Hey folks

she's a 2008 sxt 2wd extended cab 3.7 v6 dakota.

I've got a big enough bill currently at the shop..tryna keep it from getting bigger.

drive shaft is cooked, so is the U joints. New u joint wobbles in the drive shaft "jaws" at differential (terminology, not jaws lol).

what I wanna know is, at kenny upull not far there is a 2005 quad cab 4x4 slt.

if I go snag that drive shaft off that truck will it fit?
2005 is 3rd gen so I'm safe there.
bit 4x4 with transfer case, will that interfere?

also, quad cab, is it a longer wheel base to conserve the same box length.
I think ive got a 6 foot box. Dunno what the one at kenny upull has.

any input or help you guys have is helpful! Myself n my wallet thank you!

 

Probably not. 4x4 shaft is going to be shorter than 4x2 shaft, as the 4x2 doesn't have the transfer case in there as well.... So, likely around a foot short. (or more.)

 

Yeah, i ended up reading up on that after.

The crew cabs 2x4 are more rare... coz why would you bother lol.
I'll keep looking but i doubt ill find something

 

IF there is a large city nearby, (or, you live in one....) can probably find a shop that can either fix yours, or custom make one for a reasonable price.

 

Yeah it can be fixed, have no doubt. But how much will it be? Stuff at kenny upull will be what, 75$ for a driveshaft, rather than a machine shop hourly rate.

And the shop is making me say "hmmm" coz he's like yeah well change the universal joints. All 3 of em.
I'm like 3? There's 2 one at trans end and one at diff end. He said there's another
a 2 part driveshaft with carrier bearing might have 3, bit those are on 4x4, I'm not 4x4.

so I'm gonna have a goooood look tomorrow when I head down there.
if he's trying to pass some stuff in my bill, I'm nist dreading the repair of the driveshaft... anyways

Appreciate the tips and help man

 

The 4x2 3rd gen dakotas do have a 2 piece driveshaft woth 3 u-joints. Probably to do with the geometry of the longer shaft. The 4x4 is 64.9" and the 4x2 is 84.2". Compatible vehicles are 2006 - 2011 dakota and 2006 - 2008 Mitsubishi raider.
Row52.com can help you find a yard that may have a compatible vehicle. They list the vin and you can look up the build sheet on the dodge site.

 

I ordered a complete new driveshaft for our 2002 Dakota from someplace called Transaxle and Driveshafts Distributors on Amazon for $320 a couple years ago. Shipping was fast and it fit perfectly. I think they used the VIN number to look it up.

 

Ah ok, if it's a 2 piece then 3 UV joints makes sense, ill make sure to check the garage lifts it again. The part isn't expensive, just the principle would've bugged me a lot

 

Yeah I forgot bout amazon. I was looking at rock auto.
Good call

 

I ended up just paying the mechanic to build a new one.
problem solved. Car drives great. I ended up finding a crew cab 15 hourd drive away but had no car lol mine was in the shop too. Was justnthe timing of the whole thing that really sucked.