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Carrier Bearing Spacer?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Rapid Dog, Mar 20, 2022.

  1. Mar 20, 2022 at 4:17 PM
    #1
    Rapid Dog

    Rapid Dog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Seems like I came across a spacer that supposedly makes for less angle at the rear driveshaft.
    Anyone know about this?
     
  2. Mar 20, 2022 at 5:03 PM
    #2
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

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    I do think someone sells a spacer- but to do things right, you need to measure your drive angles and make adjustments at the spring perch with degree shims, and then fine tune at the carrier bearing with washers. It's a trial-and-error process and huge pain in the ass.

    Do you have a reason to believe that you need to adjust your DS angles?
     
    CS_AR likes this.
  3. Mar 20, 2022 at 6:17 PM
    #3
    Rapid Dog

    Rapid Dog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Not really, just curious. I was under there checking things out and looking at the angle of the rear shaft and remember reading something about 1 degree angle.
    I'm probably way off base.
    It has a 2" lift, and I am new to this lift business. Truck does have some vibrations that I don't remember from my '93 Toyota 4X4.
    But then again this one has 245K on it.
     
  4. Mar 21, 2022 at 8:30 AM
    #4
    Andy01DblCabTacoma

    Andy01DblCabTacoma Well-Known Member

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    Drive shaft vibrations are pretty specific. Unless you think the vibrations are specific to the drive shaft- don't screw with it.
     
  5. Mar 21, 2022 at 9:12 AM
    #5
    aroma

    aroma Well-Known Member

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    I tried spacers, made no difference. Every time you hit a bump or a dip the angle changes as it is supposed to.
     
  6. Mar 21, 2022 at 9:14 AM
    #6
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    Yeah I tried a carrier bearing spacer for awhile and it made no difference for me either. Axle shims are a better option if you're dealing with driveline vibes from the rear driveshaft angle. Little more work to install but not bad, especially if you need to do leaf spring work anyway.
     
    Abeyancer likes this.
  7. Mar 21, 2022 at 9:14 AM
    #7
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    At a 2" lift, that's unlikely to need major changes to the carrier bearing (CB) or the pinion angle. I'm higher than that and don't have vibe issues with all stock (no CB spacers or angled shims)

    Has the CB ever been replaced? If not, I'd start there, at ~250k it's more than likely due anyway.
     
    Abeyancer and Rapid Dog[OP] like this.
  8. Mar 21, 2022 at 9:36 AM
    #8
    O'Silver_Taco

    O'Silver_Taco Well-Known Member

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    Yeah the greater the angle, the more you stress the carrier bearing.....
    If your vib free now I'd just check that CB every 6mo or so for excessive wear/play...
    Bigger concern is greater angle will stretch shaft over all length.....pulling shaft way out on the slip splines....

    Had to use a spacer on this one......

    CIMG4840.jpg
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2022
  9. Mar 21, 2022 at 3:32 PM
    #9
    Rapid Dog

    Rapid Dog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Yeah it's new. I crawled under and twisted and shook everything its' solid front, rear and center.
     
  10. Mar 21, 2022 at 4:06 PM
    #10
    foothill96tacoma

    foothill96tacoma Well-Known Member

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    My truck was recently lifted a bit as part of a suspension overhaul and ended up with drivetrain vibration. I installed , which helped, but did not completely eliminate the vibration. I then added as well, and together, they completely eliminated the vibration.

    You can use an iPhone (or other device I suppose) to measure the angle of the driveshaft sections to see if they are way out of line. Somewhere on this forum there is a thread about measuring this. It's a really good place to start before you start ordering/pulling/installing parts.
     
  11. Mar 21, 2022 at 5:56 PM
    #11
    Rapid Dog

    Rapid Dog [OP] Well-Known Member

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    So the shims I guess is what I was asking about. Forgive my nooBness, but that will also change the front shaft angle? Guess it's all guess work. :)
     
  12. Mar 21, 2022 at 6:19 PM
    #12
    foothill96tacoma

    foothill96tacoma Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure there are others on this forum more knowledgeable than me about this subject, but vibration can occur when the truck is lifted and there is a significant difference between the angles of the front and rear sections of the rear drive shaft (I'm talking about 4WD rigs here). Lowering the carrier bearing with a spacer and/or installing axle shims can solve this angle problem.

    Note that I started with the carrier bearing because it is cheaper and much easier to install. My strategy was to see if it would do the trick on its own (as some have claimed). In my case, I also needed the axle shims to eliminate vibration.
     
    Rapid Dog[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
  13. Mar 21, 2022 at 10:40 PM
    #13
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    Axle shims will only effect the rear driveshaft angle.
     
  14. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:15 AM
    #14
    License2Ill

    License2Ill Woke like a Coma Toyota Tacoma

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    It's a dry heat thou, AZ
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    Bailing wire & Duct tape
    Carrier bearing spacer:

    IMG_20220321_141117336.jpg
     
  15. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:18 AM
    #15
    foothill96tacoma

    foothill96tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Wow that is so different than .
     
  16. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:22 AM
    #16
    License2Ill

    License2Ill Woke like a Coma Toyota Tacoma

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    It's a dry heat thou, AZ
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    Yeah it's kinda unnecessary beef supreme.
     
  17. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:22 AM
    #17
    Akkording

    Akkording Well-Known Member

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    These worked well for me.
     
  18. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:27 AM
    #18
    License2Ill

    License2Ill Woke like a Coma Toyota Tacoma

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    Yeah axle shims are the way to go. But CB drops can help driveline vibes. And it's a 10-15 minute job throwing it in. Unlike the shims. Depending on rust can take a good part of a day...
     
  19. Mar 23, 2022 at 9:46 AM
    #19
    bellassaiw10

    bellassaiw10 Formally afroman5015

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    I shimmed mine with some thick washers and new bolts back when I had my truck.... No issues at 230k, don't really remember if it changed anything ride wise but at the time I felt like it did Lol and I wanted to lessen the strain on the CB if I could.

    Like everyone else mentioned, Id start taking some angles and see what exactly you got on your setup. CB drop may help and it may not do anything just depends.
     
    foothill96tacoma likes this.
  20. Mar 23, 2022 at 11:44 AM
    #20
    Nessal

    Nessal Well-Known Member

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    You really have to measure your angles to find out what you need to do but the double cardan should give you a good margin before vibrations happen. Some people throw on shims and CB drop and it goes away but that is really just a shot in the dark. There is a huge thread on this forum that you can look up.
     

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