Driveshaft 1 pc or 2 pc?

[mikeupnorth]

I am working on my 67 SWB 2WD Pickup. I do not have the orig. driveshaft. It has a spot to bolt on a carrier bearing. Did all SWB 2WD Pickups have 2pc driveshafts? Since I am droping the rear 4"-6" it looks like I could remove the bracket that holds the carrier bearing and use a 1 pc driveshaft. Does this make sense or have I lost my mind?

[Security guy]

Use a one piece. I've got a short bed with a 700r4 and I used the original (i think) one piece that was behind the 3 speed. Less parts to wear out.

[my67chevytruck]

one piece on my sons swb ' 67 as well.....

[BigDaddyDave]

I have replaced two carrier bearings inside of a year and a half. Go with the one piece drive shaft. You will be glad you did! Some will tell you that a two piece is just fine, but in my opinion, the carrier bearing will always be the weak link in the drive line.

[see ten]

SWB 6cyl manual trucks used a one piece shaft. SWB V8 auto trucks used a two piece shaft. I swapped my two piece over to a one piece when I installed my ECE extreme drop trailing arm crossmember.

Nothing wrong with a two piece shaft if you can keep the bearing in it.

[Longhorn Man]

a quality bearing will last 40+ years. The problem is, most of the ones on the market are not of quality. Not high quality anyways.

[71meangreenc10]

Hmmm,

My SWB 6cyl,manual came with a 2 piece.....now I need to find some shims to adjust the pinion angle after putting in new springs after I put in a 1 piece.

[Shyguy]

A long while ago I drove a '72 GMC with a 2 piece drive shaft for 15 years and only had to replace the carrier bearing once.

On my short bed we had to use a two piece drive shaft because of the compound 4 speed. We used the two piece out of a 3/4 ton and it looks to be pretty strong. We did have to shorten the back shaft some, though.

Danny

[70short]

I removed the carrier bearing and housing, replaced it with a one piece driveline!!!!!!!

[MellowYellow70]

One piece shaft for like 12 years now, and I'm dropped almost 6" in the rear.

[Indyuke]

I went with a new two piece because it was original to my truck. The carrier bearing I replaced 20,000 miles ago looked to be original, and the one that's in there now is as solid as the day I put it in. You have to be careful about how you put them in though.

[Kayotic]

If you are do any suspension mods. I would say one piece because of the drivetrain alignment becomes criticle factor. Off even slightly can couse problems and coupled with todays quality parts - well, part failure is bound to happen.

[thirdstreettito]

Shortbed - 1 piece.

Longbed - 2 piece.

Just my opinion.

[Longhorn Man]

a 2 piece can be benificial, esp on a truck that is slammed with a c notch or on bags... lwb or swb.

[see ten]

Yep, Nathan Porter has been suggesting the use of a two piece driveshaft with his backhalf dropmember setups. It cuts down on the tunneling of the bottom of the cab for driveshaft clearance.

[Longhorn Man]

yep, and it divides the drive line angle in 1/2 too (if done right).

[stope4]

I have a two piece. I just replaced the original center carrier bearing about a year ago. You gotta ask the question: why did GM opt for a two peice to begin with? You think maybe they knew something?

[QKENUF4U]

had a one piece in my tubbed out and lowered 71 and IMHO its a better choice.... only thing they did was cut a bigger hole in the cross member where the shaft went thru.....

[lofly'a]

this one will take all the abuse you can throw at a street driven ride.


can be purchased from Inland Empire Driveline.

[thelonerife]

how much is it?

[69gumby]

When replacing my carrier bearing last week I found bearings made in China for around $20.00 and bearings made in the USA for $59.00. I paid for the made in the USA version. You get what you pay for.

[Longhorn Man]

Originally Posted by stope4

I have a two piece. I just replaced the original center carrier bearing about a year ago. You gotta ask the question: why did GM opt for a two peice to begin with? You think maybe they knew something?

Whats wrong with a 2 piece? It's not a flawed design, it's actually stronger becouse of the 2 piece.
They've been in use for may many years, and in way more aplications than you'd ever think.

[BP68]

I have a 68 swb 350/700r4 and I used a one piece lwb shaft cut down to fit with a 700r4 yolk. Also remove the carrier bearing mount and have a ECE 4/6 drop. Fits very nice and less parts to replace regardless.

[lofly'a]

price is 131.99 @summit racing.

[Andy4639]

lofly'a

price is 131.99 @summit racing.

If this is the price for the center carrier bearing then I just made my decision. I want be needing that for my truck. This last one has done fine since about 1990.
That's as much as the drive shaft work.