Center carrier bearing health - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Rich69shortfleet · 08-14-2025, 03:50 PM

I was under the truck recently working on some driveline issues and have a question about the center carrier bearing on the driveshaft. How much vertical movement should there be in the center carrier bearing? It isn't making any noise and the rubber seems in good shape, but I can move the driveshaft about 3/8-1/2 an inch up and down. Is this normal? It has been quite a while since I last replaced this bearing and I don't recall how firm a new one typically is.

awryexperiment · 08-14-2025, 07:36 PM

I don't think mine has >1/4" of vertical play. Its pretty solid.

Jim Boy · 08-15-2025, 06:44 AM

Too much play could lead to shaft wobble. We don't like our trucks wobbling anywhere. I think you caught it just in time. Have a good one eh!

Sunchild714 · 08-15-2025, 01:07 PM

Yeah, sounds like it's time for a replacement and balancing act. I just went through this. Truck is driving much smoother.

Rich69shortfleet · 08-15-2025, 03:04 PM

I had the entire driveshaft rebuilt and rebalanced a few years back, no need to touch it from that aspect.

towbar · 08-19-2025, 01:07 AM

ditch the carrier bearing and 2 piece drive shaft and install a new 1 piece drive shaft....the clanking woes are gone for good!

Rich69shortfleet · 08-22-2025, 08:37 PM

Pulled the Carrier bearing today. The bearing was great, the rubber surround was shot. Hope I can get it back together without screwing up the ujoint.

Rich69shortfleet · 08-23-2025, 03:34 PM

Got the driveshaft rebuilt with the new carrier bearing and got it all reinstalled. A quick test drive and everything is quiet and working smoothly.

72c20customcamper · 08-23-2025, 04:26 PM

Just replaced it on the 68 . Same deal bearing was fine rubber was cracking

697498chevy · 08-28-2025, 08:42 AM

Been a while but I was under my truck and noticed the center carrier looked pretty sad . Replaced it but didn't notice any change . Didn't hurt anything , I guess .

08-14-2025, 03:50 PM	#1
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 563	Center carrier bearing health I was under the truck recently working on some driveline issues and have a question about the center carrier bearing on the driveshaft. How much vertical movement should there be in the center carrier bearing? It isn't making any noise and the rubber seems in good shape, but I can move the driveshaft about 3/8-1/2 an inch up and down. Is this normal? It has been quite a while since I last replaced this bearing and I don't recall how firm a new one typically is. __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 2004 Torrid Red GTO Preservation Page 2006 Brazen Orange GTO Preservation Page Rich Cummings

08-14-2025, 07:36 PM	#2
awryexperiment Registered User Join Date: Oct 2024 Location: Readington, NJ Posts: 88	Re: Center carrier bearing health I don't think mine has >1/4" of vertical play. Its pretty solid. __________________ 1972 Chevy C-20, LWB, Fleet, 350, SM465 4-spd, dark olive green, stock, restored.

08-15-2025, 06:44 AM	#3
Jim Boy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Wasaga Beach Ontario Canada Posts: 224	Re: Center carrier bearing health Too much play could lead to shaft wobble. We don't like our trucks wobbling anywhere. I think you caught it just in time. Have a good one eh!

08-15-2025, 01:07 PM	#4
Sunchild714 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2024 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 25	Re: Center carrier bearing health Yeah, sounds like it's time for a replacement and balancing act. I just went through this. Truck is driving much smoother.

08-15-2025, 03:04 PM	#5
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 563	Re: Center carrier bearing health I had the entire driveshaft rebuilt and rebalanced a few years back, no need to touch it from that aspect. __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 2004 Torrid Red GTO Preservation Page 2006 Brazen Orange GTO Preservation Page Rich Cummings

08-19-2025, 01:07 AM	#6
towbar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Marshall, NC....heart of the Appalachians.....aka, Gods country!! Posts: 539	Re: Center carrier bearing health ditch the carrier bearing and 2 piece drive shaft and install a new 1 piece drive shaft....the clanking woes are gone for good!

08-22-2025, 08:37 PM	#7
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 563	Re: Center carrier bearing health Pulled the Carrier bearing today. The bearing was great, the rubber surround was shot. Hope I can get it back together without screwing up the ujoint. __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 2004 Torrid Red GTO Preservation Page 2006 Brazen Orange GTO Preservation Page Rich Cummings

08-23-2025, 03:34 PM	#8
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 563	Re: Center carrier bearing health Got the driveshaft rebuilt with the new carrier bearing and got it all reinstalled. A quick test drive and everything is quiet and working smoothly. __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 2004 Torrid Red GTO Preservation Page 2006 Brazen Orange GTO Preservation Page Rich Cummings

08-23-2025, 04:26 PM	#9
72c20customcamper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Catskill Mountains,NY Posts: 9,482	Re: Center carrier bearing health Just replaced it on the 68 . Same deal bearing was fine rubber was cracking Attached Images __________________ Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary.

08-28-2025, 08:42 AM	#10
697498chevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 267	Re: Center carrier bearing health Been a while but I was under my truck and noticed the center carrier looked pretty sad . Replaced it but didn't notice any change . Didn't hurt anything , I guess .



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