My 1500 w/318 makes a popping/clunking sound when i take off. It sounds like it might be comming from the rear differential. I don't have to take off real hard to hear it. I took it to the dealer and all they did was grease the spline on the driveshaft and greased between each of the rear leafsprings ( a pretty quick fix ). It help in the beginning and now the sound is back. Any suggestions or causes?

Thanks in advance........

A broken leaf maybe. Check all of them carefully for a crack, it might even be very small...

Ahhh driveline stop clunk or bump/clunk upon excelleration. Those are actual names for this condition. If this is the condition?

When coming to a stop the rear end raises and/or front end dives, the leaves wrap. Then when at complete stop or just letting off brakes the springs wrap the other direction. Hence clunk.

Make sure shocks are good if OK then new leaf springs will fix.
I think this condition comes from overloading, but not real positive, just my own observation. Its just an annoyance and the springs are weak.

good luck

Did you ever figure out exactly what the popping sound was? I have a 1998 Dodge RAM 1500 that has what sounds like the same popping when starting to roll and sometimes when coming to full stop. What was it? Thanks.

I have that same noise. My dealer said it was my helper springs, but I took them off and it still does it. I keep careful tabs on my trailer weights and I have not overloaded my truck. I don't think much of the factory shocks though. I am going to replace mine with heavyduty shocks. My stock trailer (gooseneck) is 4200 lbs with a toung weight of 502lbs and it broke the shocks.