HELP with a decision....

[Rbertalotto]

2021 RAM 2500, 6.4L.....I have the worst luck when road tripping. Getting ready to leave for Florida tomorrow. 2400 miles round trip. ....Driving down the road to run an errand, a truck in front of me drops a block of wood. It bounces up under my truck and destroys the driveshafts harmonic balancer! I tied the remaining ring back with a piece of wire and went to the dealer. The whole drive shaft has to be replaced and Lord know how long that will take to get one. With the ring tied back, I took the truck out on the highway and I'm not feeling any vibration. I'm going to cut the ring off in any event. Can't even drive it around town like this.
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE!

 

[Octane]

You may not feel the vibes but the drivetrain where that thing connects does.Personally I would not drive it.Just to shop for repair is all

 

[Rbertalotto]

Other searches it looks like folks that off-road are knocking these things off regularly and not replacing them......Anyone in this group?

 

[Octane]

Maybe so.Ive done offroad stuff that wasn't really optimum.Lol. For a new street truck as I said,I would fix it.But opinions are like...well you know,everybody's got one! Lol

 

[NJMOPAR]

Offroad is usually at a snail's pace compared to interstate driving.
I wouldn't gamble on dropping a driveshaft at 75mph.

 

[JerryETX]

Nope not even a consideration for me.

 

[NH RAM]

Here's a few responses from other folks on another thread:
https://www.ramforum.com/threads/knocked-a-metal-ring-off-aft-end-of-drive-shaft.163751/page-2

 

[retired]

find a local driveline shop and ask them to balance it.

 

[Rbertalotto]

find a local driveline shop and ask them to balance it.

I just took it out again on the highway. There is no vibration. I don't believe this has anything to do with balance. I believe it is to remove any small vibrations that might remain after the Dshaft is balanced.

 

[Rbertalotto]

BTW, as you can see in the pictures, this dampner is not on the drive shaft. It is mounted on the rear of the universal joint. On the differential.

 

[mikeru]

I'm assuming this driveline damper is an HD only device. My 2021 1500 doesn't have one.

 

[Rbertalotto]

Might be. My 2019 2500 did not have one either.

 

[Octane]

The factory put it there for a reason.
Even mds was built for a reason. The reason was to save gas.Shame it's only there for show. Maybe this is too.

 

[GTyankee]

I believe the difference is the length of the bed

I know that shops that make driveshafts, don't like to build a 5' drive shaft, they are hard to balance & some of them will ask you to sign the paperwork, that states that the shaft is not warrantied

 

[stormcom]

Call some wrecking yards (I must be politically correct: Auto Recyclers). Look online and you might find your part. Would not go until fixed. Something happens and your fault for not repairing.

 

[sandawilliams]

2021 RAM 2500, 6.4L.....I have the worst luck when road tripping. Getting ready to leave for Florida tomorrow. 2400 miles round trip. ....Driving down the road to run an errand, a truck in front of me drops a block of wood. It bounces up under my truck and destroys the driveshafts harmonic balancer! I tied the remaining ring back with a piece of wire and went to the dealer. The whole drive shaft has to be replaced and Lord know how long that will take to get one. With the ring tied back, I took the truck out on the highway and I'm not feeling any vibration. I'm going to cut the ring off in any event. Can't even drive it around town like this.
SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?

ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE!

Did you get the plate number and call pollce?

 

[mikeru]

Call some wrecking yards (I must be politically correct: Auto Recyclers). Look online and you might find your part. Would not go until fixed. Something happens and your fault for not repairing.

You're afraid of offending wrecking yards?

 

[stormcom]

No, I own a computer company and have customers who are wrecking yards and are proud to be one. In Texas, we don't say " Going to the auto dismantler. We say headed to the 'wreckin' yard."

 

[GTyankee]

Rbertalotto​

Call & or drop by & ask them how safe it is to travel with it

https://southshorebearing.com/driveshafts.htm in Quincy

Montrose Driveline & Hose LLC​

Wakefield