Dealer says i need a new drive shaft for a 04.5 longbed automatic. Ujoints are bad They want $713 for the part. Where can i get it cheaper?

 

Why not replace the u-joints at aprox. $15 ea.??

 

dealer said it is cheaper to do the whole drive shaft. I assume they think the added labor will make up the difference, but I dont see how. They want $925 parts and labor to install a new drive shaft. If I do the two ujoints and the carrier bearing how much do you think it is going to cost? Parts? Labor?

 

Check with a local drive shaft shop. Thinking they will do it cheaper.

 

If you need the whole shaft, this is a nice unit:
http://www.doghousediesel.com/catalog/i259.html

 

Does that shaft come with the ujoints attatched? I assume that it is very easy to put in, no tricks to it? Does anyone have any experiece with one? I might go that route.

 

You can get the joints for about $15 a piece and a way better designed Spicer Carrier brg for under $60. That dealership needs to have it's shop employees smacked upside the head !!!

 

Yeah, the problem with the Dodge replacement is that it will come with the trouble prone AAM u- joints, just like your original one. I would source out some decent Spicer Life joints and install those in your original shaft. You will never have to worry about replacing another u-joint. They run a bit more than $15 each, but well worth it.

 

This the front or rear shaft??

 

Rear, long bed 48re trans 2004 quad cab

 

The one they're selling is the new one piece design. It's all aluminum, and they did it to get away from the carrier bearing and the slip joke, I mean yoke.

 

I went to the one piece drive shaft over a year ago. Got the shaft form www.dodgetruckparts.com or go to Doghouse diesel like mentioned in a previous post. No more carrier bearing to get jacked up. My truck's tranny seems to shift much different and the whole truck rides different, almost like new. I think I paid around $550.00 to my door. You will not be disappointed.

Chip

 

Dealer....

I wouldn't take my truck to a dealer for an oil change... I wouldn't take my truck to a dealer for an air filter change.... I wouldn't take my truck to the dealer for wiper blades.... I wouldn't take my truck to a dealer for a new headlight....

Get the idea? If you can't do it yourself, or you feel like it will take more time than you want to invest, I'd look night and day for a great independent shop you can trust. Dealers have so much overhead and well, how many can you trust? Maybe it's just my experience, but I have tried maybe 6 times to support local dealers and have been burned 6 times.

Good luck with your search. I replaced my u-joints with Spicers and they have held up for 75,000 miles under a lot of stress. I'd look at the one piece if I ever have to replace them again though.

 

Was that shaft easy to put in? I think I would like to go that route. What about ujoints? Does it take a ujoint on each end and dose it come with them and if not what ones do I need Same as I have now.?

 

It comes with everything to just bolt it on according to the website.