F-150 drive shaft replacement.

Yesterday messing around under my pickup I noticed a balancing weight missing from my drive shaft. Called around and it looks like it'll be $250 to get it balanced. Then I'm still stuck with old carrier bearing and ujoints and a sticky bang stopping and starting due to ford not having a grease zerk on the slip yolk.

So I'm thinking of doing a whole new drive shaft. A Dorman is about $430. Anyone have any other recommendations? Can find other brands cheaper but nothing I've ever heard of. Is Dorman actually any better? I'd hate to know what ford would want for a oe replacement. Pickup is old (2009) a little rusty and worn out...but it's what I have and I'll be stuck with it for a couple more years.

Any other options or opinions would be appreciated, thanks!

 

And because everyone likes pictures...

 

Toyota folks don't know shit about Fords

 

My 86' XLT Lariat 4WD is holding up well.

 

General auto forum, I figured a Ford question would be fair game.

 

The question is okay. I was just messing with ya.

 

What's the cheapest one you can find price wise, if the Dorman(which is a good brand, and used this brand driveshaft on my old 2007 frontier) Is $430?

 

Like $290 for some stuff I've never heard of. Rockauto has the Dorman for by far the best price. Thinking I'll just order it and brake pads/rotors while I'm at it.

 

I'd say go with the Dorman brand

 

Hold on. Before you drop $450 bucks on a new driveshaft...
Is there vibration from the driveshaft? Or just a weight appears to be missing.

If there's no noticeable vibration I'd leave it alone personally.

 

It's noticeable. I went a head and ordered a Dorman. Also new tires next week. Should be smooth as can be.