Carrier Bearing Spacer Fab

[RnyMtnDiesel]

Alright, finally got underneath the truck this weekend...fyi working on your vehicle while sick is not as easy as I had thought.

BUT... I recently made a Carrier Bearing spacer myself with a little help from my pops cool tools. I took a piece of aluminum stock that we had lying around that was about 1/2" thick and cut and drilled out some holes for. Installed in about 20 min after all the fab work was done. She no longer chatters and vibrates when I lay my foot in to it.

My question is...will the aluminum stock be strong enough to hold or would it be better to get a steel spacer at some point???? The bolts are still stock, but had to get new locking nuts as the factory "C" Clip locking nuts dont work with the spacer on.

Pics coming as soon as my computer wants to cooperate.

[kramarj]

I can't imagine that switching to steel would make one bit of difference, it's not like there as any real stress on it.

[gaspipe]

I concur. Any significant stress on that bearing will kill the elastomers long before that aluminum plate you fabbed or anything else. The thing is you seem to have a good grasp on what you're doing - the better the alignment of that bearing, the longer that slip joint and bearing will last. Good work.

[lwillson]

Thanks for the pic, this is exactly what I need to do to mine, once I replace the bearing.

Was the rubber still in good shape, or was it wearing out a bit?

[RnyMtnDiesel]

Originally Posted by lwillson

Thanks for the pic, this is exactly what I need to do to mine, once I replace the bearing.

Was the rubber still in good shape, or was it wearing out a bit?

My rubber was still very flexible and has no rips or cracks in it.

[lwillson]

That answers more of my question too.

I had thought my vibration was coming from a worn bearing and shot rubber piece, as well as it being mounted too high, but if the spacer was all that was required for getting rid of the vibration, I may not have to do my bearing. The bearing seems fine on mine, but there is some play from the top of the rubber to the top of the horseshoe mount.

Did you lift or use taller tires, what caused your vibration?

[ol_Blue97]

i belive the equation is 1/4" per inch of lift larry....mine did the smme thing after the swap. the reason i bought the traction bars, but the problem was actually the carrier bering needed to be shimmed. i have 3/4" of spacers in mine and took most of it out but still need alittle more i think, or my bering is bad???

[lwillson]

The fellow at the transmission shop figured I needed a 1" spacer, but I will have to look again at the angle.

I kinda wondered if that was why you put the traction bars on, I couldnt imagine you would be spinning those meats and losing traction.

[ol_Blue97]

yea... i thought i was having axle wrap form the bigger blocks.... i may sell them if the problem goes away with a new bering drop..... i really dont like how they look

[lwillson]

I thought it was either the limited slip going or the transmission going. I'm glad its not either of them.

I thought the bars looked pretty good, but if you can still get cash for them, sell em.