depending on the raid config, you should be able to easily clone the original drive. it's not as easy as just pluging in a replacement drive as you need to restore a partition format.

You shouldn't need to re-install anything. You just need to replace the damaged part. It's hard to walk you through anything without a bunch of info tho. I've done this type of recovery a dozen times.
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80gig red mk2 -- 080000125
(No, I don't actually hate Alan Cox)