How do i install a carrier bearing?

[66coffin]

Mine is shot any one done this beforeon a 66 c20? do i pull the drive shaft, and seperate the u joints? thanks fellas.

[fleetsidelarry]

On 1/2 tons, the u-joint yoke has to come off the rear of the front drive shaft, which means, yeah, the drive shaft has to come out. maybe 3/4 ton is different? be prepared to drip a little tranny fluid when you pull the shaft. its been a while since I've done but its looking like I need to do it again.

[apachedaddy]

I had to change out one on my brothers truck. I would look at your old one, i found out the hard way that there is 2 diff types or more of carrier bearings. Well it all has to due with the way it mounts. Mark the drive shaft before pulling it apart there is a key way that lines the 2 up. Took about 20 min's to figure that out for me. I would also leave the carrier bearing mounted to the truck to get the drive shaft apart. The one i did was not fun to pull apart once i had removed the full drive shaft. Good luck and i hope it all works out for you.

[fleetsidelarry]

Originally Posted by fleetsidelarry

On 1/2 tons, the u-joint yoke has to come off the rear of the front drive shaft, which means, yeah, the drive shaft has to come out.

Sorry, I should have explained how the yoke comes off. Yes, there is a bolt holding it on a splined shaft. The yoke can be a little stubborn but you should be able to work it off with some tapping with a hammer, maybe after a little penetrating oil, I believe that's how I did it, just don't beat on it too hard, or I guess, some sort of puller could be rigged.

[fleetsidelarry]

by now I'm sure you've got this part figured out, but here are a couple of pics of the yoke showing more clearly the attachment bolt and the splines which fit on the driveshaft:

[vivisix]

on my latest truck when I took mine off, we had to heat the bearing and pound it off. it was really stuck. not fun at all.

[Captainfab]

Does your carrier bearing mount to the bottom of the trailing arm crossmember or hang from the top?

Originally Posted by 66coffin

Mine is shot any one done this beforeon a 66 c20? do i pull the drive shaft, and seperate the u joints? thanks fellas.

[66coffin]

Originally Posted by Captainfab

Does your carrier bearing mount to the bottom of the trailing arm crossmember or hang from the top?

hi ya Cap! it hangs from the top.

[Captainfab]

Basically the bearing will need to be pressed off and the new one pressed back on. I'm just not sure what needs to happen to get to that point. All the ones I've dealt with are the heavy duty ones, and they're a little different.

Originally Posted by 66coffin

hi ya Cap! it hangs from the top.

[66coffin]

how are the heavy duty ones done? my truck is a c20, does that meke a difference?

[Captainfab]

Basically, remove the rear driveshaft. Unbolt the carrier bearing, remove the front driveshaft. Remove the outer housing and rubber cushion from the carrier bearing. Press the old bearing off, and press the new bearing on. Reverse the removal process for reinstall.

Originally Posted by 66coffin

how are the heavy duty ones done? my truck is a c20, does that meke a difference?

[Woogeroo]

An arbor press is handy... and another set of hands, as far as working it back together.

some pictures of my 2 piece shaft out of the truck... it may or may not help.

Once ya get it back together, it is fairly simple to reinstall.

I had an issue on mine, once I had it installed about the grease fittings being hard to get to with my grease gun. I've been told there is a madness to how the joints going back on 'just so'. I'm not really sure what that method is tho'.

-W

[66coffin]

Woogeroo, i see in your pics that you can see a bolt where the yoke looks like it may un bolt, i think that's the info that will help my, now to find a press to use!

[66coffin]

super cool Fleetside, thanks alot!! that really helps.

[dldowner]

Is that bolt holding the spline/yoke a right or left thread?

[Robert Haas]

Originally Posted by dldowner

Is that bolt holding the spline/yoke a right or left thread?

Right handed (Standard) bolt is fine thread and will be tough to break loose. An Impact will get it done. once the bolt is out a set of long jaw pullers and a little heat should get the yoke off. Same with the bearing.

Use red scotch bright and clean up the shaft before installing the new bearing and use the proper size bearing driver to seat the new bearing in position.


Once it is reassembled (Use new u-joints as they are inexpensive and now is the time to get that done) install and tighten the carrier bearing mount with the wheels on the ground and the suspension laden.

[Chevy Fleetside]

A driveline shop might do it for $50. Worth paying for and not have to go through all the hassle of doing it yourself