Driveshaft options

[STEVEBROOKS]

I went with an aluminum one-piece rear shaft custom-made by Driveshaft Specialist in San Antonio TX, and am very happy with the results. I also had them rebuild my front shaft, by installing greaseable u-joints and a greaseable CV joint too. They were great folks to deal with and I was impressed with the overall professionalism of their shop.

Steve

 

[brods]

Hmm, I was under the impression that the joints on my OEM shaft were 1480??

Anyhow the 1550's on there now are HUGE in comparison.

The custom shaft I ordered came with them... But it does have a MOPAR sticker on it...

If it is mopar are you sure they are not AAM 1555 joints? Apparently the 1555 are extremely close in size to the 1550, but like the 1415/1410 and 1485/1480 are not interchangeable. Both the 1415 and 1485 have a 0.010" shorter lockup dimension than the spicer 1410 and 1480. This is what tripped the aftermarket up at first and people were installing the wrong joints and forcing the retaining clips in.

AAM 74081555 UNIVERSAL JOINT
1555 series American Axle Manufacturing U-Joint
Fits 2006 and newer Dodge RAM 1555 series REAR Driveshafts made by AAM American Axle Manufacturing
Comes with OUTSIDE Snap Rings to be used in 1555 series Driveshafts
Dimension A & B = 4.965 inches
Dimension C & D = 1.375 inch diameter
DOES NOT FIT DANA SPICER 1550 SERIES DRIVESHAFTS
ALSO Fits Dodge 1555 Series 2010 and newer RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 4X4 Front Axle Shafts on AAM 9.25 inch Front Differential
Comes with INSIDE "C" Clips to be used in 1555 series Front Axles
All 4 bearing caps are 1.375 inch diameter with inside "C" Clips to lock the cap in place.
3.702 inches = The span between the yoke inner surfaces where the "C" Clips lock in.

 

[AH64ID]

I haven't measured or inspected them, but I was told by the drive-line shop they were 1550's.

 

[MarkEkberg]

Can I get one out of a junk yard off a 05/06 and will it fit?

 

[brods]

Half way there. New front shaft is in. It is an 52123326AB from a newer 3500 and is supposed to have 1350 u-joints at every location. Also got rid of those pita torx button heads and replaced them with flange heads. Thanks seafish for the link to MoparAmerica which had the best price. A note to anyone buying from there, ship to your place of work if you can. It was $11 FedEx to a commercial address. Something like $46 USPS to ship to a residence.
#ad




Still on the fence about the rear shaft. Aluminum is tempting but I have concerns about its ability to handle minor exterior damage and if the yokes will have issues from corrosion or will wear out prematurely from the rusty caps being pressed out during the inevitable u-joint changes. I do not want another throw away shaft.

Since I drive on a lot of dirt and gravel roads I like that steel can hold up to impacts better. Swaged or not is the next question. I could not find a definitive answer if swagging is primarily done to save weight or as a safety feature (so the shaft will collapse into itself during a crash). The shaft that came on the truck was swagged. The OEM replacement was not. Go figure.

As an interesting side note Dana sued AAM over driveshaft swagging back in 2000 or so.

 

[lpennock]

Aluminium holds up well to rock dings as Aluminium is naturally more flexible than steel. This allows the Aluminium to recover shape is cases that would bend steel. I run an Aluminium tie rod on my rock crawler for this reason. It can deflect 6" and come right back to straight. The Steel tie rods deflected and stayed that way.

 

[seafish]

Brods, I don't really see much difference between the two driveshafts , except for the beautiful shininess…lol. Just wondering if the u joints ARE actually bigger…can you mic them??

 

[brods]

Three differences. First all the u-joints are the same size. The original shaft has a smaller joint at the axle flange. Second is the slip style is reversed and third is the tubing is supposed to be thicker. The main attraction was all the joints being the same size and being 1350 (instead of the aam 1355). Whether they actually are 1350s I hope not to find out until 100K from now.

 

[waywardtravel]

Hey brods thanks for that link. I'm a little confused. MoparAmerica's website says it won't fit 05 if it's a diesel but will if it's gas. Do you have any idea why they say that?

 

[brods]

Found it, even kless $$ then I remember-- this DS is ONLY for 3rd gen QC trucks with the 48RE transmission like yours…G56 will be a DIFFERENT number.


http://www.moparamerica.com/oe-mopar/52123161ac

Hey brods thanks for that link. I'm a little confused. MoparAmerica's website says it won't fit 05 if it's a diesel but will if it's gas. Do you have any idea why they say that?

If you are referring to that link, seafish posted it I don't know anything about it.

 

[seafish]

That's a link that I posted for a good price on the REAR one pice aluminum driveshaft.

That being said, I thick that waywardtravel is trying to find a fitment guide for the FRONT driveshaft that you bought and installed on your 2005.

 

[brods]

Sounds more like the a rear shaft. Like the one you linked to it is probably not listed for the diesel because it does not have the vibration damper. He'll just have to chime in and let us know which one he was asking about. It is amazing how many different part numbers there are for driveshafts.

 

[brods]

After doing a lot of searching it appears very doubtful that anyone is selling shafts with true 1410 or 1480 slip yokes and axle flanges and are using AAM parts meant for 1415 and 1485 ujoints. I assume if they do supply the shaft with the 1410 or 1485 joints they are forcing them in. It appears custom $$$ billet parts are the only way to get away from those AAM ******* joints.

 

[waywardtravel]

Yes I was referring to the front shaft. The one you bought and said the front drive shaft is in. It's a 52123326AB. On the website it says that won't work.
I'll look further on the site. Maybe that is not the front shaft. It does not specify.
http://www.moparamerica.com/oe-mopar/52123326ab

 

[seafish]

It is amazing how many different part numbers there are for driveshafts.

VERY true!!! Still that's anise find on the front DS you made…if it fits your 2005, it will def fit mine. I recently rebuilt mine entirely (when I was in it anyway installing a free spin kit and Carliu bp's) but eventually might need a new one and will go with the one you found.

 

[seafish]

Waywardtravel, this link has an "expandable" hidden fitment box where you can check and see if it fits your truck…I tried it and def fits my 2005 2500. Just scroll down to "product fitment and applications" and click "show more"--

http://www.factorychryslerparts.com...500/SHAFT-Drive-Front/4562943/52123326AB.html

 

[waywardtravel]

Easily confused sorry.
The same part number on MoparAmerica doesn't fit according to the drop down menu's. It is only $358.00 though.
On Factory Chrysler website it does fit but is $417.00

Same part number.

 

[brods]

Depending upon what site you go to that front shaft fits all automatics from 2003 to 2012. Some sites do not list the 2005 year for some reason. Moparamerica has a fitment guaranty when you check out. You enter your vin and then they check to make sure it will fit before they ship.

If anybody knows a driveshaft shop that can actually supply a 1410 or 1480 slip yoke and rear axle yoke flange PLEASE share!!

 

[cerberusiam]

After doing a lot of searching it appears very doubtful that anyone is selling shafts with true 1410 or 1480 slip yokes and axle flanges and are using AAM parts meant for 1415 and 1485 ujoints. I assume if they do supply the shaft with the 1410 or 1485 joints they are forcing them in.

Drive Line Services does. If you order the shaft with 1410/1480 joints you get 1410/1480 yokes. If you order it with the 1415/1485 joints you get the AAM yokes and\or drive flanges.

 

[brods]

A few companies come up when Drive Line Services is googled. What state are they out of? Thanks.