1997 3500 5 speed manual transmission.
The driveshaft has a balancer directly behind transmission, on the front of the first driveshaft then a center support bearing. The balancer failed and was spinning on driveshaft. Is the balancer necessay? What will happen if the truck is operated with out it.
Thanks

 

I installed an aftermarket overdrive gear box a few weeks back in a '97.
The driveshafts had to be shortened by a driveline shop, they also balanced the driveshafts. They said I could leave the balancer off now that the drivelines were balanced and that the only reason for the balancer was due to the poor balancing job Dodge does on the shafts.

So I guess the answer is you don't need it if your driveshaft is balanced but I'd be careful, even a small amount of vibration could take out other drivetrain components.