2 piece driveshaft play

[Wesley.H]

So i have a clunk noise when letting off the brakes and when getting on or off the pedal. All u joints look fine. But i have seemed to have narrowed it down to the spline where the driveshafts meet. Does anybody have a video of how much play is in their 2 piece driveshaft. Also my carrier bearing looks good too.


Heres a video i took.

 

[seafish]

The 3rd gen 2 piece driveshaft center support bearings and bushings are a definite failure point on theses trucks!!!

When my CS bushing split for the second time, I removed the entire center support bearing AND THE ENTIRE SUPPORT FRAME (only 4 easy bolts) and then ordered an OEM aluminum one piece driveshaft from a later model QC/LB truck. By removing the two piece driveshaft and support frame and then replacing it with the one piece driveshaft, I immediately eliminated the driveshaft clunk I had and ALSO eliminated the 65mpg DS vibration I had always experienced with my truck, as well as eliminated the chance of the CS bearing/bushing ever failing again.

IMO, a win/win/win situation at a cost difference of $400 or so!!!!

 

[Wesley.H]

The 3rd gen c 2 pice driveshaft enter support bearings and bushings are a definite failure point on theses trucks.
When my bushing split for the second time, I removed the entire center support bearing AND the ENTIRE SUPPORT FRAME and then ordered an OEM aluminum one piece driveshaft. Removing the two piece driveshaft and support frame and replacing it with the one piece driveshaft immediately eliminated the clunk I had and ALSO eliminated the 65mpg DS vibration I had always experienced with my truck, as well as eliminated the chance of the CS bearing/bushing ever failing again. IMO, a win/win/win situation at extra cost of $400 or so!!!!

This isn't the center support bearing clunking. Its the spline where the 2 meet

 

[GrantP]

This isn't the center support bearing clunking. Its the spline where the 2 meet

A one piece driveshaft would eliminate that spline...

 

[seafish]

This isn't the center support bearing clunking. Its the spline where the 2 meet

The spline connections, CS support bearing, and CS bearing bushing integral to the two pieced DS are ALL elimanted when easily and NOT that expensively converting to a one pice driveshaft.

That being said, be aware that a dealer parts tech will specifically tell you that you CANNOT do it due to the CS support framework, but that pice is readily and easily removed to allow for the safe install of the one piece DS. But if you wanted to simply follow dealer advice, you likely would not be here on diyma trying to solve your vehicles issues. FYI-- Many people have successfully done the swap I am talking about and have had ONLY positive things to say about their experience with it!!!

 

[Wesley.H]

The spline connections, CS support bearing, and CS bearing bushing integral to the two pieced DS are ALL elimanted when easily and NOT that expensively converting to a one pice driveshaft.

That being said, be aware that a dealer parts tech will specifically tell you that you CANNOT do it due to the CS support framework, but that pice is readily and easily removed to allow for the safe install of the one piece DS. But if you wanted to simply follow dealer advice, you likely would not be here on diyma trying to solve your vehicles issues. FYI-- Many people have successfully done the swap I am talking about and have had ONLY positive things to say about their experience with it!!!

I have thought about it. But i wanna be sure that's my problem first. That's why i wanted to post a vid for others to see if theirs (that doesn't clunk) have the same play or none

 

[Wesley.H]

And where should i buy a one piece?

 

[seafish]

It really Depends where you are located.

I got mine from my local Dodge dealer, but since the VIN and my truck was not originally configured with one, I needed to provide the part# for them and let them know to ignore the "warning" about not using it on my truck (which is simply there due to potential interference of the carrier bearing support hanging down from the frame, but since you will remove that support along with the original driveshafts here is no loner ANY danger from interference. That being said, I have a very good working relationship with my local Dodge parts counter. The part# depends on the bed and cab and transmission configuration of your oem truck.

That being said, if there is a reputable driveline shop in your area they can MAKE on for you for about $650.
If not, Driveline Specialists in TX has been making one piece aluminum driveshafts for our trucks in either standard or upgraded configurations. They do top quality work with fast turnaround and AFAICT, most everyone who has bought from them has appreciated their customer service and work quality. They also ship.

 

[SSage]

I wish I could find a $650 one piece drive shaft around here in central Alabama, I just started looking again. Crawling around under the 03 today reminded me how bad the rubber is around my carrier bearing.

It was cheaper to rebuild the two piece on my 2nd gen a few years ago, but now that local mechanic moved away. I'll probably have to go the one piece route and install it myself.

 

[Wesley.H]

I wish I could find a $650 one piece drive shaft around here in central Alabama, I just started looking again. Crawling around under the 03 today reminded me how bad the rubber is around my carrier bearing.

It was cheaper to rebuild the two piece on my 2nd gen a few years ago, but now that local mechanic moved away. I'll probably have to go the one piece route and install it myself.

Does yours have play in the middle spline like i posted in the video

 

[SSage]

Yeah, its clunky too. I only have 106,000 miles on the 2003 truck, but the auto clunks into gear worse than my 95 with a worn rear end.

I just looked up the old link i have for the Texas shop and it still works: http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/Truckhtml/Dodge truck.html

 

[seafish]

I just looked up the old link i have for the Texas shop and it still works: http://www.driveshaftspecialist.com/Truckhtml/Dodge truck.html

Yup that's the place....guess it's gone up a bit. Still if you subtract the cost of NOT needing to replace the carrier bearing and bushing, as well as not needing to replace them eventually gain, it does become more reasonable IMO.

 

[Wesley.H]

Just talked to them and me having a crew cab long bed 2wd the driveshaft is too long he said.

 

[JKosten]

Just talked to them and me having a crew cab long bed 2wd the driveshaft is too long he said.

Isn't the crew cab long bed the same wheel base as the Megacabs? Also what year truck?

If so I just replaced my 2 piece driveline and found the best price from RockAuto for around $650 shipped. Part number 52123161AC.

 

[cerberusiam]

Isn't the crew cab long bed the same wheel base as the Megacabs? Also what year truck?

Same wheel base, but a 2x4 does not have a t-case and that makes a 1 piece drive line too long. 84" is the longest I believe they will build with a 5" tube.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

I pulled mine apart and greased it. The clink went away for about 10k miles, but now is starting to come back.

 

[CBari]

I wonder if you could put a zerk in it to grease it easily. I have a few like that on some Ag equipment.