Carrier bearing aka center support bearing-DANGER
 

I've always been a Napa fan, always thot they had the quality parts, and always have what we need for these trucks. I bought a center support bearing or 'carrier bearing' last week and installed it today. There are 2 types-the horseshoe style or I-loop style, I have the I-loop. Got it all installed and was snugging the last bolts in the rear u-joints...then "pop". The base of the support bearing just came off(the part where the 2 bolts go in) it just came off of the actual bearing !! After discussing it a moment, we thot-hmmm, what if this had happened as I was goin down the frwy?

After counting my blessings, took the driveshaft back out and welded the base back to the bearing housing. There was no damage, it just came off..........it wont come off again !

That happened to me while I was driving at the lake before I dropped the truck or even started working on it..... A large rock was what caused mine to break.....I rigged it up with some weed eater line and, had to limp it home which was about 10 miles away.....

This happened to me recently, not sure where the bearing came from as I am in the UK and itr was fitted by my local specialist garage for me. Pulled out hard from a side street and bang exactly the same thing, spot wleds holding it together popped. Wired it on with some fencing wire and had it welded back up, Next time it gets welded before it goes on.

I took back 3 of them to NAPA for the same reason ! :eek: But I am not raging on NAPA for it. It just happens, I have welded all the ones that have gone into the truck since then ! :p

Mine didn't break.. but after a week of driving its squeeking. I think I over tightened the bolt that holds the yoke onto the back half of the shaft (and the carrier bearing in place). I tightened it too much at first but I loosened it before installing it ... after a week of driving its rubbing ... Can I just back it off?

Wow....luckily you were at home working on it!

I have had good luck with Federal Mogul carrier bearings......i have a el-cheapo autozone bearing in it now and it is actually doing OK so far.