Carrier bearing question - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

92gmc · 02-10-2010, 08:22 PM

I have just acquired a '65 C20 that is pretty butchered up. On the drive home I suspected the carrier bearing was bad and after checking it's looks like it has been "fixed" before. I know how to do the work I just don't know what it is supposed to look like. Here is a couple of pics taken from the rear. If anyone has a picture of a correct install please post it because this one doesn't look right to me! I think this has been this way for quite a while because the slip spline on the rear shaft is really sloppy.

chris91 · 02-10-2010, 08:28 PM

It looks like someone made their own bearing conversion kit.

http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...Truck/CSBC.htm

*LILRED66* · 02-11-2010, 01:11 AM

I had a similar situation and I went to a single piece driveshaft, thus eliminating the two-piece shaft and the carrier bearing. It was $160.00 for a new custom built one-piece shaft and peace-of-mind over it failing sometime in the future.

If you chose to repair yours, they are available at many of the aftermarket parts suppliers, including:

www.lmctruck.com
www.classicparts.com
www.oldchevytrucks.com
www.bowtiebits.com
www.truckandcarshop.com

Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

**Bugeyev8** · 02-11-2010, 02:01 AM

I have a one piece in my 62 long bed and no matter what I do I can't get it to stay in balance, its a new shaft been balanced 2 times, its just way too long at 66 inches, I have a later 2 piece I was going to install, has anyone else had this issue ??

**Captainfab** · 02-11-2010, 02:44 AM

That style of the carrier bearing is supposed to be mounted to the bottom of the trailing arm crossmsmber and on the front side of it. There will have to be a flat bracket installed on the crossmember in order to do so. Here are a couple of pics of how the factory installed them. IMO these are the best carrier bearing to use. Those cheesy ones that hang from the top are just junk and are the ones that everyone has trouble with. Get yourself a new bearing and mount it properly and you'll have no troubles with your 2 piece driveshaft.

**Chevy Fleetside** · 02-11-2010, 11:35 AM

I am going to go with a one piece also in my 66. I just don't care for that two piece one. I am also going to put a 700R4 tranny so that will be much longer then the power glide that was in there.

*LILRED66* · 02-11-2010, 02:18 PM

A one-piece driveshaft over 40" require a larger diameter pipe, in lieu of the smaller diameter, as found in the two-piece driveshaft. While spinning at high speed, the smaller diameter driveshafts will rotate out of axis and begin to wobble and may actually come apart. When going to a longer shaft, the larger diameter shaft will keep the shaft spinning in axis, due to the larger cross section. I believe the new one I had fabricated was over 40" and under 55" and was approximately 4" in diameter. I didn't measure it, so I am not sure of the actual diameter or length.

62gmc910 · 02-11-2010, 05:51 PM

Lots of newer lwb trucks have one piece driveshafts with turbo 400s , but like tony said bigger diameter

92gmc · 02-11-2010, 06:56 PM

Thanks guys for all the info. I think I'll go with the Classic Performance solution. It looks pretty stout. I'll post how it all turns out.

02-10-2010, 08:22 PM	#1
92gmc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dunnellon, FL Posts: 113	Carrier bearing question I have just acquired a '65 C20 that is pretty butchered up. On the drive home I suspected the carrier bearing was bad and after checking it's looks like it has been "fixed" before. I know how to do the work I just don't know what it is supposed to look like. Here is a couple of pics taken from the rear. If anyone has a picture of a correct install please post it because this one doesn't look right to me! I think this has been this way for quite a while because the slip spline on the rear shaft is really sloppy. Attached Images

02-10-2010, 08:28 PM	#2
chris91 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: summerville, sc Posts: 93	Re: Carrier bearing question It looks like someone made their own bearing conversion kit. http://www.classicperform.com/Store/...Truck/CSBC.htm

