OK.... So I've been reading the threads on the carrier bearing, because I have a vibration on Stinky. He has recently gone through total - rebuild/replace/service of anything that spins under the frame. I put a 3/16" spacer in between the carrier bearing and the mount, and I think it helped - but it was marginal. Shooting for something obvious, I read in a few threads where a 2" spacer was used. Grabbing what I have lying around the shop, I had a 1 3/4" chunk-O-steel I could form into a carrier bearing spacer. I get it all in and take it for a drive on the highway, and there is just the slightest hint of vibration left, but it's totally manageable.

Now - the question: I noticed the carrier bearing doesn't line up with the driveline. The carrier bearing is perpendicular to the floor of the cab, but the front half of the drive shaft tilts down pretty good. Should I angle the carrier bearing so that it is perpendicular to the front half of the driveline?

For those looking for another misadventure from me, I changed out the differential fluid after the 500-mile break-in period. I just went through a fluid change a year ago, and here I am dealing with that slimy stinky stuff again. I know they call oil "dead dinosaurs", but this stuff is more like putrified pterodactyl poo. I had to break out the purple stuff and clean up the driveway again, but it will take a while to get that odor out of the garage.

 

Too bad, Mongul aint around much anymore. I remember his threads of blowing through carriers. He found a place here in corona, ca that i guess, ended up working. But, i'd think he could steer ya right

 

I was eating through universals on the pumpkin. I took the truck to an off-road shop by me (I never took my truck somewhere) and they diagnosed half my problem was misalignment due to the wrong spacer on the carrier bearing that came with my lift kit. I had them install the right one which turned out to be only a 2" spacer on an 8" lift.

 

Is your truck lifted at all? I went through this about 7 years ago. Lifted the truck 2 inches in the rear and got a vibration at certain speeds. I tried the spacers and it helped, but just moved the vibration to a different rpm.

I had the rear end shimmed at the blocks and that helped until the suspension was compressed from my trailer.

I tried a 1 piece driveline, ( somebody talked me into) bad mistake! It made a horrible harmonics type noise at around 70 mph.

I ended up having High Angle Driveline build me a new 2 piece driveline with a cv joint right after the carrier bearing. Never had a problem since.

It was about $900 back then. I just called them and they had me take a couple measurements. There is a core charge though.

You probably don't need to go the route I did, but I bought my truck new and that slight vibration was driving me crazy. 2002 crew cab short bed.

Did you replace the carrier bearing? I'm guessing you already tried that.

 

That sounds about right. I believe the general rule of thumb is 1/4" shim for every 1" of lift. I removed a large stack of shims that were installed by the previous owner that were left there after a lift was removed before he traded it in to the dealer. 3/8" works well with my leveling kit and 1 ton SRW rear springs on my F250. I have about 1-1/2" of lift, which tends to follow the "rule".

 

Thats what I thought also - 1/4" shim for every 1" of lift.

 

Neapco carrier bearing part # N235200 and 3/4" pro comp shim completely solved my vibration. I have a 3" lift.

 

I don't have a lift, I have traction bars and it changes the angle of the pumpkin. I have no way to know what the heck angle I need, so I'm just throwing metal under there.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post13383532

The shims really helped, but it was the carrier bearing that was the icing on the cake. My whole driveline was new, including the carrier bearing. I guess there is a difference between them, and I got lucky. Did you level the front end? Not even sure that makes a difference in driveline angle.. Just a thought...