Rebuild front drive shaft 4th Gen 2500 Diesel

[JW2 Innovations]

This past weekend I swapped the U Joints in my rear drive shaft chasing a vibration while at 50-70mph. Took a considerable amount of vibration out, but also in checking things out noticed my front drive shaft has a little play in it on rear U joint (the fun to grease one!) and wondered if anyone has done this? Pointers would be helpful as I've done plenty of standard U Joints, but not one with a ball between them. Any pointers?

Using this site for understanding of parts:

XV509 Exploded View 2013-2018 Ram 2500/3500 Front CV Driveshaft

XV509 Exploded View for 2013-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 front CV driveshafts. Detailed diagram identifies individual components for repair and parts sourcing.

torqueking.com

Is for older Ram, so different size of double joint, but this video is basically same process to replace the parts:

Dodge Ram Cummins Front Driveshaft Rebuild Part 2 Reassembly

Welcome to part 2 of the second generation 96 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins front driveline rebuild. This video contains part numbers for seals bearings and u-joint...

www.youtube.com

From other research I've done my understanding is you can take the front drive shaft out, and no harm/issues for normal driving (except you don't have 4x4) so will probably do that first to break it down and confirm the right parts before I start ordering. Mine has the flat face plates on each end so won't be leaving the transfer case or front differential open/exposed.

Anyone who's done one of these please let me know any gotcha's you care to share.

Thanks All!

 

[JW2 Innovations]

This looks to be the right kit with greasable U Joints for this need:

QK3126 1410 Front Driveshaft Custom Rebuild Kit with Greaseable U-Joints

QK3126 1410 Series Front Driveshaft Custom Rebuild Kit with CV Flange Yoke and 3 Greaseable Universal Joints for 2013-2018 Ram 2500 and Ram 3500.

torqueking.com

 

[JW2 Innovations]

According to specs on torqueking.com website for their QU40789 greaseable U Joint ($49.99 each) the specs are:

Caps - 1 3/16"
Width - 4 3/16"

Found this U Joint that is Spicer with same specs - but are only $26.99 each:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CKN76M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So now will only need these two items from torqueking.com for overall parts to do this rebuild:

QU40744 CV Ball and Seal Kit:

QU40744 CV Ball and Seal Kit for Spicer Type CV Driveshafts

QU40744 CV ball and seal kit for Spicer-type non-greaseable and 2005-up Dodge greaseable CV joints. USA-made kit for reusing the cast iron centering yoke.

torqueking.com

and
QU40704 CV Ball Joint Seal (other side)

QU40704 CV Joint Ball Seal 1985-up Spicer Type Constant Velocity Joints

QU40704 CV joint ball seal for 1985-up Spicer-type double-cardan driveshafts. Protects centering ball on Ford, Jeep, and Dodge CV joints from road splash.

torqueking.com

3 x $26.99 for the U Joints on Amazon
1 x 47.98 for CV Ball and Seal Kit
1 X $12.98 for CV Ball Joint Seal

Total in parts before tax & shipping: $141.93

 

[JW2 Innovations]

One item I see up front is how to get the CV Ball out of the yoke? This is the one that has the weird grease fitting you have to find and grease at each oil change.

Found this as one option:

Dodge Ram Cummins Front Driveshaft Rebuild Part 1 Disassembly

Rebuilding the front driveshaft on my second generation 96 Dodge Ram Cummins Diesel. A lot of times u-joints can be changed out using a hammer to knock them...

www.youtube.com

At 27:07 mark

or

you could buy a whole new assembly:

TK41028 1410 Front CV Driveshaft Flange or Centering Yoke for 13-18 Ram

TK41028 1410 Series Front CV Driveshaft Flange or Centering Yoke for 2013-2018 Ram 2500, Ram 3500.

torqueking.com

So rebuild it for $47.98 or buy a whole new assembly with CV Bearing/Spring/Seal already installed for $199.98

You're still going to need the other seal either way listed above for $12.98

 

[PaulTGarrett]

I can't name the source because I "heard of it" but was told the front universal crosses were an odd size and could not be second sourced outside of Mopar... When I bought my 2012 2500, there was a definite wobble feeling/noise in the front shaft. When I took it out and looked it over, I just decided to go to a custom driveshaft shop and had them build me one that accepted off-the-shelf fully-greasable Spicer parts. Standard zerks for the crosses and needle fittings for the CV. I paid $380 for it. My rear shaft is starting with the support bearing "clunk" when I shift from forward to reverse. I'm going to have a custom greasable shaft built for it.

Like was said on an automotive TV show, "there is no replacement for displacement". The driveline version of that is "there's no replacement for lubrication".... No, it doesn't rhyme... Oh well. LOL