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I know we have a few M10 daily drivers up north and I figure you must have to deal with this one too...
This seems to be a cold weather issue, although I have had it happen on 50 degree days, which doesn't quite seem to me like it would harden anything up, but I digress...
Here is what happens:
I shut down at work, fire up the car, back up and cut the wheel (not lock-to-lock), and while backing I feel and hear this pop/clank. It is almost like you are going over a worn out railroad crossing or something...
This started earlier this winter (November I think). It has gotten steadily more frequent AND severe. It honestly jolts you pretty good now and where I would once have 1-3 pops while backing, I will now get 8-12.
The first time it happened I honestly thought I had backed over a stick of channel iron...I got out to check in fact. Early on when it would happen (3rd and 4th time etc), I would pull forward and try to replicate it with no luck...it happened on the initial backing and then there was nothing.
Some point in December it got to where I could replicate it. Now pretty much anytime it happens I can just pull forward and repeat at will, which is why I started recording.
Just fyi I drive the car almost daily, it just clipped 7k miles, and it never did this last winter or on any colder days prior to this. I also drive and back up the Ram, Charger, and Duster as well as every other vehicle in the exact same manner and have never had anything like this happen.
I found that this seemed to be fairly common not only on Challengers, but on our LX counterparts. The craziest thing though, is that I have never found a definitive cause or a definitive solution. The few posters who have a dealership working with them have literally seemed to diagnose everything short of a muffler bearing. Tire Sidewall, bent rim, motor mount, control arm, control arm bushing, front engine cradle, sway bar end link, etc. What is worse is that the folks that have had some or all of these components replaced often times still have the issue?!
It truly blows my mind that we have an issue on so many cars that has been going on since 2005 and no one can come out and say what it is and how to fix it. Is it detrimental? Is it a sign of premature wear or impending failure? Who knows...
Back in the day, you had a widespread issue and there was either a recall issued OR a service bulletin that was a memo for dealers to basically tell the consumer, "Yes, we know of that...it is the "X" and has no impact past being annoying...you can have it replaced, or yada yada etc."
I personally am guessing the control arm bushings, but that is without any time to really check it out good...I lean that way because after painting the calipers I was thoroughly unimpressed by the upper control arm and could honestly see them developing stress fractures over x time, or y distance.
Anyway, I just wondered if any of you had the same issue and if so had taken it in or had any leads on a resolution. I know some folks claim there is a washer you can pull, but I honestly think if it was that simple Chrysler would have issued a bulletin and wouldn't have reps and engineers authorizing new front cradles etc.
And just fyi, my friend out near San Diego (she married a Marine) has a daily driver 06 Charger and she says it does it horrible in the morning, but never any other time...clearly the morning would be their coldest part of the day etc.
I am hoping we can get this resolved...I actually just tweeted the video to Ralph Gilles in hopes of him providing an answer or sending it to someone who will...We will see what comes of it.
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TexasStroker
