Anyone’s front driveshaft break?

[mike_ct]

Basically stock truck with highway tires, 22k miles, and I baby it. We had some snow here, in my driveway, started it up, pushed 4x4, and about a 50 feet later, marbles in coffee can. It’s been working great and smoothly up until now. No idea why this happened. Found some folks on the facebook group with failures too, one guy said his failed at 10k miles. Wondering how widespread or if it’s a fluke. I’m familiar with the 4x4 system, I own several ram trucks, of different years, and even my plow truck, the front driveshaft went well over 100k

 

[mike_ct]

Since it was basically falling off anyway, I just removed it and drove it to the dealer. Couldn’t schedule a Chrysler roadside tow, because they use local contractors and I “wasn’t in distress on the side of the road” and they had a high number of emergency calls.

 

[Finn5033]

Wow that’s crazy. I have a buddy with a 2019 that I’ve seen redline his truck in 4 high on the lakes pulling his fish house cause he was stuck. I’ve seen him do this a handful of times and he’s never had a problem. Never even had the 4wd over heat issue that some people have had

 

[Willwork4truck]

Could you tell if it was missing any bolts/nuts?
There was a June 2019 recall for the rear driveshafts failing but I haven't found anything for the front...

Ram 1500 Recall Ordered For Broken Driveshafts

Fiat Chrysler (FCA) is recalling more than 17,000 model year 2018-2019 Ram 1500 trucks because the driveshafts may break due to weld problems.

www.carcomplaints.com

 

[SpeedyV]

Basically stock truck with highway tires, 22k miles, and I baby it. We had some snow here, in my driveway, started it up, pushed 4x4, and about a 50 feet later, marbles in coffee can. It’s been working great and smoothly up until now. No idea why this happened. Found some folks on the facebook group with failures too, one guy said his failed at 10k miles. Wondering how widespread or if it’s a fluke. I’m familiar with the 4x4 system, I own several ram trucks, of different years, and even my plow truck, the front driveshaft went well over 100k

Um....no. This is the first I've heard of this!

 

[mike_ct]

Bolts were all tight, and you have to drop the front sway bar to make room to drop the shaft. Still it’s a 2 minutes job for a 15mm socket. I found several people with failed front shafts, some guys have 2021’s with like 2-4K miles. One guy has a rebel and is on his 3rd replacement. Other people say they do donuts and drag launches in 4hi on dry asphalt and no issues.

 

[Willwork4truck]

Bolts were all tight, and you have to drop the front sway bar to make room to drop the shaft. Still it’s a 2 minutes job for a 15mm socket. I found several people with failed front shafts, some guys have 2021’s with like 2-4K miles. One guy has a rebel and is on his 3rd replacement. Other people say they do donuts and drag launches in 4hi on dry asphalt and no issues.

Very weird... (I mean that info, as well as myself).

 

[jason ross]

Basically stock truck with highway tires, 22k miles, and I baby it. We had some snow here, in my driveway, started it up, pushed 4x4, and about a 50 feet later, marbles in coffee can. It’s been working great and smoothly up until now. No idea why this happened. Found some folks on the facebook group with failures too, one guy said his failed at 10k miles. Wondering how widespread or if it’s a fluke. I’m familiar with the 4x4 system, I own several ram trucks, of different years, and even my plow truck, the front driveshaft went well over 100k

Mine appears to have done the same.

 

[thurm33]

Mine just failed last week. 44k miles with a BDS 4" lift for air ride. It looks exactly like the OPs.

My question is on the replacement. I was hoping to replace it with the Dorman OE version, but the end going to the transfer case looks different from the Mopar OEM drive shaft that looks to have a housing (which got damaged in my case). I am not clear if this Dorman unit simply slips into the transfer case like this without needed a housing. Anyone have this or know? Pic of the drive shaft end is below, and full Dorman link on RockAuto: More Information for DORMAN 938375

 

[Morenar]

Mine just failed last week. 44k miles with a BDS 4" lift for air ride. It looks exactly like the OPs.

My question is on the replacement. I was hoping to replace it with the Dorman OE version, but the end going to the transfer case looks different from the Mopar OEM drive shaft that looks to have a housing (which got damaged in my case). I am not clear if this Dorman unit simply slips into the transfer case like this without needed a housing. Anyone have this or know? Pic of the drive shaft end is below, and full Dorman link on RockAuto: More Information for DORMAN 938375

Count me as a lucky one as well. 2021 with 62k but I have a 6in BDS lift

 

[mike_ct]

my junkyard one is still holding good at 50k+ miles, and thats with some snow plowing. yeah I know, not suppose to plow with a 1500. next time it breaks, I might look at a different type that uses a double cardan VS Rzeppa joint

 

[Morenar]

my junkyard one is still holding good at 50k+ miles, and thats with some snow plowing. yeah I know, not suppose to plow with a 1500. next time it breaks, I might look at a different type that uses a double cardan VS Rzeppa joint

Was it a pretty simple DIY? Just mark the drive shaft location, take bolts off on one end, slide the other end off and then grease the inside of the new one, slide it on and bolt the other end back up?

 

[mike_ct]

Was it a pretty simple DIY? Just mark the drive shaft location, take bolts off on one end, slide the other end off and then grease the inside of the new one, slide it on and bolt the other end back up?

I didnt mark it, or grease it to be honest lol. it already had some grease there. kind of only fits one way. yes it's easy. cordless impact for the sway bar mount bolts and it can just swing down. then the driveshaft bolts come right out next and it drops out.

 

[Morenar]

I didnt mark it, or grease it to be honest lol. it already had some grease there. kind of only fits one way. yes it's easy. cordless impact for the sway bar mount bolts and it can just swing down. then the driveshaft bolts come right out next and it drops out.

Have an extended warranty. Going to try that route before tackling it myself.