68RFE Input Drum 2007-2018, new and ready to install. Fits the 68RFE. Ships fast from the USA.
A 6.7L Cummins Ram 2500 or 3500 that suddenly revs with no drive in any gear, or that grinds and then quits pulling after a hard launch with a trailer, very often has a broken or spline-twisted input shaft inside the 68RFE. This listing is a new billet input shaft that references OE number 68029247AA for 2007-2018 trucks. A note on the name: the store title calls it an input drum, but what ships is the shaft itself, not a clutch drum or hub assembly. It is machined from 300M steel, the alloy most heavy-duty 68RFE shafts are now made from, for trucks that tow hard or run more power than stock.
The input shaft is the first hard part the engine's torque reaches after the converter. Its front splines ride in the converter turbine, and the rear of the shaft drives the input clutch assembly that carries the underdrive, overdrive and reverse clutches. Oil for those clutches travels through drilled cross holes in the shaft, sealed by the rings you can see near the rear of the part, so the shaft is both a torque path and an oil passage. On a stock 6.7L that is a lot of work for one piece of steel, and Sonnax states plainly that input shaft failure becomes common as 68RFE power levels go up. Their heavy-duty replacement adds rolled turbine splines to resist spline twist and extra material at the cross holes, which is where a stock shaft tends to crack.
A broken shaft and a failed converter or pump drive can feel the same from the driver's seat, so check before you pull the unit. Look at the fluid level hot first, then scan for codes. If the truck will not move in any range and the pump is still making pressure, the drive path between converter and clutches is broken. Once the transmission is out, a twisted shaft shows a visible spiral in the turbine splines, and a cracked one usually fails right at the cross holes. Our 68RFE Ram 2500 Cummins common problems article covers the other no-move causes to rule out.
The listing covers the 68RFE behind the 6.7L Cummins in Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks from 2007 through 2018. Hold your old shaft next to this one and compare overall length, spline counts at both ends, and the position of the cross holes and ring grooves. If the old part carries a number, match 68029247AA, or send us your year and VIN before ordering and we will check it. Trucks built in 2019 and later had internal changes, so do not assume a 2019-up unit matches. You can see every part we carry for this unit on the 68RFE parts page.
The shaft goes in during a teardown, not with the transmission in the truck. Inspect the bushings it rides in and the bores the sealing rings run against, because a new shaft in a scored bore still leaks apply oil. Fit new sealing rings, lube them with assembly gel, and air-check the overdrive and underdrive circuits before closing the case. While it is apart, replace the soft parts with a 68RFE banner rebuild kit and fit a fresh 68RFE filter kit. Refill with ATF+4 only and check the level with the fluid at operating temperature. A shaft that broke under a tune is a warning: the overdrive clutches took the same load, so inspect them closely.
| Fits | 68RFE 2007-2018 |
| Part type | Input Drum |
| Condition | New |
| Brand | OEM |
| Ships | From the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
It is the input shaft only. The store title says input drum, but the part is a new billet shaft that references OE 68029247AA. It does not include a clutch drum, hub or clutches.
The listing covers 2007-2018 Ram 2500 and 3500 trucks with the 68RFE and 6.7L Cummins. Compare it to your old shaft or send your VIN and we will confirm before it ships.
Torque. The shaft takes full converter output, and tuning, heavy towing and hard launches push it past what a stock shaft handles. Most failures are twisted turbine splines or cracks at the oil cross holes.
New sealing rings and bushings where worn, a full rebuild kit, a new filter, and any overdrive clutches that show heat. Air-check every clutch circuit before installing the transmission.
ATF+4 only. Check the level with the fluid hot, at or above 160 degrees F, per Chrysler service instructions.
