How much play in the carrier bearing is OK?

My 04 PreRunner with all original drivetrain and steering/suspension components (LBJs replaced under recall) and 91K miles has developed a wicked shake that starts at 65 MPH. Feels like the whole truck is shaking and don’t feel it in the wheel like it’s coming from steering. I’m thinking drivetrain but I can’t find a bad u-joint and X-rotating tires didn’t help or change the symptoms. Process of elimination has me wondering if it’s he carrier bearing. It has about 1/4” of play when I push and pull on the driveshaft but not what I would call slop. I’m about to take it to a local shop and have them rebalance the tires and run it up on a rack to see if they can find anything. Any thoughts ideas or suggestions?

 

1/4"-1/2" is normal even on a brand new bearing.

If you do replace it, use the

$100 Spicer 211750-1X Center Bearing

Spicer 211750-1X center bearing. Oem Toyota bearing for less than half the price.

 

Grease all the zerks while you have it on the rack also. 91k seems low for these types of issues (center bearing) unless it's been abused.

I am replacing mine this weekend with 291k and it's really Funked up! I do get the same shake you are talking about at almost exactly 65 so symptoms wise it does fit. I have been driving at 63 the few times I have had to drive it as it's much more mild at that speed / nearly gone. But mine has about 100% play as in you can move it up and down, side to side completely (going to shoot a video of it hopefully when I change it.)

I do second the purchase of the item from Amazon. (if DIY) Some local shops that do driveline work use the

$100 Spicer 211750-1X Center Bearing

Spicer 211750-1X and charge a fair price for it (around $80).

Good luck and let us know how it plays out!

 

I replaced mine at 70k, only because I thought it was related to some post lift installation vibes I was getting. Ended up being pinion angle. Installed some axle shims and the problem went away.

 

Thanks and I’ll update when I know more. I can safely say the truck has not been abused. I bought it back in April from the widow of the original owner who was 70-ish and OCD over oil changes (every 4 months regardless of mileage and usually at local quickie oil change places or Walmart) and keeping the truck clean. From the 1/2 inch thick stack of receipts he kept I can see where he had the coolant and brake fluids flushed but nothing about a lube job. So I just greased all the u-joints about 300 miles ago and that seemed to fix a slight clunk I had when shifting from drive to reverse but seemed to make the axle wrap symptom worse-although that might just be my imagination. Even as I write this I am 99% sure I have a u-joint going bad but damned if I can find it.

 

I just put in a factory OEM one and if I push hard I can get it to move maybe a quarter of an inch.

 

Checked all the u-joints again and can’t find any slop in any of them. The carrier bearing now has about 3/8” of play up and down and near 0 play left and right. I can see and hear the rubber bushing shifting in the bracket when i push up on the driveshaft. Ordering a new carrier bearing today.

 

Yeah sounds like it's time. It's pretty typical from what I have seen / read for them get more play up and down then left to right due to the weight of the DS.

I think maybe I might be up for an award for the most messed up center bearing. Adding lots of pics and details to my build thread but here is a preview of hpw bad it was.

 

New bearing will be here Tuesday, may be another week before I get the time to replace it. Reading up on the how-to:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-replacing-carrier-bearing.260283/

I’m surprised at how many people had the exact same symptoms, vibration starting around 65 MPH.

 

OH NO YOU DIDNT please say it aint so.

 

Don’t think I would go near a truck on jack stands with the wheels spinning at 65 MPH. There is no way I could explain to the ER doc what I was doing.

 

Some big dummy may actually try this. Have you changed the air in your tires from summer air to winter air yet Craig? Really love your LIST CL

 

I call bullshit. We used an electric wheel spinner on fronts and rears but the balancer is real I still use my trusty 1962 to this day.

 

CS, quit scaring the kids.

 

LOL.. Yep. The stuff we did back in the 60s, was indeed scary..

 

Didn’t mean to start a whole thing here, just wanted fix the teeth-rattling, vision-blurring, I-can’t-hold-her-she’s-breaking-up, OMG-I’m-gonna-die vibration.

 

That just drives us crazy when it happens.

 

Craig i can fully appreciate the diversity of the vast automotive expertise you have accumulatee during the 20th century. As a previous employee of Volkswagen of America and its revolutionary 4 wheel independant suspension I also understand balancing tires on wheels capable of 15+ degrees of camber while suspended and since Ferdnand Porsche was the developer of the first Freewheel differential in 1932 it goes without saying I balanced many limited slip 4 wheel independant vehicles tires on the ground. Never like that jacked up hillbilly shade tree bullshit you seem to believe is the technical marvel of your driveway. But feel free to Google image if that blows your skirt up. Ima put the top down on my 1963 Porsche 911 and head out to Virginia beach Clean 1 owner 1963 Porsche 911 convertible black ext red leather interior $155,000 OBO call Hellen Whaite LYR 2314

 

When mine started that problem the first thing I found was a dry cup on 1 u-joint.

Then 2 bad u-joints.....maybe. Then the carrier bearing, then maybe the needle bearing.

I dunno. It still does it.

Stops whenever I take off EITHER driveshaft though so it may be just old age.

 

Resurrecting this since its still not fixed. Replaced the center bearing, rebalanced the tires and still shakes like the wheels are square. I’m gonna drop the driveshaft and take it to be rebalanced. If that doesn’t do it then I’m out of ideas and will resign myself to driving under 65 mph.