Possible solution to carrier bearing woes - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**ThreeQuarter** · 10-19-2003, 10:18 PM

Apparently the little "hanging" carrier bearings in these pickups aren't quite enough for some of us, and I may have found a solution. I thought the little "hanging" carrier bearing that so many of you have was a half-ton thing, but it turns out that my '67 3/4 ton has one, too. I remembered that my '72 had the heavier-duty "horseshoe" type carrier bearing in it.

If you want to see pics of the bearings, check out this web page (thanks to rage'nrat638 for posting it in another thread):

http://www.iedls.com/bearings.html

The hanging one is the one on the right (mine is mounted upside down from that pic) and is labelled as being for '72 and older pickups, and the horseshoe one is on the left and is labelled as being for '73 and newer pickups.

And that got me thinking...

If you can find a pickup that had a horsehoe type carrier bearing in it, then you can bolt that bracket right onto your crossmember. The crossmember even has holes already there, ready to be used. Look at the pics below to see what I mean.

The first one is on my '72 GMC 3/4 ton (leaf) bed trailer. It shows the front side of the carrier crossmember. That is the bracket for the horseshoe type.

The second pic is the best I could get to show the front side of the hanging carrier bearing in the crossmember of my '67 Chevy 3/4 ton (w/ coils). The arrows show where the horseshoe mounting holes are located. I'm pretty sure the horseshoe bracket will clear the two diagonal braces above it.

I'm almost certain that you will not be able to use the same driveshaft if you convert to a horseshoe carrier bearing. I think the diameter is larger, and it is located an inch or so forward of where the hanging type is located. Also, if you want to hunt for one, I can't say whether the bearing type has anything to do with model year ('67 vs. '72), rear suspension (coil vs. leaf), or manufacturer (Chevy vs. GMC). All I can say is good luck.

...and my bracket is not available.

***I have not actually installed the horseshoe bearing setup in my '67 yet. If you try it, you could run into a snag I haven't come across yet. But I think it can be done.

If any of you know more about this then please speak up. And if you find a pattern for which pickups got horseshoe bearings instead of hanging ones, I'd love to hear it.

**ThreeQuarter** · 10-19-2003, 10:20 PM

hanging

Ackattack · 10-20-2003, 09:27 AM

The carrier bearing on my 72 is the horseshoe type.

Denny · 10-21-2003, 08:13 PM

Thanks for the info gmcblu.

highboy_04 · 10-21-2003, 08:17 PM

i have the horseshoe one in my 67 3/4 ton and its factory.

Blackhawkdc · 10-21-2003, 09:01 PM

What you may discover, is that if you have an automatic, with a slip-style output on the trans, it'll be very difficult to install the driveshaft without cutting the cross member. I've been there, done that. If you have a fixed flange on the output of your trans/transfer case, the flange where the u-joint bolts in, then no worries. But the newer style with the slip-style output, you'll run into that problem.

Hardrock2 · 10-22-2003, 11:15 PM

Hmmmm!.........

I thought all '72's had the revised carrier bearing.
At least all the TH-400 equipped trucks I've seen.
Definitly an improvement over the "hangy" one.

My '69 had the old style, and I could never keep it together, till I switched to the later style. (355 with a M-21)!!!

One thing that's critical to carrier bearing life is correct allignment of your pinion and tailshaft angles. Lowered trucks compound the problem.

Mike

**ThreeQuarter** · 10-30-2003, 11:35 PM

Ah, the slip-yoke explanation make good sense.

Better keep the hanging type unless you switch to a fixed yoke output tranny. Yet another reason to find an NV4500!

