Anyone ever tried replacing the center support (carrier bearing) for the rear drive shaft with a solid mounted pillow block?


How about just eliminating the center support all together and going with a CV joint on the front. I know it would lower my ground clearance a little, but I shell carrier bearings and the center support regularly (drive like a punk).

 

If you could find one that would fit you would wish you hadn't.
the transferred noise would drive you crazy.

How much lift do you have? and have you tried lowering the carrier bearing?

 

The vibration should be minimal if the driveline is balanced properly. Lots shorter wheelbase trucks have single piece drive shafts.

Stock W250 lift (large rear blocks).

 

Not vibration as much as transmitted noise. Bearing and gear noise.




My 90' has the single drive shaft. the angle isn't the reason for the carrier bearing it is the length. At a given length the spinning tube starts to become weak and can buckle in the center.

maybe try these guys they rare really good
Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Tom Woods Custom Drive Shafts Custom Driveshafts Specialist

 

There is a length that you can't really exceed for a driveshaft. IIRC it is something like 66".

 

im all for redundance, and the center support is another problem waiting to happen, I don't like the double cardin joints for the same reason, and a good d-line place will balance it good. on the front cardin delete, switck to 1410 joint with wide span clearance to handle lots of angle if needed. there are yoke plates for the 205, the upgrade to the bigger joint is very worthy. on my 4x4 with the gear vendor hanging off the 205, and 4" lift, the rear is at close to the angle maximum gv will allow, and they run the chevy 1350, id also rather have the bigger joint there, I don't think much of driveline noise when the motor overrides everything at speed.

 

That sounds like what I have always been told.

 

Wonder is a 5" aluminum tube could handle longer than 66".

 

http://www2.dana.com/pdf/DSAG-0200.pdf

Check out printed page number 11.

 

Thanks, good info.

 

my d-shaft guy is asking if your shaft has a slip yoke at the t-case? they go up to 82" single shaft im aluminum, 61 is max in steel from his recommendation, you can keep diff flange plate

 

I really wish the support bearings were greasable. I looked up these polyurethane ones at one point.

Inland Empire Driveline Service: Pickup Trucks Center Support Bearings

I ended up putting in another stock one because it was cheap, and I didn't have to wait for it. Maybe next time.

 

I hear you, no greaseable zerk/no life

 

https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/...enders-322111/ post 12

 

All I know that myself, as well as bunch of other THIRD gen truck owners, have ditched the entire center support bering AND bearing mounting bracket in favor of a single aluminum driuveshaft, with zero ill effects, and several major GOOD effects, lil eliminating the highway speed driveline vibration, as well as launch shudder, and also eliminating the need to maintain and/or replace the center bearing and associated u joints. It was DEFINITELY a win/win on my 2005 2500 4x4, not sure how it would be different on a first gen truck.

All that being said, driveline angle IS an important factor in safety and vibration free operation, but changing from a two piece with center support bearing to a one piece drivelein only HELPED my truck, which IS stock height.