Carrier bearing removal

[Gordon Maney]

I have a 2003 2500 4X4 Cummins Ram in my shop right now. We have the rear drive shaft assembly out, it is a two piece. The carrier bearing seems to be held on the shaft with a sheetmetal ring. The ring does not want to slid off. How does that come off? Do you drive it off? ... . and then you need a new one?

The two parts of the driveshaft slid apart easily. I read elsewhere in this site that they were pressed together? Which is it supposed to be?

Thank you.

 

[HBarlow]

Gordon,

Your post would probably receive more attention and replies if you posted it in the proper forum. This forum is for Cab and Chassis 3500/4500/5500 trucks.

 

[NIsaacs]

Since I don't have a press, I just cut them off with a torch. To install I use a two foot piece of pipe to pound it back on. Is the bearing bad or just the rubber cushion? The rubber is available by itself. The bearings seem to last forever. You will need to reuse the slinger rings so try not to damage them.



Nick

 

[Gordon Maney]

Gordon,

Your post would probably receive more attention and replies if you posted it in the proper forum. This forum is for Cab and Chassis 3500/4500/5500 trucks.

Thanks for pointing that out. I did that mistakenly, and got a moderator to move it for me.

 

[Gordon Maney]

Since I don't have a press, I just cut them off with a torch. To install I use a two foot piece of pipe to pound it back on. Is the bearing bad or just the rubber cushion? The rubber is available by itself. The bearings seem to last forever. You will need to reuse the slinger rings so try not to damage them.

Nick

The bearing seems fine, and really the rubber seems fine. The truck had a vibration at 28-30 mph. The u-joints were not loose, but two were stiff and one of those was, in my estimation, nearly seized in one axis. Soon to totally fail, I am sure. The thought was, while apart, let's replace the bearing.

We finished about 11 last night, leaving the old bearing in place. Replacing all the u-joints fixed the problem. Interestingly, I was skeptical it would, but it did.

What is the official way to remove the bearing? A press, you say? I am not sure I saw a good way to set it up in a press.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Cut it off with cutting wheel, portaband, etc... .

 

[rjones]

The rubber is available by itself.



Nick

You seem to post in a couple other threads that the rubber is available Where? and and how? its molded to the bearing and the steel housing... .

 

[NIsaacs]

I am sorry, the 03 and up Dodge uses a different center support bearing then the older trucks. I did not know this until I called my Son who is a current mechanic and works on newer stuff. He said they are different and thinks they are a dealer item only. I did some heavy searching and could not find one after market. The ones I am used to, all the big three have used them for ever. I am not sure if the newer Chevy and Ford have changed to a different style also. I keep forgetting all my stuff is old and things change from time to time



Nick