Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Amount of movement in rubber part of carreir bearing?

[Froadin]

Amount of movement in rubber part of carrier bearing?

I am having a vibration that feels like a tire out of round. It also shudders more with a trailer hooked up. I have had it for some time now, and have changed the tires in the meantime.

All my U Joints feel fine, but I noticed that I can move around the driveshaft some by just pushing on it against the rubber around the carrier bearing.

It looks like the rubber cushioning is gettting worn down, but I don't have a reference point, and can't find a picture of what they look like new.

I have heard of the carrier bearings going bad, but what about just the rubber itself wearing out over time?



Thanks,

Ed

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Shouldn't be too loose - and yes, they CAN cause what you are experiencing if they are loose, also when starting out from a stop with the truck loaded...

 

[Froadin]

Can just the rubber be replaced if that is all that is going bad? I will do it all if need be, but want to get all my ducks in a row before I start pulling things apart.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Dunno - always replaced mine as a single unit...



If you confirm that as the problem, and want to expirement, you might try injecting a good layer of silicone caulk material in any gaps to take up the slack and see if it helps...



I did that once on a beater, was still there when I sold it a year or so later...



Us shadetree cheapskates hafta come up with all sorts of "po Folk" remedies...

 

[Froadin]

Lol, yeah Gary, I fully understand the idea behind that one.

I had thought about putting something in there to force it to stay still and see if that helps. But I figured I would ask before I mess around with it too much.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

IMHO - the loose rubber may only be part of a bigger issue.



On my '98 I noticed that the bearing was loose in the rubber as well. When I changed the whole bearing assembly out in the Lee's Inn parking lot (Muncie, IN) - the bearing itself was getting ready to grenade at any point.



The bearing itself is a standard size - so, if you're willing to fiddle with it... you can buy the whole bearing/rubber assembly from NAPA and stuff it into the old metal housing... or modify the crossmember so that the NAPA part will bolt right up.



I took the easy route and spent ~$110 at the dealership for the direct bolt-in part.



Matt