carrier bearings

I have an 06 taco. Do I really need a carrier bearing or can I go straight drive shaft?

 

You can go straight drive shaft, I have been looking into using Tom Woods or High-Angle Driveline shafts. I've used them previously on several Jeeps I owned and they are rock solid

 

Just remember your safe top speed will be in the 80 mph area with that long of a driveshaft. It's why Toyota splits it up. A seven foot long tube spinning 3000 rpm down the highway is scary for me.

You can get the OEM carrier bearing for fairly cheap if you find a driveshaft shop that sells Spicer stuff. I paid less than $80 for it, versus $200+ the dealer wanted for the exact same part. Actually, I got all 3 Spicer u-joints and the carrier bearing installed, driveshaft balanced and painted, for $190, still cheaper than the dealer.

 

Not a bad price actually! I paid $150ish for the bearing & forget how much the u joints were. Did it myself in a day & rented a puller from napa.