02-11-2010, 01:11 AM	#3
LILRED66 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 3,906	Re: Carrier bearing question I had a similar situation and I went to a single piece driveshaft, thus eliminating the two-piece shaft and the carrier bearing. It was $160.00 for a new custom built one-piece shaft and peace-of-mind over it failing sometime in the future. If you chose to repair yours, they are available at many of the aftermarket parts suppliers, including: www.lmctruck.com www.classicparts.com www.oldchevytrucks.com www.bowtiebits.com www.truckandcarshop.com Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

02-11-2010, 02:01 AM	#4
Bugeyev8 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Leandro, Ca 94577 Posts: 854	Re: Carrier bearing question I have a one piece in my 62 long bed and no matter what I do I can't get it to stay in balance, its a new shaft been balanced 2 times, its just way too long at 66 inches, I have a later 2 piece I was going to install, has anyone else had this issue ??

02-11-2010, 02:44 AM	#5
Captainfab 60-66 Nut Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Posts: 23,252	Re: Carrier bearing question That style of the carrier bearing is supposed to be mounted to the bottom of the trailing arm crossmsmber and on the front side of it. There will have to be a flat bracket installed on the crossmember in order to do so. Here are a couple of pics of how the factory installed them. IMO these are the best carrier bearing to use. Those cheesy ones that hang from the top are just junk and are the ones that everyone has trouble with. Get yourself a new bearing and mount it properly and you'll have no troubles with your 2 piece driveshaft. Attached Images __________________ Power Steering Box Adapter Plates For Sale HERE Power Brake Booster Adapter Brackets For Sale '63-'66 HERE and '67-'72 HERE and '60-'62 HERE and "60-'62 with clutch HERE Rear Disc Brake Brackets For Sale. Impala SS calipers HERE Camaro Calipers HERE D52 Calipers HERE 6 Lug HERE Hydroboost Mounting Plates HERE

02-11-2010, 11:35 AM	#6
Chevy Fleetside Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,782	Re: Carrier bearing question I am going to go with a one piece also in my 66. I just don't care for that two piece one. I am also going to put a 700R4 tranny so that will be much longer then the power glide that was in there. __________________ "A man and his truck, what a beautiful thing" 65 Short Fleetside BBC 65 Long Fleetside 283 3 on the tree for now. my build thread http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=259536

02-11-2010, 02:18 PM	#7
LILRED66 Account Suspended Join Date: May 2005 Location: Kansas City, KS Posts: 3,906	Re: Carrier bearing question A one-piece driveshaft over 40" require a larger diameter pipe, in lieu of the smaller diameter, as found in the two-piece driveshaft. While spinning at high speed, the smaller diameter driveshafts will rotate out of axis and begin to wobble and may actually come apart. When going to a longer shaft, the larger diameter shaft will keep the shaft spinning in axis, due to the larger cross section. I believe the new one I had fabricated was over 40" and under 55" and was approximately 4" in diameter. I didn't measure it, so I am not sure of the actual diameter or length.

02-11-2010, 05:51 PM	#8
62gmc910 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Cremona AB Canada Posts: 370	Re: Carrier bearing question Lots of newer lwb trucks have one piece driveshafts with turbo 400s , but like tony said bigger diameter __________________ 62 GMC 910 short fleetside 454 super t10 14 bolt w/gov lock 70s c20 front discs (built in the 80s) 65 GMC 930 dualwheel 292 4spd all origonal 39k mi(my sons truck) 63 GMC 950 camperized school bus, (Gus the bus) 350 4speed 2 speed rear 64 GMC 950 "spare" bus 283? 4speed detroit locker 53 GMC 1ton dual wheel bus 78 GMC c25 short course off road race truck(son's truck) 355 th400 14 bolt (www.wheel2wheel.ca) 88 Peterbilt 379 longhood (hauls race truck)

02-11-2010, 06:56 PM	#9
92gmc Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Dunnellon, FL Posts: 113	Re: Carrier bearing question Thanks guys for all the info. I think I'll go with the Classic Performance solution. It looks pretty stout. I'll post how it all turns out.



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