Drive Shaft Center Support Bearing

[ratrod41]

Hi Everyone,

Has anyone ever replaced a drive shaft center support bearing on a 69 C-10?
I need to do this and need some information on how it is done.
Please help if you have any information or experience doing this.
Thank you for your help.

Jason

[Longhorn Man]

your absolute best bet is to take it to a drive shaft shop.

[cdowns]

yeah after 40years of use a balance job and carrier bearing is cheap maintenance at the drive shaft shop i'd suggest new ujoints at the same time

[BigDaddyDave]

I just had mine replaced,and for $125 i would not think of tackling the job. Having it balanced by someone that knows what there doing is very important.

[truckdude239]

i have replaced mine 3 times in one year next time ti goes to a drive shaft shop

[neonlarry]

I do mine myself, but I have a press. They can be done without a press but not easily. If you don't have one much easier to take it to a driveline shop.
If you have the 'I' type unless you get a billet one I would advise having some tack welding done to reinforce the spot welds.

[brad_man_72]

i work in a driveline shop and would definatly not recomend doing at home, the specialized tools (vices, bearing drivers) make the job alot easier and less likely to damage the shaft. its cheaper to do it once the right way.
ballancing and new u-joints wont hurt at all.

[Longhorn Man]

Just remember that shaft is spinning anywhere from 2500 RPM to 3500 RPM (depending on your gears) when you are rolling down the freeway.
you'd never even CONSIDER beating on the crankshaft with a hammer, so why do it to the shaft?

[ratrod41]

Thanks everyone for the advice and help.

[7DEETWO]

It must be the season mine just snapped the other day. Lucky for me I was only two blocks from my house and I was rolling about 5 mph. I was able to crawl home. The tow truck arrived the next day, and my mechanic Jessie hooked me up with a New Center Bearing Support and all new U-joints. The spot welds were also reinforced. I still find it hard to believe the bearing was designed with aluminum and spot welds!!!! I have to agree with everyone on this issue without the tools, and lift, it’s just not worth it to try it yourself.

I was back on the road in 24 hours.

Good Luck
7DEETWO

[72BLUZ]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

your absolute best bet is to take it to a drive shaft shop.

TAKE IT OUT AND DO WHAT HE SAID!!!!

[Longhorn Man]

I'm the cheapest SOB you'll meet in many areas... but both my Longhorn and my Burb have had the shafts taken care of profesionally. New sealed U joints and a seriouse HD carrier bearing on the longhorn, spin, check for trueness, and ballanced. ($210) I just had the burb's shaft done last week, same thing except not a real H.D. carrier bearing nor sealed U-joints, inspect, spin, ballance... pulled some strings and had it out the door for $130.
Money well spent, and they'll be good for another 20+ years.

[my70chevyc10]

I had mine done about 6 months ago at was $175 and that included all new u-joints HD center bearing balencing they sandblasted and painted it black for me and installed a slip yoke in it to. I had them install the slip yoke because i lowered my truck almost 6in in the rear and the guy said when the suspention goes up an down the drive shaft moves forward and back. With the slip yoke only the back half of the shaft goes forward and back while the front part with the bearing stays in one place.

[pat123]

i did mine about a montha go and used a vice

[chevy_mike]

Not sure of the cost but this looks like a trick setup and would last just about forever.

http://www.iedls.com/twopiece.html

[justcuz]

My 72 does not have a slip joint on the back half. Just in front going into the transmission. This has to shorten the life of those carrier bearings with the loading of the bearing and rubber as the rear end cycles up and down. When I get to mine it will be built like the picture above, with a slip joint behind the carrier bearing.

[toddtheodd]

I had my 2 piece drive shaft replaced with a custom 1 piece drive shaft at Fort Worth Gear and Axle.
It was 1/4 inch shorter than the maximum length they would warranty.
Completely solved the carrier bearing problem.
Todd

[dmw319]

Bumping an old thread. Is there not an easier way to do this than take it to a shop? Doesn't look too complicated to me, although I have never done this before on my truck. The whole unit is only $31 includes bearing and support...

Thanks

[leftybass209]

There is an easier way, you can drive it off. Just because it's easy, doesn't mean it's correct. You HAVE to send it to a driveline shop anyway to have it balanced when it's out, why risk damaging your vehicle, or someone else's?

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by leftybass209

There is an easier way, you can drive it off. Just because it's easy, doesn't mean it's correct. You HAVE to send it to a driveline shop anyway to have it balanced when it's out, why risk damaging your vehicle, or someone else's?

what's a typical price for having the center support bracket installed and driveshaft balanced?

[dmw319]

So far, I've got 3 quotes. 2 of which said I shouldn't need to rebalance the driveshaft, but would if needed.

Quotes were $150, $200, and $285. Just for the center support bracket/bearing assembly and balancing. Does that sound about right?

[leftybass209]

We're across the country from each other so I can't speculate your prices. I called around and got quoted between 100-150. You just have to call around.

[VDOG]

The 2 times I lowered my truck I had to change my carrier bearing months later. I had a auto parts machine shop do it for me. 50 bucks both times.
I took it out, marked the way it came out and took the shaft and new bearing to them. 2 hours later it was done.

[dmw319]

Originally Posted by VDOG

The 2 times I lowered my truck I had to change my carrier bearing months later. I had a auto parts machine shop do it for me. 50 bucks both times.
I took it out, marked the way it came out and took the shaft and new bearing to them. 2 hours later it was done.

Yeah, I do know a good machine shop that isn't far. I will give them a call too

[Davidf]

I recently replaced the center support bearing and it was very easy. I cannot fathom the need to have someone else do this very simple task. Just mark the relationship of the two driveshaft sections relative to each other. Remove the u-joint, remove the yoke bolt. Drive off the support bearing (used a chisel). Install new bearing and use bolt to press it on (ensure you have the alignment marks matched up). Install u-joint and done. No balance issues because nothing was changed.