Carrier bearing trouble???

[feller]

While driving today my 2 piece drive shaft decided to come apart?? Luckily the truck seems to be fine otherwise, and more importantly my dog and I were physically uninjured. My question is, why? The PO told me that the truck had all bearings replaced on drive shaft, so all u-joints and carrier, and thy all look newer than the truck. I had been getting a strange noise/ vibration when cruising at highway speed, but it only seemed to be while in third gear. Originally truck was a 6 with 3 on tree, but was converted to 350/350, if that makes a difference, oh and it was the back half of drive shaft, I don't know if I should trust putting it back together or find a 1 piece. HELP!!!! Lol

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by feller

While driving today my 2 piece drive shaft decided to come apart?? Luckily the truck seems to be fine otherwise, and more importantly my dog and I were physically uninjured. My question is, why? The PO told me that the truck had all bearings replaced on drive shaft, so all u-joints and carrier, and thy all look newer than the truck. I had been getting a strange noise/ vibration when cruising at highway speed, but it only seemed to be while in third gear. Originally truck was a 6 with 3 on tree, but was converted to 350/350, if that makes a difference, oh and it was the back half of drive shaft, I don't know if I should trust putting it back together or find a 1 piece. HELP!!!! Lol

Did the bolts come out of the carrier bearing bracket where it is bolted to the cross member? I have also heard of some of the aftermarket carrier bearing brackets coming apart where they are spot welded together.

Just do some checking on the one piece drive shaft. If your drive shaft is longer than 72 inches you shouldn't use a one piece.

Is there any way you can get some pictures?

LockDoc

[feller]

I'll have to get pics tomorrow, the front half looks to be OK, it was just the back half that came loose, of course I didn't investigate too much on the side of the road, and didn't have time after I got her home, a few months ago I was under there and it didn't seem like the splines were "overly engaged" but I didn't think too much of it, cause I didn't think that there was any where else it could go

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by feller

I'll have to get pics tomorrow, the front half looks to be OK, it was just the back half that came loose, of course I didn't investigate too much on the side of the road, and didn't have time after I got her home, a few months ago I was under there and it didn't seem like the splines were "overly engaged" but I didn't think too much of it, cause I didn't think that there was any where else it could go

I don't think the splines can come apart unless one of the rear universal joints break or the bolts come out of the carrier bracket. Let us know what you find.

LockDoc

[feller]

Sure will

[feller]

Ok, didn't have enough time to get good pictures but trying to upload the one I did get, looks like the rear uj gave out, also after looking in factory service manual I found out how to properly install the D/S so I guess new uj's and any thing else that was fouled up and try again, I guess I had it loaded pretty good too

[leftybass209]

Many things could likely have been faulty, but a couple of things sound like a likely issue that helped contribute. First, do you know if the driveshaft balanced as a unit before it was installed? That can cause vibration and certain speeds, which is transferred to the carrier bearing, deteriorating it much faster!

Also, it could be cause by a driveshaft that isn't in proper alignment between the transmission and the differential. I don't remember the angles, but if they are not aligned correctly, when you accelerate the driveshaft won't be aligned with the differential pinion, causing undo stress on the carrier bearing and/or the pinion.

[truckdude239]

It looKS like the end of the shafts where the u joints go broke but I can't see the close up. Since the shafts came apart they are no longer phased properly I highly recommend taking the whole shafts to a drives haft shop and have all the bearingsame replaced and have the shafts reblanced. Since the phasing was lost the shafts will be out of balance and keep throwing u jointsouthern@forsythtech.edu and carrier bearings

[feller]

The book says both front and rear uj's straight up, then turn the rear 4 teeth to the driers side, so there could only be 2 possible positions it could go, right? Unless it wasn't balanced at all then who knows, anyway I'll have to find a d/s shop, I'll try to get more, better pics tomorrow

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by feller

The book says both front and rear uj's straight up, then turn the rear 4 teeth to the driers side, so there could only be 2 possible positions it could go, right? Unless it wasn't balanced at all then who knows, anyway I'll have to find a d/s shop, I'll try to get more, better pics tomorrow

The shop sounds like a good plan. It could have bent the shaft. be sure and check the carrier bearing and bracket good too.

LockDoc

[feller]

Will do

[feller]

Finally got some pics, not sure what is cause and what is effect, it looks like the rear uj started pushing on the trunions, pushed one out, then slipped enough to come loose, the support bearing looks to be off center which in my guess happened after??, anyway, I need it balanced, anyone know of a shop between Louisville Kentucky and Indianapolis? And I am having trouble loading pics

[feller]

Pics

[rcazwillis]

The u-joint on the diff being offset is odd. Something has to keep it centered. It is either inside clips on the ujoint or tabs on the pinion yoke. If the ujoint is wrong for the application, it is probably the source of the problem. The vibration was probably caused by it being offset and causing the ujoint to fail. The carrier damage would have been caused by the back half dropping out while spinning.

[EARNHARDT#3]

My carrier looks completely different than that one. I wonder why?

[feller]

Yup, that's what I was leaning towards. Pinion yoke has or is supposed to have, tabs at least one side does, haven't taken the straps off to see what is, or should be, on other side yet

[feller]

They have about 3 different styles, as far as I can tell

[feller]

More

[rcazwillis]

Tab is gone on one side. Bummer.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by feller

Finally got some pics, not sure what is cause and what is effect, it looks like the rear uj started pushing on the trunions, pushed one out, then slipped enough to come loose, the support bearing looks to be off center which in my guess happened after??, anyway, I need it balanced, anyone know of a shop between Louisville Kentucky and Indianapolis? And I am having trouble loading pics

The center carrier support has been modified. That is not the stock carrier bracket to frame setup. Not sure if the main bracket is bent or just the metal tabs that were added to it.

I'm not sure If the small tab is broken off of the u-joint yoke on the side where the u-joint cap is protruding but if it is you will have to replace the yoke.

LockDoc

[feller]

I think it's time for a frame off

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by feller

I think it's time for a frame off

....

LockDoc

[feller]

Well, as much that is wrong I would be better off to do it now, otherwise I'll replace evening and end up with a frame off, lol

[feller]

Ok reopening this with a couple more questions. My pinion yoke is messed up, would a u joint griddle hold the u-joints in the center of yoke, instead of changing out the pinion? I'm sure it's not the best, but its about 1/3 of the price. Also I found a guy, a machinists, who if he can find his rollers is willing to balance my shaft, but is only or can only do it separately, how big of a problem will it be to do the front and the rear separately?

[feller]

These are the griddles I was looking athttp://www.jegs.com/p/Moroso/Moroso-U-Joint-Girdles/744467/10002/-1