Do I Really Need This?

[Xbar]

I have a 2000 Ranger, Standard cab, 2wd, 112" w/b, and 5sp manual trans. The other day on the way to work I was coming to a corner and had to downshift. When I went down into second I thought I heard a clunk. I was not sure if I really heard a clunk coming from me or something I ran over. A little ways down the road when I turned into the parking lot, I hear it again. So all the way home I am thinking what can it be. I Googled it and came up with a lot of old forums that mostly pointed to the U-Joints. Just one said that it was maybe synchronizer slop. So investigated the U-Joints. What I found was this. It looks like a balancer that is on the front yoke. Something like a harmonic balancer with the vulcanized rubber. I dropped the driveshaft, took it off, and it feels good with no vibration. My question is, do I need to pay the $150/$200 that everyone seems to want for one or can I get by with what I got without any undo wear or damage? I also found a YouTube video that points out that this is a common problem and has happened many times.

Edited March 28, 2015 by Xbar

[YT90SC]

You don't have to have it. You DO need to have the driveshaft rebalanced.

[Xbar]

Good point, I never thought of that. My experience with these places is that they will make me buy the new yoke anyways and then balance it . I once shortened a driveshaft when converting from 2 to 4 wheel drive. I felt the vibration on that one. I took it to a place to get balanced and they would not do it because of liability. Maybe because someone else welded it. But I took it to an accredited welder. Thanks for the reply.

Edited April 5, 2015 by Xbar