Carrier bearing questions

[hollywood763]

I've recently started to work on my 66 chevy c20 and the first thing I need to change out is the carrier bearing, and I have a couple questions about it.

1) if the carrier bearing is bad will it howl badly going down the road? even coasting in neutral? I can grab the driveshaft on both sides of the bearing and move it, there's a little play in there.

2)is this carrier bearing replacement available through LMC or another supplier?




thanks!

[rideblue00]

Check with you local parts store first. You may be able to get it local. They used 2 pc driveshafts into the 70s on the 3/4t and bigger.

[SFTorange]

I picked one up at Napa not long ago, in stock for $19.99.

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by SFTorange

I picked one up at Napa not long ago, in stock for $19.99.

That seems reasonable.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hollywood763]

I agree. $19.95 is very reasonable.

will a bad carrier bearing howl while driving down the road?

[LostMy65]

I just used the google search at the top of the page here, and here are a few threads that popped up using the key words: howling carrier


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=391704
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=389448
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=341886
http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...ad.php?t=68108

[Woogeroo]

I bought a carrier bearing for my '65 at NAPA as well.


photos here, if you want to see 'em

The other parts stores in your area either have them or can order them.

They used that same bearing on a lot of different long bed year models, so most of them will have it in the warehouse if not on the shelf.

-W

[hollywood763]

that's a lot of great info, thank you.

I'm beginning to think it might be the rear end howling. I unscrewed the fill plug and stuck the hose of the gear oil pump in there and the oil that was inside was a silver/black color, that can't be good.....It's an eaton HO52.

[hollywood763]

here's a picture of the differential. can this have different gears put in? what would be a good swap? something with an 8 lug axle hopefully.

[SFTorange]

You do have some options for new gears in the HO52. They can be rebuilt, but parts are getting harder and harder to find. In my opinion, your best option would be to swap in a new 3rd member or "pumpkin" from another HO52 rear. The third member can be removed easily by pulling the axles and removing the bolts on the front side of the carrier. The entire gear assembly will drop out as a unit. You should be able to find another one at your local junkyard that will get you back on the road for around $50-100. I was able to find one with 4.10 gears for mine for $50 and the swap took about two hours. I think the majority of HO52's came with 4.56 ratios, so you might have to do some looking to find something different.

As far as swapping out the entire differential, you do have some options, but I'll let someone with more knowledge fill you in on what they are. I just finished swapping out my HO52 for a 6 lug 12 bolt out of a '68 and the swap was very simple as well.

Hope this helps!

[padresag]

everything back there can howl. what is gear noise to some is a howl to others. I take it that you have a SM320 trans,- they can make noise. carrier brgs can make a noise or howl if it is on it's way out
those eaton axles with their low ratios are also prone to making gear noise. any of the above can howl if there are brgs that are getting ready for their afterlife.
wind noises can also cause noise as it rips through rusted out sections.
change your gear oils in the trans and rear axle and see what metal filings come out with the oil- good sign that there is wear going on in them
ron

[hollywood763]

that helps a lot! thank you.

that might be a good option to just replace the 3rd member. I'd hate to get deep in the woods with a full load of firewood and have the rear end go out.

be nice to find something a little more hwy friendly but from what I understand they don't make hwy friendly gears for these eaton differentials.

[padresag]

you may want to go to a 14 bolt corp rear diff. lots of ratios avail for them. if you are going to upgrade the frt end also, I would look around for a donor vehicle. I just got a 65 c30 and also just got an 87 gmc 3/4 ton for 250.00 which gives me my whole running gear inc a 5.7 tbi eng which runs good. the guys kid took a shotgun to it on halloween
ron

[hollywood763]

what did the 14 bolt differential that your mentioning come out of that'll fit in my 66?

Hwy friendly gearing would be much better for me. If I have to change out the rearend with a different one I might as well get one with the gearing I want.

[Woogeroo]

Hey folks...

which old truck part vendor that sells parts for our trucks sells that monster billet replacement carrier bearing? I was trying to recall the other night, but I couldn't find it when I looked at the vendor sites I thought it might be on.

-W

[padresag]

Originally Posted by hollywood763

what did the 14 bolt differential that your mentioning come out of that'll fit in my 66?

Hwy friendly gearing would be much better for me. If I have to change out the rearend with a different one I might as well get one with the gearing I want.

it will not just bolt in. you will have to adapt perches for your trailing arms(standard procedure)
rear axles come out of 3/4-1ton chev or gmc 73-87
ron

[LostMy65]

CaptainFab is making me my perches for that exact swap.
Posted via Mobile Device

[hollywood763]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

CaptainFab is making me my perches for that exact swap.
Posted via Mobile Device

That's good to know there's someone on here who will do that conversion.

what would something like that run me?

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by hollywood763

That's good to know there's someone on here who will do that conversion.

what would something like that run me?

I'm not sure what CaptainFab's final price will be.
Here is the thread where we discussed the need for perches for our larger diameter axles:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=315010

[hollywood763]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

I'm not sure what CaptainFab's final price will be.
Here is the thread where we discussed the need for perches for our larger diameter axles:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=315010

wow, that will answer most of my questions about the conversion. thank you!

[LostMy65]

This might tide you over:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pts/2217027071.html

[hollywood763]

Originally Posted by LostMy65

This might tide you over:
http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/pts/2217027071.html

Thanks for the link! good to know that parts are cheap, and anything I need for my truck can be found.

I almost bought a 63 olds cutlass convertible instead of my C20 and I'm glad I didn't now, I couldn't imagine trying to find parts for that thing.