07 Tacoma carrier bearing

[Corban_White]

So..........I was crawling under my truck yesterday and noticed something odd, the carrier bearing (in the middle of the rear driveshaft) appears to not be a bearing at all but a rubber bushing of some sort. Does anyone know if it is supposed to be this way or if it was a solid bearing and mine has disintegrated? I can push and pull the driveshaft half an inch either way at the bearing. Is this normal? I don’t have any driveshaft wobble or anything; it just doesn’t seem that with the speed the driveshaft is spinning that any sort of rubber/elastomer would hold up for long. Anybody know? Thanks.

[Jason.MZW20]

Originally Posted by Corban_White

So..........I was crawling under my truck yesterday and noticed something odd, the carrier bearing (in the middle of the rear driveshaft) appears to not be a bearing at all but a rubber bushing of some sort. Does anyone know if it is supposed to be this way or if it was a solid bearing and mine has disintegrated? I can push and pull the driveshaft half an inch either way at the bearing. Is this normal? I don’t have any driveshaft wobble or anything; it just doesn’t seem that with the speed the driveshaft is spinning that any sort of rubber/elastomer would hold up for long. Anybody know? Thanks.

Your bearing didn't disintegrate. It is a rubber boot type device. It may depend on transmission and engine type for wear. The V6 and A/T loaf at low RPMs even at freeway speeds. The bearing is adjustable and should be reset when a vibration is detected. I don't really like this thing because it seems it's very easy to lose the alignment of the driveshaft, which would then affect the pinion angle, and here come the vibrations. Toyota redesigned the driveshaft and rear suspension on the Lexus GX470, which is basically a 4Runner, so I wonder if they abandoned this type of bearing, if it even used it at all.

Watch it in action and you decide:
Video of 2007_DC_Bearing - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

[WilsonTheDog]

FYI: Most folks with vibrations (usually lift related) go with the Tom Woods 1 piece drive shaft.

[Corban_White]

That's quite the vid! I wonder if mine is that bad? It certanly doesn't feel like it. Thanks for the replys guys, it's good to know nothing is damaged and that the movement is "normal"

[Nutt45]

Mine does the same damn thing. It's annoying as hell.

[eye one]

I wonder if this is why Toyota recommends to re-torque the propeller bolts every 15K miles.