shimming the carrier bearing

[katana1150]

A couple of days ago I came across a member that had posted in a thread that he shimmed his carrier bearing and that seemed to stop or slowdown the wearing of the u-joints in the driveshaft. I have spent all morning searching for that thread with no luck so! I figured I would ask someone here if they had done the same thing with success.

I currently have the driveshaft out and a friend of mine is replacing the u-joints and carrier bearing (he has a shop with tools and press) so I figured that before I re-install the shaft I would do the shim thing if required. A simple piece of aluminum flatbar or heavy walled square tube would work. My truck is stock with no lift or leveling kit installed.

However in my searching this morning I did come across a thread in which someone posted that the driveshaft should be balanced after u-joint replacement, this makes sense to me as the driveshaft does spin at a fairly high rpm at hiway speeds! Anyone know of a shop in the langley area that can do this?. I really hate to do things twice and an unbalanced driveshaft would just have me underneath the truck again soon, possibly with more things to fix.

Thanks

Gary

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2004 Ram 3500 Quad Cab SLT DRW, 6 speed manual 4X4....91 F-150 RegCab 4X4 5speed 5Liter
Go ahead and cut me off with your pretty little Audi or BMW!! If we connect.........I WIN!!

[ropnjessi]

Originally Posted by katana1150

A couple of days ago I came across a member that had posted in a thread that he shimmed his carrier bearing and that seemed to stop or slowdown the wearing of the u-joints in the driveshaft. I have spent all morning searching for that thread with no luck so! I figured I would ask someone here if they had done the same thing with success.

I currently have the driveshaft out and a friend of mine is replacing the u-joints and carrier bearing (he has a shop with tools and press) so I figured that before I re-install the shaft I would do the shim thing if required. A simple piece of aluminum flatbar or heavy walled square tube would work. My truck is stock with no lift or leveling kit installed.

However in my searching this morning I did come across a thread in which someone posted that the driveshaft should be balanced after u-joint replacement, this makes sense to me as the driveshaft does spin at a fairly high rpm at hiway speeds! Anyone know of a shop in the langley area that can do this?. I really hate to do things twice and an unbalanced driveshaft would just have me underneath the truck again soon, possibly with more things to fix.

Thanks

Gary

Funny, I just had all 3 u-joints and carrier bearing replaced today as well, and added a 1/4" shim under the carrier, this totally got rid of my launch shudder for the first 5 -10 feet after a stop.....this was also recommended by Dave Goerend himself, the thickness can vary...

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547HP & 1000.25 Max Tq.

[Loveday Electric]

Do you guys have pics of this shimming? I think I am going to have to do it. Can you just loosen something and slide a shim under? I haven't been able to look under my truck due to the weather...Pics would be sweet....Thanks

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04.5 3500 laramie, afe intake, magna flow 5" exhaust, airbags in rear, fab-tech lift w/ double shocks up front (dirt logic), w/37's