How To: Replacing Carrier Bearing

Yeah, I'm gonna say not. I have a MAC 1/2" drive flex head 30-250ft-lbs one that I bought about 20 years or so ago. If I new somewhere local to take it, I'd have it checked and calibrated, but sending it back to MAC would probably cost me a first born child. It seems to do okay though. I'd still rather know for sure.

 

Well my part should be at the post office today....seems like when you are really needing a part it takes forever to get to you...if it was something not so important it gets to you in 2 days...LOL Im guessing it will get to me tomorrow...got to love small town mail

 

well surprising to me I got both my Haynes manual and my center bearing. So for the u-joints that have the c-clip inside the yoke is there a special tool to take these off or just use pliers? I havent crawled under there yet to see whats going on.

 

I have yet to have the misfortune to have to mess with mine, so I couldn't really tell you if there's a trick to the inner clips. Try Youtube. There may be a how-to on there that can hook ya up.

 

I ordered some ujoint from Napa so I'll go pick them up tomorrow and dive into this project...

 

Success!!...Center bearing changed, front shaft by the trans and back shaft by the Pinion u-joints changed. I left alone the cardan joint just because I dont have a good set part numbers on the ujoints...It looks feasible just not right now. They werent squeaky or have any play in them so I take it as they are ok for now. I greased them and they should be GTG for 50K or so... Greased the new u-joints and the rest of the driveline took it on a test drive and amazingly the loud vibration I was hearing is gone! Thanks for the help...Im glad I found this forum and thread.

 

Going to tackle this over the weekend. I ordered a oem center bearing and Matsuba brand u-joints. Thanks the the write up OP, also to the member that suggested a new flange nut. Wish me luck guys, thanks.

 

good luck...its really not bad...

 

This info is really helpful. I did this the week between xmas and new years. The center brg was super easy to replace, but for those who plan to do the u joints as well, those were a PITA.

 

did you do the cardan joint in the middle as well or just the U-joints and center bearing?

 

Great write up!! Thanks.

How much play should there be in the carrier bearing?

Do you think aftermarket is ok or would you suggest Toyota original?

 

Careful with the double cardan, that is not serviceable. It's best to leave it alone unless you're absolutely sure it's gone bad.

 

Spend the money once, OEM

 

Thanks, it wasn't bad at all. I didn't need the puller, though I had rented it from AutoZone just in case.

 

well the books tell you it isnt serviceable...some guys on this forum have had success changing the "u-joints" in the cardan...you just have to have the EXACT measurements for your particular vehicle. I know theres at least one thread on it in Tacoma world...

 

I used the balljoint remover for the u-joints but my carrier bearing just popped off when I took it apart...

So you from Guatemala or just like that particular bird? I was born in Guatemala.

 

I just saw a video yesterday of a guy using the puller to replace a u-joint. It looked pretty easy as he used sockets as well. Is that the method you used?
And yes, viva Guatemala!!!

 

I did not do the double cardan as all research pointed to just leave it the fuck alone. Upon inspection, it moved freely with no binding so I just greased the hell out of it.

 

I went oem since the original center bearing lasted me 130,000+ miles. I also didn't need a puller as mine just slid right off. On another note, the biggest issue I had with the u-joints was after driving the outer race in one direction, I had a tough time lining the other race up with the fit to get it to back the other way. I used a 4" disk sander to grind a large chamfer on the outer race so it would line up easily.