Carrier bearing dust shield

[Hawker7]

Are the dust shields for the carrier bearings supposed to be welded or attached some way to the drive shaft? Mine spins on the drive shaft and makes some horrible noise around 50 MPH.

[69 longhorn]

Those sheilds were press on the shaft, & do come loose ,as they are a stamped pc. The DL shop that did my shaft didnt use the sheild, & told me that "I dont use em because they come loose". Now I am sure you will hear differering opinions on this (I have). The next shop that got my shaft for a shorten & balance told me that wasnt right? My reply was that I dont run in the rain or nasty weather, & only see 2000 mi per yr (on a good yr ) with that old truck. I tend to agree with the 1st guy....he!! I can tear it down, & replace that bearing every 3 or 4 yrs, & I dont need to hear that sheild spinning on the shaft crazyAl

[kelsfine69]

If you do pavment only then I would leave them out...Mine also does not see rain and I left them out.

[Hawker7]

I don't drive in the rain, so I think I will just take the cover off...Thanks for the replies.

[brad_man_72]

if it's less work to spot weld the shield on I'd do that. We always take the dust sields off of all of or driveshafts. All they do is hold the dirt in or come loose.

remember to get the front driveshaft, bolt on yoke and rear driveshaft lined uup the way they were ballanced or you could get a nasty vibration.