hey guys, im kinda freaking out, i hope you can help

i have a 1999 dodge ram sport 4X4

today i was driving and as i was getting onto the highway my truck started to vibrate really hard and then there was some clunking/crunching sounds and it lost all power so i coasted to the side of the road.

i first thought my transmission had gone out, the truck wouldnt move so i figured id pop it into 4 wheel to see if maybe it was the rear end that was messed up. when i put it into 4 wheel i started going, so i drove slowly home.

when i got there i looked under the truck and noticed the drive shaft had fallen off, i went back and found it and its busted up on one end, hard to explain where since im not to familiar with drive shafts and the proper names for all the parts.

so i have a few questions , what all could cause this ...im nervous i will have a transmission issue here because when i put the truck back into 2 wheel and press the gas, i look under the truck and the joint out of the transmission where the shaft goes isint moving at all. it only moves in 4 wheel. also when i go from drive to park it grinds hard until it winds down, if that makes sense,.


sorry for this huge post, but im kinda freaking out....its just starting to snow and this is my only ride and im feeling kinda lost on what to do....


thanks guys.

 

You are going to need to replace your rear driveshaft. I wouldn't reuse that one without having it thoroughly checked out. Probably what happened is a u-joint gave up the ghost (probably rear) and the shaft just fell out. (better than having the front come apart, and then using the driveshaft as a vaulting pole.) Take a look at the yoke where your driveshaft normally attaches to the rear diff. I bet the caps are still in the straps that hold them in place.

All of your problems are related. Replace the rear shaft, and you should be good to go.

 

Wow that doesn't sound good... My guess would be your U-joints gave out.

If you have a camera try posting up a pic

 

i know this is probably a stupid question, but if i get a new drive shaft will it come with all the parts needed to replace it. i know nothing about ujoints and drive shafts......

 

Take it somewhere that does drivetrain and have everything inspected. We cant tell you what you need unless you know what the problem is.

 

Get one from a junkyard. Replace the u-joints that are in it. They really aren't that hard to do. (I have posted on this a couple times, just look at my posting history for a 'how to', sorta.... ) Make sure it is the correct length, I.E. Same bed length, and cab style, and truck weight. (1500, 2500, or 3500..... think yours if a 1500? Get one out of another similar truck.)

If the rear bolts and straps are not re-useable, just grab some new ones from your local neighborhood parts store, tell em what ya got, and what ya need, and they will get them for ya.

The only stupid questions are the ones that you don't know the answer to, and don't ask. Anything else if fair game.

 

i took a couple pics, i need to find a place to upload them....

 

Photobucket, or Imageshack.

 

 

is this whole part supposed to just slide out, i pulled on it and it just pulls right out....