I have an 04 QC, 4X4 with the towing package. My stock shaft is steel. It rusted early on so I painted it and I just put a magnet to it and sure enough, it stuck good.

Stump is right. The gears will cause the speed of the shaft to increase, but it will actually take some tq away from it. The gears put the mechanical advantage behind it.

 

I had an old 1971 Mercury Capri, it was in fact my very first vehicle. After I had it about 6 months I started to notice a bit of a vibration, it slowly seemed to be getting worse....on day going up an overpass the vibration turned into a SHAKE and RUMBLE then blammo, my u-joints snapped, breaking my e-brake line and leaving me stuck going up an overpass with no transmission now and no way to stop other then to hold down the brake. I ended up backing against the curb and put something under the wheel and ran and got help. The vibration eroded my transmission mount, the u-joints were freezing causing the vibration.

 

Just called the dealership. Just the old "gonna replace the shaft" news. They said no damage to the tail housing on the transmission or to the rearend. We'll see. That was one heck of a pop when it went!
I think I will be having my new shaft built within the next few weeks. Until then it's no more than 65 mph everywhere I go!

EDIT: One other thing. I also read today where the SRT Quad Cab has a 2 piece driveshaft to avoid problems like what I experienced today. Two 33" sections have a much higher critical speed than one 66" section.

 

MY 2005 quad cab 4x4 Hemi has a steel drive shaft . Oh yeah its a 1500

 

You're sure it's steel? I would like to know if there are any other 05 1500's that have a steel shaft.

 

My truck is a 05 1500 and it has a steel drive shaft.

 

My 06 Ram 1500 QC4x4 with HEMI power has factory steel driveshaft, but my 03 1500 QC 4x2 with the 5.9l had the aluminum driveshaft & it scared me from day one!

 

After several calls to two dealerships I am being told no other option other than the aluminum shaft. They are even saying the SRT-10 came with a two piece shaft but it was aluminum as well. I asked if this two piece shaftwas adaptable toa standard1500 and got a "duuuuuh...." answer so take it as you want.
Going to keep checking on the driveshaft options and find out the difference. I'm just going to have mine built but this may solve a lot of others peoples problems with vibration issues.

EDIT: I see the difference. You steel guys have 4x4's which means a transfer case. This will shorten the shaft thus allowing the steel to be used. A steel shaft at nearly 70" as in the case of us 2wd'erswould be a nightmare and probably whip at about 2500 - 3000 rpm's.It would need to be so heavily made to avoid the whipping it would rob power from the engine.
F-150's up to about 2003 had a 77" aluminum shaft that caused huge vibration problems. I guess Dodge though they could do better. One company in Austin, www.thrashdriveshaft.com makes a two piece they say solves the problem.

 

Yes, I know mine is steel a magnets sticks to it.

 

I have steel as well.