installing a new carrier bearing without a vise

Hello there TW!

I have all of my parts in to install some new u joints and a carrier bearing this weekend. I've done my research and secured myself a nice 20ton press for the weekend (in my garage right now) for the u joints.

unfortunately I don't have a vise to hold the drive shaft while I seat the new carrier bearing on.
(I've also heard that holding the driveshaft in a vise is a BAD idea when installing u joints, so why would i do it when installing the carrier bearing)

Would it be a fine idea to pull the old bearing, bolt the transmission side of the rear driveshaft to the transmission, put the truck in 1st gear (to prevent the driveshaft from spinning), pull e brake (to prevent the truck from moving), then torque the nut on the driveshaft to seat the nut (~150ft*lbs)?

Is there something inherently wrong with this idea? am I going to just end up moving the truck forward?


using these two videos for reference:

Carrier bearing --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Tx-vklCYw
U joints --> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOEdul7nscY

 

Instead of a vise, I'd suggest a couple of blocks of wood.
And like the video shows, you don't need a press for the ujoints.
As far as holding the shaft in a vise goes, there is a difference between holding it, and holding it AND pounding on it with a hammer.
For holding the shaft from spinning when bolting it together, DO NOT leave the transmission in gear (you don't want to transmit this force to the engine). Just the e-brake. If the brake doesn't hold 150 footpounds, then you definitely need new brakes. And don't worry about damaging anything with this, your engine can throw about 2600 footpounds on it in first gear low range.

 

What do you mean by a couple blocks of wood? for the u joints?


So, the transmission in neutral (manual trans) and parking brake on should be adequate force to hold the truck from moving while i turn the bolt to force the carrier bearing on.

Thanks!

If anyone else has ideas let me know!