Dodge carrier bearing

[azmtnman]

Anybody else having trouble keeping carrier bearings in their Dodge? My 3rd one in less than 75,000 miles just went out. smiley_huh
I have a 2003 4x4 crew cab with 8' bed, 305hp Cummins and a 6 speed manual and keep trashing carrier bearings. It isn't lifted. It's generally the rubber part that goes bad. 
  I've been told to check my transmission mounts and maybe get the driveshafts balanced. It got new u-joints when the last one went out about 20-25k miles ago. 
  

[mudfarmer]

Anybody else having trouble keeping carrier bearings in their Dodge? My 3rd one in less than 75,000 miles just went out. smiley_huh
I have a 2003 4x4 crew cab with 8' bed, 305hp Cummins and a 6 speed manual and keep trashing carrier bearings. It isn't lifted. It's generally the rubber part that goes bad.
 I've been told to check my transmission mounts and maybe get the driveshafts balanced. It got new u-joints when the last one went out about 20-25k miles ago.
 

A lot of guys seem to be replacing the 2piece driveshaft on Dodges with a 1piece from somewhere like Driveshaft Specialist Inc due to carrier bearing failures. Sorry to hear it keeps happening to you

[Corley5]

Have you tried a different brand of bearing?  I've had some quality issues with after market parts lately.

[Real1shepherd]

You might want to find out where the carrier bearings are being made. The rubber in carrier bearings and CV boots for example are highly suspect coming from Asia....specifically from you-know-where.

I have a '95 Dodge 3500 work truck with the V-10. It's had one carrier bearing so far in 200,000 miles with the NV-4500 5spd.

Kevin

[mike_belben]

Dont go to a 1piece driveshaft.  Theyre hard to keep balanced.  I cut mine into a long single and had to spend quite a bit to go back to 2pc after lots spent trying to stop the shake.  A shaft that long can bend itself. 

[Real1shepherd]

Exactly right. Don't abandon a good design because the cheap Asian rubber is failing in aftermarket carrier bearings.

I'm not 100% even sure I ever replaced my carrier bearing, but I assume I have after all this time. It has never been an issue is what I'm trying to say.

Kevin

[sawguy21]

My 05 with over 200,000 miles, American model, has never had an issue. I wonder if you have an alignment problem.

[Real1shepherd]

There was a balancing issue in the beginning of the new Series('94 on) and I had my whole driveshaft assembly replaced under warranty.....although there was no noticeable issue with mine.

In addition to the usual balancing weights, there is a big balancing disc. But then after the 5spd and different engine combo's, I haven't kept up.

Kevin

[barbender]

I have an 03, 305hp 6 speed as well. It was eating carrier bearing rubber mounts too. My 97 also has a 2 piece shaft, never had a problem with that carrier. Nor do the thousands of heavy duty trucks that are equipped with 2 piece drive shafts. The carrier bearing and mount for a '97 will fit right on your '03, they are like a heavy truck style instead of that flat rubber pancake junk on the '03. Just make sure you get the right size, I believe they are 1.5". You're welcome😁

[Dave Shepard]

I was at my dealer many years ago and there was a '94 3500 extended cab diesel in their shop for it's first non scheduled repair, which was a carrier bearing. Truck had 494,000 miles on it and had only had oil changes. 

[mike_belben]

Unfortunately someone is asking $14k for that truck right now at 605k miles.. "Just broken in."

[Real1shepherd]

I was at my dealer many years ago and there was a '94 3500 extended cab diesel in their shop for it's first non scheduled repair, which was a carrier bearing. Truck had 494,000 miles on it and had only had oil changes.

I've seen and worked on cream puffs like that which only carried people around to jobs. Some supervisor's truck or whatnot who had every single service done on it. Unfortunately for the rest of us, our trucks are worked hard. If I had bought anything less than a 3500, it would be rubble by now. My truck was even rigged as a well pump truck for a number of yrs and was about 15,000lbs loaded everyday.

I just went through the NV-4500 to rebuild. I found it in amazing shape inside, albeit the fifth gear shaft lock nut was only finger tight. It's essentially a 4spd box with 5th added on outside the main tranny case. Don't ever buy any heavy duty Hays clutches...junk. Total failure of the pressure plate. In all the yrs of running manuals in trucks, I've never seen this. Worn clutch dics, sure....completely worn out pressure plate, no.

Kevin

[azmtnman]

I have an 03, 305hp 6 speed as well. It was eating carrier bearing rubber mounts too. My 97 also has a 2 piece shaft, never had a problem with that carrier. Nor do the thousands of heavy duty trucks that are equipped with 2 piece drive shafts. The carrier bearing and mount for a '97 will fit right on your '03, they are like a heavy truck style instead of that flat rubber pancake junk on the '03. Just make sure you get the right size, I believe they are 1.5". You're welcome😁

Ding, ding, ding!
We have a winner! Thanks, @barbender !
There's no knowledge like real world experience. That's why I love this forum! (That, and the high rate of honesty and decency you can't find elsewhere on the internet!)
I will try that!

[barbender]

1997 DODGE RAM 3500 PICKUP 5.9L L6 DIESEL Turbocharged Drive Shaft Center Support | RockAuto

I think this is the correct one.

[Dave Shepard]

I was at my dealer many years ago and there was a '94 3500 extended cab diesel in their shop for it's first non scheduled repair, which was a carrier bearing. Truck had 494,000 miles on it and had only had oil changes.

I've seen and worked on cream puffs like that which only carried people around to jobs. Some supervisor's truck or whatnot who had every single service done on it. Unfortunately for the rest of us, our trucks are worked hard. If I had bought anything less than a 3500, it would be rubble by now. My truck was even rigged as a well pump truck for a number of yrs and was about 15,000lbs loaded everyday.

I just went through the NV-4500 to rebuild. I found it in amazing shape inside, albeit the fifth gear shaft lock nut was only finger tight. It's essentially a 4spd box with 5th added on outside the main tranny case. Don't ever buy any heavy duty Hays clutches...junk. Total failure of the pressure plate. In all the yrs of running manuals in trucks, I've never seen this. Worn clutch dics, sure....completely worn out pressure plate, no.

Kevin

The guy recovered crashed Cessnas. All long highway trips with relatively light liads. 

[Real1shepherd]

I was at my dealer many years ago and there was a '94 3500 extended cab diesel in their shop for it's first non scheduled repair, which was a carrier bearing. Truck had 494,000 miles on it and had only had oil changes.

I've seen and worked on cream puffs like that which only carried people around to jobs. Some supervisor's truck or whatnot who had every single service done on it. Unfortunately for the rest of us, our trucks are worked hard. If I had bought anything less than a 3500, it would be rubble by now. My truck was even rigged as a well pump truck for a number of yrs and was about 15,000lbs loaded everyday.

I just went through the NV-4500 to rebuild. I found it in amazing shape inside, albeit the fifth gear shaft lock nut was only finger tight. It's essentially a 4spd box with 5th added on outside the main tranny case. Don't ever buy any heavy duty Hays clutches...junk. Total failure of the pressure plate. In all the yrs of running manuals in trucks, I've never seen this. Worn clutch dics, sure....completely worn out pressure plate, no.

Kevin

The guy recovered crashed Cessnas. All long highway trips with relatively light liads.

When I worked at a gold mill up in Silverton, CO....the BIG boss would come down occasionally form Canada. His truck was immaculate...you could eat out of the engine bay and it had a lot of miles. The truck was used just to haul his butt around. I was the only one he would let work on it. I was never a very good participant in that step 'n fetch game, but he was decent enough.

Kevin