Carrier Bearing Questions

[1974ChevyC10]

i have a two piece driveshaft on my truck with the carrier bearing setup.earlier today i was fixing something on my truck and i rested my hand on the part of the driveshaft just after the carrier bearing and it shifted to the right and when i let go of it then it shifted to the left.visually the carrier bearing looks like it needs replaced.is there a certain amount of free play that is allowed in there carrier bearings.if it is bad will it fall out if i drive it.i do notice when i shift into reverse not only can i feel the shift into reverse but i feel a second firm "shift"-could that possibly be the carrier bearing shifting when i go into reverse.it doesnt do it when shifting into drive or neutral only reverse.im going to be moving to phoenix and will be driving my truck so i need to know if its ok to drive to phoenix then fix or do it before hand-i dont have the means of fixing it here but i do in phoenix.help me out here guys-especially ones with two piece driveshafts who may have went through this.

[MOUSE]

if you have lowered your truck ANY, i think you should change it out prior to your move....it's a pressed in piece so im pretty sure its not gonna fall out. the easiest way to check it is to take the rear u-joint out and drop the rear shaft. stick you fingers in the bearing and make sure it turns smoothly. if it at all feels rough or like its got dirt and crap in it, i'd change it...good luck C10...
1PHATC(MOUSE)

[1974ChevyC10]

the truck is at stock height.ill check that this weekend

[1974ChevyC10]

ttt

[mike reeh]

man get it fixed, ive seen some van-damage done to some trucks and some driveshafts when that beast lets loose.

mike

[ironwood]

I have the same thing on my truck but mine is a 3/4 ton
my bearing only moves up and down though.

[1974ChevyC10]

Originally posted by ironwood
I have the same thing on my truck but mine is a 3/4 ton
my bearing only moves up and down though.

i know it may be asking alot of you but if you could do me a big favor and check the amount of free play in yours and let me know what you find i would appreciate it.thanks it advance

[ironwood]

I have about 3/8 to 1/2" of play in my bearing but that is with the case the bearing sits in, not just the race in the bearing itself.

[arveetek]

I'd change it if I were you. I had one that was loose like yours once. I let it go too long, and then one day it went to pieces. The outer metal loop keeps the driveshaft from flinging all over the place, but you really can't drive it cause it flops up and down and around without the bearing there.

It could leave you stranded.

You shouldn't have any play at all. You should be able to grab the driveshaft, and give it a hard tug and pull. It will give a little bit, due to the rubber it's mounted in, but if it actually moves, it needs to be replaced.

Good luck!

[PHOENIX]

Are the that hold the bearing tight? Try to tighten them first, then replace it. Im sure you could find it local, I know for sure LMC sells it. Ill check the play on mine right now when I go to lunch and post after lunch.

[1974ChevyC10]

is this something that can be replaced without the use of a press-im told there pressed on?if so ill replace it.if there not able to be replaced without a press thats where im screwed because i dont have one and the only person i can think of who may have and ive been to his house before-i dont think he does-lives in another city-henderson,nevada to be exact.so i just need to know if it requires the use of a press or not.i also looked up the part number and what not on autozone.com and it asked if its a horseshoe type or round type-the bracket mine sits in looks like a horseshoe so that would make it a horseshoe type im guessing.

[PHOENIX]

My is the round type, atleast it looks round to me. Anyway it doesnt have very much movement at all on mine. It I grab the driveshaft and shake it good, the carrier bearing area flexes a slight bit, but not much. Nothing to be concerned about the way mine is, but yours doesnt sound right. I dont know about the press. Everytime I even took my driveshaft out I just unbolts the carrier also and never messed with it.

[arveetek]

You don't need a press to install the new bearing. You can drive it on with a hammer and punch. Removing the old one, however, is a pain. I've always had to end up heating it with a torch, or even cutting it off with the torch. It's not the easiest job in the world, I'm afraid.

[ironwood]

My bearing carrier looks like a horse shoe also I am thinking that the round one that you mentioned sounds like one I have seen before. If I am wrong here let me know, but I have seen carriers that look like an upsidedown lolipop if that makes any sense.

[PHOENIX]

Mine might be the horseshoe one too. The bracket is shaped like a wide mouth "U". I did see a different one in the junk yard, but I cant really remember what it looked like. I just remember saying to my friend, hey look at that, every seen one like that before.

[Zilverado]

Originally posted by arveetek
I'd change it if I were you. I had one that was loose like yours once. I let it go too long, and then one day it went to pieces. The outer metal loop keeps the driveshaft from flinging all over the place, but you really can't drive it cause it flops up and down and around without the bearing there.

It could leave you stranded.

You shouldn't have any play at all. You should be able to grab the driveshaft, and give it a hard tug and pull. It will give a little bit, due to the rubber it's mounted in, but if it actually moves, it needs to be replaced.

Good luck!

Wow, I guess I should be looking at changing mine out too. The last time I checked it, I remember I could move it around pretty good. The bearing seemed OK, but the rubber was all loose. Don't imaging that will be too good for the drive line.

Great - another $50

Oh well, better than upsidedown in the ditch.

[apstguy]

Forgive my stupidity, but what is a carrier bearing? Are they only on 4X4s?

[1974ChevyC10]

a carrier bearing is like a support bearing for the drive shaft if its a two piece shaft.it comes on two wheel and four wheel drive trucks as far as i know.my truck has one and its a two wheel drive

[apstguy]

Ohhhh.... that's what I thought but I wanted to check. I don't have one - I'm running a single piece shaft.

[Zilverado]

Originally posted by apstguy
Ohhhh.... that's what I thought but I wanted to check. I don't have one - I'm running a single piece shaft.

Lucky man - I kinda wish I had my old one piece shaft from my old truck. I'd swap it out. As far as I can tell, this two-piece shaft just means more things to maintain. Like the carrier bearing!