2003 Tacoma Help - Dealer wants $1,800 for drive shaft replacement

I need some help here. No way can I afford $1,800 for a new drive shaft. I was experiencing a sudden loss of power and a noticeable pull back and slowing while the rpms dropped. The powerloss and rpm drop occurred within a second or so and went back to normal. It got old, so I brought my 2003 3.4l tacoma to the dealer. They had the truck for two days then said it was my drive shaft, carrier bearing, u-joint assembly. They want to replace the whole shebang for $1,800. Not a chance. I've replaced hard to reach engine mounts and know my way around vehicles, so I'm pretty sure I can accomplish this job if it needs to be done. Any ideas on where to get parts or how to go about getting this fixed?

I stood underneath the car as the technician pointed out one particular u-joint that felt pretty stuck - it didn't move freely one way, but it was fine the other way. The carrier bearing did look pretty spent, given the vertical movement of the driveshaft, but i'm not sure about that.

 

i'd just go with a tom woods one piece drive shaft, thats what i did and it cost about $400, and that solved all my problems

 

I've liked RockAuto.com for a few years now. You can search around the net for monthly discount codes unless you already get them emailed to you...

 

If the driveshaft truly does need repair (tube bent etc.) then your best bet is to take the assembly to a local drive shaft shop. You can have them repair yours or build you new pieces. Most likely, just from what you are saying is wrong with it, they can repair yours and it will be much cheaper than the dealer.

Let your fingers do the walking and call around some of the local places and see what they say/quote. When you pick the truck up from the dealer I'd also get a detailed note of exactly what they say is wrong with it, parts it needs and why, so you have something to go off of when getting the work done.


Cheers

 

I just got a quote of $745 from these folks to replace the entire shaft from tranny to diff, including new center support bearing:

http://www.driveshaftpro.com/gardengrove

By "carrier bearing" do you mean center support bearing?

 

I too recommend the tom woods 1-piece drive shaft.

 

oh i just noticed you have prerunner, that would be one hell of a long one piece drive shaft, i do know that they make the two piece ones for our trucks to and i think it's cheaper then $745

 

are you handy? just buy some new ujoints and a new center carrier. should be under 200 bucks

 

A driveline shop or a normal independent shop should be able to change the universal joints and carrier bearing for a lot less than that. As the other poster said, probably a couple hundred in parts, plus a few hours labor.

Dealer is screwing you over cuz they don't feel like pressing the ujoints off your existing shaft.

 

I keep seeing the word "carrier" in relation to the driveshaft's center support bearing. As far as I've ever known, the carrier bearings are located inside the differential, no? This is getting confusing.

 

This is the route I would go unless you have a bent drive shaft. U-joints can be a PITA but might be worth some choice 4 letter words to save $1,000. Another option, look into places like LKQ or other local salvage yards. You might be able to find a complete drive line from another Tacoma in good shape and just swap the driveline from flange to flange.

I've heard them called both and seen them advertised as both.

I believe 'carrier bearing' defines a function meaning it's a bearing that carries weight of some sort. At least that's how I see it in my head. Either way, no one should confuse the center support bearing with an axle carrier bearing...