Driveshaft support bearing conversion

[crakarjax]

So, I have the donut style bearing and it's toast, I'd like to switch to the horseshoe style. I know that I'd need a new driveshaft if I were to use the front/bottom-mount horseshoe. However, I have seen rear/top mount horseshoe bearings as well. This post has pics of the horseshoe mount. CPP also sells a conversion mount as seen here.

Question -- If I use the stock style rearward mount, will that place the support bearing in the correct location (as I'm assuming the CPP mount does)? The stock mount just seems beefier to me than the dangler.

And while I am here, would a 5" drop in the future be negatively impacted by this?

[Sklptrljay]

I'm interested in the answer to this question as well.

[crakarjax]

I just realized that CPP calls this a "Carrier Bearing Conversion Kit", but it has nothing to do with rearends. I think their naming is off?

[brad_man_72]

People commonly call center support bearings carrier bearings. If you switch to a carrier any more solid than the stock carrier bearing you have to add a slip and stub to the rear shaft.

Its much cheaper to replace with stock replacement carrier and have the shaft ballanced.

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

People commonly call center support bearings carrier bearings. If you switch to a carrier any more solid than the stock carrier bearing you have to add a slip and stub to the rear shaft.

Its much cheaper to replace with stock replacement carrier and have the shaft ballanced.

Are you saying that I'd have to switch to a slip shaft if I use the rear mounted horseshoe design? I know I'd have to if I used the forward mount horseshoe, but I'm thinking that the rearward would be just fine since it hangs down just like the stock donut.

My only question is -- how does either bearing handle foreward and aft movement of the rear shaft due to suspension travel?

[brad_man_72]

The original light duty carrier has a really soft rubber that is thin and allows for some fore and aft movement during suspension travel. Trailing arm trucks and large gm cars came with these carrier setups.
Anything stiffer will tear itself up when the suspension moves.

Every truck with a horseshoe shaped carrier bearing has a slip in the rear shaft from the factory. From an s-10 to a kenworth. When the slip and stub lock up the carriers don't last a day.

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

The original light duty carrier has a really soft rubber that is thin and allows for some fore and aft movement during suspension travel. Trailing arm trucks and large gm cars came with these carrier setups.
Anything stiffer will tear itself up when the suspension moves.

Every truck with a horseshoe shaped carrier bearing has a slip in the rear shaft from the factory. From an s-10 to a kenworth. When the slip and stub lock up the carriers don't last a day.

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense. Can I assume that since I have a slip yoke on my transmission that I cannot convert to a slip rear shaft?

[brad_man_72]

Originally Posted by crakarjax

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense. Can I assume that since I have a slip yoke on my transmission that I cannot convert to a slip rear shaft?

The stiff carrier at the back of the front shaft will hold the trans slip yoke in the trans. The slip on the rear shaft is for suspension travel.

[crakarjax]

Originally Posted by brad_man_72

The stiff carrier at the back of the front shaft will hold the trans slip yoke in the trans. The slip on the rear shaft is for suspension travel.

What happens when the carrier bearing rubber breaks away?!?!