicles frame as the vehicle is operated over a rough-surfaced road.

Diagnosis:

Drive the vehicle over a rough road. The condition of the road should be one in which the vehicle can go through several turning maneuvers while going over bumps in the road. If an oil canning noise is heard coming from the cargo box area during the road test, perform the following repair procedure. Another method to diagnose the condition is to walk on the cargo box bed  over the rear axle area and listen for the noise.

Parts:

4        55275466AA    Isolator, cargo Box Cross member rail
6        06503298          Bolt, cargo box hold down

Repair: Install isolators on two cargo box cross member rails.

1. Open the fuel fill door.
2. Remove the screws holding the fuel filler neck adapter to the cargo box side wall.
3. Remove the six bolts securing the cargo box to the frame rails (fig 1).
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4. Raise the cargo box off the vehicles frame just high enough to get the isolators into the hole/slots of the cargo box cross member.
5. Insert the isolators into the hole/slots of the number 2 and 3 cross members on the 6.5'  box or the number 3 and 4 cross members of the 8'  box (cross members are counted from front to back). as shown in fig 2.  Each cross member requires installation of two isolators in the outermost hole/slot of the cross member (fig 3).
1. NOTE: TO MAKE INSTALLATION EASIER, INSERT A PHILLIPS SCREWDRIVER INTO THE HOLE/SLOT OF THE CROSS MEMBER UNTIL THE ISOLATOR IS FULLY SEATED.
6. Lower the cargo box back onto the vehicle frame and secure box with new bolts and tighten to 40 ft-lb (54 Nm).
7. Install the fuel filler neck onto the cargo box and attach the adapter to the cargo box with the screws.
8. Close the fuel fill door.