Needle bearing - How long can I keep going?

Hey y’all.

About three weeks ago I noticed the infamous “needle bearing” vibration. Pulsing, mainly. Sometimes.. it’s not pulsing? Goes away in 4x4. I really only notice it between 35-55MPH.

Anyway, I have since driven about 1,000 miles (small trip) since noticing. I have a shop that is going to swap it for the ECGS bushing next week.

My question is this… is it safe to drive? Am I about to ruin my dif? The vibration has gotten a tad more noticeable, but by no means is it crazy. I just have a small trip this weekend, I’m getting married so I’m driving up to TN from SC, and don’t wanna do any damage.

Y’all have any thoughts on this? Did any of y’all drive on yours a good bit when it made the vibration before swapping it?

Thanks!

 

I ran mine for a few hundred miles before doing it. From what I have read some people drove with the vibe for a while and were fine but I have seen some threads that show that the needled bearing was broken when going to remove it.

Personally, if the vibe has gotten worse, I would replace it asap.

 

I drove probably 10,000kms (6,000miles) with the vibration and no issues. I finally got down to replacing it and it was in perfect shape (To the eye). I would not be worried about it unless it was severely vibrating.

 

The prophesy of the needle bearing may not be true.

 

I went through two needle bearings in one month before finally installing the ECGS clamshell bushing. Save yourself the headache and do it asap

 

Mind if I ask what it feels like when they are shot?

 

If you don't have to drive it don't. If you need to get to work, well, you need to get to work lol

FWIW I did mine about 500 miles after lift. I still feel it sometimes. Not worried

 

You do an ECGS bushing or another needle?

 

Bushing, Don't feel it all the time but it isn't totally gone

 

You're fine.

My Taco had slight vids from new on the stock suspension. Steady at times / oscillating at other times. I finally swapped it at about 55k before I swapped the suspension. It came out in fine shape.

 

The pulsing vibe symptoms and speed range are precisely what I encountered. Except I like to refer to it as “cyclic” vibration. Same thing.

I kept the bearing after the ECGS bushing install and you can in fact see slight wear but it is very difficult to see. I think it takes a long time to go from initial vibes to a catastrophic failure. I drove about 1,000 miles on mine between lift and bushing install.

 

More than likely these bearings were destroyed in the process of trying to get them out

 

vibrations. also you can shake the cv axle end thats nearest to the diff. if its shot itll have a lot more play in it.

 

a lot of them are because people hammer in the removal piece resulting in the edge of the needle bearing being broken off. i actually did my ecgs bushing last night and got out the needle bearing in great shape because i filed down the removal tool to fit way better.

 

Not what I meant. The bearing was broken before they tried to remove it. Some were missing a few needles, some had the bearing crack.

 

thats a bummer. id assume that means those broken pieces are floating around in the diff now and will cause major damage resulting in a whole diff replacement.

 

like you are rolling on a rough road made out of large granular cement, but typically in the 20-45mph range. You can feel on the top or bottom of the steering wheel. It just happens with pretty much any lift above 1”.

just get it changed and save yourself the headache…been there

 

Roger that. So, let me ask a clarifying question. Vibration = shot? Or vibration = the problem?

I have the vibration pulsing, 40-52ish I guess. Then it goes away. I’m not getting into the shop until next week. I’m mainly just wondering if I can drive without.. you know… my dif dying. Vibrating is subtle, not bad. Still not trying to break anything haha.

 

You can drive it till you can't

But really thought, I put prob a couple thousand miles on my bad bearing commuting before I figured out the root cause and got it fixed.

For safety, I wouldnt drive it unless you had to, but we all know the bossman dossnt care about your bearings

 

Lol, put that in a tshirt.

Did yours get worse over time, or stay about the same? Also, was it broken when you pulled it out?