I have a 2001 ram 1500 and i swapped in a 99 axle and it doesnt have the bolt on plate that goes from the drive shaft to the axle. I took it off and the u joint fits nice into the 99 differential but none of the straps i could find will fit tightly and keep the ends of the u joint in place. the setup looks like the picture below but my axle does not have that small tab to hold the cap of the u joint in place. every u joint strap kit i picked up was too big and wouldn't hold it in place even tightened all the way down.

 

It should have a tab there (at least every axle I worked on had one). You can just switch out the yolks. Just be careful, follow the procedure in the FSM as that nut affects pinion preload.

 

what does it mean if the tab is not there? Will it still function?

 

Yeah you just may get some noise as those tabs keep it from moving side to side. I would just swap yolks, but that's me.

 

Chrysler 7260 and 7290 u-joints don't need those yoke tabs, as there are inner c-clips on the u-joint caps that keep them in place.

7260 measurements
7290 measurements
If you have u-joint at the driveshaft with outer snap rings and 7260/7290 yoke, you'll need a combination joint.

 

No, it won't. I ordered wrong joint to my front D60 before I realized it has a 7260 Chrysler yoke. So I just measured the caps dead center and tightened the straps. Then took a test drive (can't remember was it on the road or off-road), and it didn't take much driving when there was some play as one cup had worked it's way out.
Imagine going 60 mph when rear shaft starts to vibrate as the cup walks out just a little. Vibration makes the cup walk out even more until it's free. Then, if you are lucky, driveshaft crashes to the road and ends up costing you a yoke, u-joint and driveshaft. If you are unlucky, that uncontrolly spinning driveshaft takes your fuel tank and muffler.

 

I also seen instances where a driveshaft caused the vehicle to flip

 

Yeah, front u-joint failure..... truns the driveshaft into a pole vault..... Not a fun experience.

 

Luke Duke it 😂😂

 

Yeah, and in the next shot, he was driving a different car.