One Piece Drive Shaft

[DRyder]

So I’m due to R2 the two piece junk shaft on my 04 and reading the plethora of entries on various forums I finally called Dave at dodgetruckparts.net and gave him the suggested part number (52123220AB). After researching my VIN he said per the Mopar/Dodge part gods my application would be part number 52123161AC; which was great since it was a whopping 300 bucks cheaper than the 220AB. I verified the VIN w/ him, so here's hoping that we got it right (shipping today). Just a FYI for my TDR family and the ever changing drive shaft PN's.



Dave

 

[cerberusiam]

The correct # is 52123161AB. The other number is for the RFE transmission. Might be the same length but you never know.

 

[DRyder]

Great, so this might be all for not. Ill keep you posted, he verified the vin...

 

[cerberusiam]

The AB number supercedes to the AC number on the Mopar Direct site with aprice of $455. I think it is probably good.

 

[TileMan]

Forgive me, but what are the disadvantages or advantages to the one piece driveline? Thank U

 

[Jim W]

In my humble opinion you eliminate the carrier bearing and the two piece drive shaft. These are wear points and extra parts that are not required with the one piece drive shaft.

Jim W.

 

[MarkEkberg]

2 Piece shaft will remain a little higher to clear off road stuff.

 

[Jim W]

2 Piece shaft will remain a little higher to clear off road stuff.

Mark; this may be true but I have been going on off- road adventures since 1968 with one piece drive shafts and they have never been an issue. I always figured that the pumpkin on the axle and oil pan for the engine where more important for ground clearance then the drive shaft. If these two items cleared than the drive shaft would clear.

Just my humble opinion.

Jim W.

 

[jelag]

A good friend. . second generation owner of a drive shaft shop in Indiana shared the following with me years ago...

Most old timers in the drive shaft industry won't install or build a one piece drive shaft like what is used in our trucks. . its their belief that any shaft that length will never be exactly straight. . most drive shaft shops... six-states dist, and the independent shops will balance the shaft with a twin plain balancer... and will do it at speed... the problem with a single long shaft... is that if a dial indicator is placed in the center of the shaft... you will never get a zero reading... or actually within standard of a 2 piece drive shaft... you can build it bigger in diameter, and use a thicker wall tube... but it still can be a problem...

What is a surprise is the move by the OEM to move from a known good product (2 piece shaft) to a one piece shaft and change what has been industry standards for almost 100 years... I understand higher quality. . and better manufacturing technology... but what I think is driving it more than anything is the savings... one less u-joint, no slip joint, no carrier bearing. . no welding... balancing one shaft, not two... .

BTW - a good shop will balance a 2 piece shaft as one piece...

So I'll keep my 2 piece shaft... I did let the truck idle, and use some emery paper, sanding the shafts and than painting them... to prevent rust and out of balance... .

 

[Rimcrew]

Reasons to go with one piece:

- Less complexity/parts to go bad
- LARGE weight reduction
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- Much larger/stronger u-joints
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Looks better
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Now, having said all that, there was really nothing wrong with my two-piece. It was all original (170k miles), other than the rear u-joints, and I had no problems with it. There was a slight vibration, which the new shaft fixed, but it was barely noticeable.

If I were to do it again I would only change to the one-piece if I had a problem with the two-piece, but, having changed, I will never reinstall the two-piece design...

 

[DRyder]

the part slid right in. ran it to montana and back with zero problems. thanks!

 

[Bob4x4]

Depends on the type of off roading you do weather it will work safely or not. The break over angle is not very good in a stock height long wheelbase truck. Even running 37's and a 3 inch lift on Jeep trails can be interesting,granted the fuel tank is another concern when going extreme. #ad

 

[S.Morris]

The one piece are aluminum therefore lighter and more rigid but will not fair well if subjected to offroad abuse.



We have one replaced with aluminum in an 04. 5 which got rid of a vibration we had been chasing. Have not changed any ujoints in an aluminum shaft though.

 

[Jim W]

Depends on the type of off roading you do weather it will work safely or not. The break over angle is not very good in a stock height long wheelbase truck. Even running 37's and a 3 inch lift on Jeep trails can be interesting,granted the fuel tank is another concern when going extreme. #ad

Bob,
Couldn't a skid plate work if you have a one piece drive shaft? I know it may be a few pounds more but a 7500+ LBS truck already a couple of pounds would not make that much of a difference.

Jim W.

 

[Bob4x4]

A skid could protect the shaft but again that would decrease break over angle even more