Carrier Bearing… Alternatives and Solutions

What are the advantages/disadvantages of this carrier bearing, vs. the one piece driveshaft that some others are running?

 

Carrier bearings support the driveshaft typically somewhere near the middle of the driveshaft. Carrier bearings on driveshafts are typically used in long wheelbase vehicles which is why it makes zero sense on a Tacoma. Less vibration with a carrier bearing vs a very long driveshaft not to mention the feasibility and cost of producing long driveshafts vs a carrier bearing and two shorter driveshafts. Depending on the model of 4wd Tacoma the carrier bearings mount can flex a ridiculous amount which is the opposite of what you would want on a support of a driveshaft. Even worse the Prerunner Tacomas driveshaft slides in and out of its carrier bearing which makes even less sense. A one piece driveshaft has less parts and therefore is less likely to fail assuming the driveshaft isn't ridiculously long. I was looking at driveline angles of lifted Ford Super Duty trucks and some run angles that make no sense in my head but have zero issues with those angles. Other times, like a 55 Chevy I did a rear end swap on, the slightest incorrect driveline angle can cause shit to vibrate badly and eventually break.

I'm just researching for a Prerunner I'm buying probably this week. I'll lift it myself and if I have the slightest bit of a driveshaft problem when I'm done I'll go with a one piece driveshaft on the relatively short Tacoma DCLB (short as far as driveshafts go), especially since no one with a successful set up doesn't share their driveshaft angles. Even if I don't have driveshaft problems after the lift eventually I'll probably go with a one piece driveshaft just for dependability reasons. Lots of companies make driveshafts and it isn't rocket science so a big expensive name brand isn't even neccessary. U joints made by one company are the same as sold by other companies with the same manufacturer and the driveline itself is just steel tube. The u-joints are either clocked correctly or they're not, it's either balanced or it isn't, and a one piece driveshaft angle is far easier to figure out vs a a two piece driveshaft.

I'm fired up this morning! Lol!

 

Higher critical speed from a two piece DS over a single. However, none of us are drag racing so it is not as important as maybe that like a muscle car or a high speed import tuner car. It does take a lot of work to get a one piece right without introducing vibes as have been noted by other members in the past, there is more info about that in their threads but I would talk to @ItalynStylion as he has explored the one piece option in depth previously.

 

Good luck. Ideal would be a setup like a 1st gen taco, 2 piece driveshaft, double cardan joint at the center, with a slip joint in the rear section (not a slip yoke at the trans like the 2nd gen prerunner).

You have to deal with LOTS of axle wrap on our 2nd gens.

 

2 piece driveshaft gives better clearance off road... I already scrape and dent my driveshaft as is. A 1 piece would be destroyed instantly

 

Definitely good to know. I broke a leaf recently on my 1st gen 4wd and matched the unbroken side to the broken side (yeah I know, lol). It rides absolutely fantastic and the handling wasn't affected at all, but the axle wrap on it is just a ridiculous amount of slop.

 

Now THAT is an excellent point! Especially on trucks being offloaded. Mine however will not be offroaded in any kind of "real" situation, it's just a 2WD Prerunner, and the most abusive off road it would see is fire roads and sand highway in Glamis or open desert in Ocotilla.

 

Mine looks like this. What should I do? Just new stocker? I have it dropped and it helped but it seems like now it's just warn out.

 

That’s why i’m doing the IEDS setup

 

if you are a 4x4 a stiffer CB is an option... a prerunner, not so much.

 

I was getting a thump thump thump if I take off from a stop too quickly . Installed the OME carrier shim and it’s better but hasn’t gone away . The carrier bearing was rubbing on the floor pan .

 

Mine you can just feel it spinning sloppily

 

I also replaced my CB with one I bought on Amazon so not sure if that’s what caused it ,it’s not a Toyota CB . I’m lifted almost 3” too

 

Anyone have one for sale? The Iedls one?

 

Did you just give them a call or what? I can't find anything on their website. Might as well just do it and be done with it.

 

I bought mine from a member on this thread who never installed his.

 

Here they are on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/113269097632

 

Funny story. When I was in the Navy, I was a navigator on a small frigate. Once when we were sailing in thick fog as part of a large task force, the captain came down to the bridge and told me to make sure I kept a close watch on the Carrier bearing. I instantly thought of this thread.

 

are people still installing these? have they held up well?


xpost since there's 2 main threads on this