Front Driveshaft Replace or Rebuild

[CToney]

My front driveshaft needs work. The vibration in 4wd was the double cardan u joints. They were tight a few miles ago (too tight I guess) now they are loose. I have the Dyna-Trac free spin so the driveshaft sits idle most of the time. I do use 4lo a lot to back up trailers so it does get rotated often. Should I get it rebuilt or by a new Napa unit and install myself. My abs light is on even after I changed the rear sensor so my truck has to go into a shop to get that checked out anyways. I need both the ABS and 4wd since it is quite icy out.



Just priced out new napa shaft $453 or $326 in the US. Costs more to live north of the 49th. I guess I might just get it rebuilt. Joints are $32 a piece + some labor I guess.

 

[DE Jeeper]

I rebuilt mine. It wasnt that hard. Since I had over 200k on the clock I got a new centering ball section along with the joints. I think I had around $160 in parts.



Aaron

 

[S.Morris]

C. Toney



Replaced front shaft in my sons 04. 5 service truck at approx 200K km. Bought the complete shaft from Dealer at garage cost... ... was very little more than new aftermarket joints.

IIRC shaft was just under 400cad incl tax.

Old shaft was bad on all joints and had slop in slipjoint.



I figure we came out on the better end when considering time/labour etc



Steve

 

[S.Morris]

We have used napa joints in rear shaft..... and after several... . have decided not to use again. Precision joints seem to hold up better, if you actually grease them on a regular schedule.



Steve

 

[SierraRam]

I rebuilt mine with the kit from Quad 4x4, all greasable joints, $180 with a great manual. Took me about 4 hours and a good bench vice.



Dodge Drive Shafts

 

[JDKammin]

I have had several front shafts rebuilt by Certified Power and have always cost under $200 US currency.

 

[CToney]

Thanks I got her out and will get rebuilt by a shop who has done this for me before. We'll see how I make out.

 

[CToney]

Got her fixed 3 joints @ $25, $80 for ball, $20 for rubber boot, $128 labour, some shop supplies and taxes brings it to $343. 10% tax Could have been worse. They used precision greaseable joints. $24 for 1/2" drive long T40 torx to tighten stuff back up. I am not sure if it had been rebuilt before but I hope I don't have to spend the money to fix it again for a while.

 

[DFrank]

I just had all my joints replaced with greasible ones at Rocky mountain driveshaft, in Denver. $200 when I dropped it off and picked the shaft up uninstalled.

Removal and installation was easy with the right torx bit. Don't forget locktite on the reinstall.

 

[CToney]

There was loctite on the bolts by the T-case but none on the torx bolts by the axle. Were both loctited? I spun the shaft and kept torquing the torx bolts again and again until they seated all the way. You have to have the right torx bit to get them tight enough. Stuff is considerably cheaper south of the 49th. I am glad we are not too far away so we can slip down and buy certain things.

 

[DFrank]

pretty sure mine had locktite on both. I know it does now.

 

[Little John]

I had a friend provide me with this link: Dynatrac Free Spin Hub Conversion Kit - Front Axle Repair - Diesel Power Magazine

One thing Dodge doesn't do, is provide freewheeling hubs. With the freewheeling hubs, you don't have the constant spinning of the front propshaft, the front axle, until you engage the hubs. Also saves on fuel economy as well.

 

[CToney]

I have the free spin already. Milage improvement is maybe . 5 mpg. Free spin is worth the money when you have a wheel bearing go. To save bearings get a set of Centramatic wheel balancers. They balance real well and you save your bearings and the rest of the drivetrain.