10-19-2003, 10:18 PM	#1
ThreeQuarter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texan in Iowa Posts: 2,522	Possible solution to carrier bearing woes Apparently the little "hanging" carrier bearings in these pickups aren't quite enough for some of us, and I may have found a solution. I thought the little "hanging" carrier bearing that so many of you have was a half-ton thing, but it turns out that my '67 3/4 ton has one, too. I remembered that my '72 had the heavier-duty "horseshoe" type carrier bearing in it. If you want to see pics of the bearings, check out this web page (thanks to rage'nrat638 for posting it in another thread): http://www.iedls.com/bearings.html The hanging one is the one on the right (mine is mounted upside down from that pic) and is labelled as being for '72 and older pickups, and the horseshoe one is on the left and is labelled as being for '73 and newer pickups. And that got me thinking... If you can find a pickup that had a horsehoe type carrier bearing in it, then you can bolt that bracket right onto your crossmember. The crossmember even has holes already there, ready to be used. Look at the pics below to see what I mean. The first one is on my '72 GMC 3/4 ton (leaf) bed trailer. It shows the front side of the carrier crossmember. That is the bracket for the horseshoe type. The second pic is the best I could get to show the front side of the hanging carrier bearing in the crossmember of my '67 Chevy 3/4 ton (w/ coils). The arrows show where the horseshoe mounting holes are located. I'm pretty sure the horseshoe bracket will clear the two diagonal braces above it. I'm almost certain that you will not be able to use the same driveshaft if you convert to a horseshoe carrier bearing. I think the diameter is larger, and it is located an inch or so forward of where the hanging type is located. Also, if you want to hunt for one, I can't say whether the bearing type has anything to do with model year ('67 vs. '72), rear suspension (coil vs. leaf), or manufacturer (Chevy vs. GMC). All I can say is good luck. ...and my bracket is not available. *I have not actually installed the horseshoe bearing setup in my '67 yet. If you try it, you could run into a snag I haven't come across yet. But I think it can be done. If any of you know more about this then please speak up. And if you find a pattern for which pickups got horseshoe bearings instead of hanging ones, I'd love to hear it. Attached Images __________________ Ben '68 Chevy C10** Custom LWB 327/TH400 2nd owner '16 GMC Sierra 1500 SLE Dblcab 4wd 5.3

10-19-2003, 10:20 PM	#2
ThreeQuarter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texan in Iowa Posts: 2,522	hanging Attached Images

10-20-2003, 09:27 AM	#3
Ackattack Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Valley Center KS Posts: 3,525	The carrier bearing on my 72 is the horseshoe type. __________________ Project Bruiser: 68 Pro-Touring C-10 5.3L / 4L60E Project Ironhide: 97 GMC Crew Cab 4x4 Cummins SOLD: '69 GMC 1/2T SWB TBI'd: Project No Buck Assembly Manual Index Sign up Thread!!! Factory Service Manual Index

10-21-2003, 08:13 PM	#4
Denny Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Cedar Hill, MO Posts: 426	Thanks for the info gmcblu. __________________ 1969 Chevy C10. Dakota Digital Gauges, 383 Votex Engine, MSD 8361 Distributor, MSD 6A Unit, Demon Carb, Phoenix Transmission 4L80E trans, 3:73 Posi Rear End Early Classics 6 Lug Disc Brakes and Spindles All Stainless Lines

10-21-2003, 08:17 PM	#5
highboy_04 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: kansas Posts: 1,071	i have the horseshoe one in my 67 3/4 ton and its factory. __________________ '67 c10 350/th350

10-21-2003, 09:01 PM	#6
Blackhawkdc 440 american Horses Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Anoka, MN USA Posts: 470	What you may discover, is that if you have an automatic, with a slip-style output on the trans, it'll be very difficult to install the driveshaft without cutting the cross member. I've been there, done that. If you have a fixed flange on the output of your trans/transfer case, the flange where the u-joint bolts in, then no worries. But the newer style with the slip-style output, you'll run into that problem. __________________ Seth Petro 1969 Chev Short Step 425hp 350, TH400, big tires, fast truck 1979 Pontiac Trans Am 1991 Saturn SL1 - gas mileage! (and free) 1977 Buick LeSabre - for sale May America bless God, and may God bless America

10-22-2003, 11:15 PM	#7
Hardrock2 A$$ deep into trucks Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Central Illinois,USA Posts: 249	Hmmmm!......... I thought all '72's had the revised carrier bearing. At least all the TH-400 equipped trucks I've seen. Definitly an improvement over the "hangy" one. My '69 had the old style, and I could never keep it together, till I switched to the later style. (355 with a M-21)!!! One thing that's critical to carrier bearing life is correct allignment of your pinion and tailshaft angles. Lowered trucks compound the problem. Mike __________________ hardrock2

10-30-2003, 11:35 PM	#8
ThreeQuarter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Texan in Iowa Posts: 2,522	Ah, the slip-yoke explanation make good sense. Better keep the hanging type unless you switch to a fixed yoke output tranny. Yet another reason to find an NV4500!

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