2nd gen tacoma carrier bearing

so my problem is i can lift up on my driveline about 2 inches and im told my carrier bearing is out and i need a new one. well i call the dealer and they tell me i have to get a whole drive line for $600 and thats with my cousins employee discount..

is this true or can i just change out the carrier bearing?

my other option through a local shop is to take them my driveline and they rebuild it for $125

im a lil lost on what to do and i dont know what all my options are. any help will be appreciated.

2005 Tacoma SR5 Prerunner TRD Offroad

 

Tom Woods or find a reliable drive line shop in your area and ask for their opinion. I'd ask around about the shops though.

 

just change out the carrier bearing, its about $237 from the dealership.

 

I'd take the truck to the local driveline shop and have them give you an estimate to replace the carrier bearing. They'll also likely replace the u-joints since they have to come apart for the job anyways.

As far as the dealership's recommendation, if you go through the dealership for this kind of repair, it could end up being cheaper to buy the complete drive line and swap it out. The dealership is not a driveline specialty shop so they would much rather unbolt one part and bolt in the new on vs. tearing apart universal joints and pressing on bearings.

 

Its not hard swapping the carrier bearing out. Its just a few bolts and you'll need a specialty tool to remove the u joints. Did mine over the weekend and it took me a little over an hour to do mine.

 

Did you have any experience with u-joints prior? I'm going to have to get after mine but I've always heard how much of a nightmare u-joints can be. I'm pretty handy, just never dealt with them before.

 

Fyi not 100% sure if Toyota still uses Timken for most seals and bearings. But if they do get the part number from Toyota then call AutoZone and get them cheaper!!!

 

Knock the old "perma sealed" joints out & replace with greaseable ones, Take the flange nut off, split the shaft from yoke, wrap a rag around shaft stick in big vice, mark the current position of carrier, then knock carrier bearing off, set new one in place then drive it back to pre marked position, re assemble, takes about 45 mins-1hr