DRIVELINE VIBRATION AFTER CENTER SUPPORT BEARING REPLACEMENT

[JAMES399]

I recently replaced the driveshaft center support bearing in my '03 Hilux 4x4. After the replacement, the truck has a driveline vibration when a pass 80kph. I know I did the install correctly and marked the output shaft and diff input so the driveshaft was installed exactly where it originally was. I rechecked everything and all looks good.

I just noticed that the box for the replacement bearing had "Vigo" handwritten on it. Are the support bearings for the later model Vigos different than the '03 hilux?? Visually they look the same. Anyone know for sure ??

- JAMES

[Mud Dog]

I cannot tell you if the carrier bearings are the same or not for the '03 and Vigo, maybe someone here knows or you could check with the parts centre where you bought it from.

Two questions .... did you install it the same way around as the original (there is a back and a front)? Secondly, besides marking the diff and box ends, did you mark the slip joint as well? That's important, one spline out and you'll have a vibration, and it's easy to get this wrong if the diff pinion shaft or gearbox shaft have been moved / rotated.

If either shaft was rotated you could even be out on the slip joint and still get the marks on the shafts to line up - the balance and the phasing of the universals will be out. Do a search here on "Universal Phasing" (there are some topics on it) or otherwise Google it ... easier than to explain it here.

[Mornes]

I agree with you. The two shafts need to be perfectly aligned on the splines otherwise a vibration is guaranteed. Joint will also wear excessively.The actual line up of flanges on diff is of less/no importance.

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[pietpetoors]

Make sure you have the bearing installed correctly. On one side is one hole and on the other side two holes. The one hole must face downward.

[JAMES399]

Mud Dog -

You were correct. The u-joints were out of phase. The front shaft was out of align with the rear. Never worked on a 3 u-joint driveshaft before, and had no idea that the joints needed to be in phase. Got everything properly aligned, and test drove it on the highway. 130kph and smooth as can be. Thanks for your help.

- JAMES

[Mud Dog]

Glad to hear!!

[JAMES399]

pietpetoors -

Thanks for the heads-up on the bearing orientation. All the factory manuals I have never mentioned anything about there being an up and down for the support bearing. Never mentioned anything about U-joint phasing either. I crawled back under the truck knowing I had a 50/50 chance it was installed correctly, and as luck had it, it was wrong. Flipped it over, and now the entire driveline is all set. Appreciate you sharing that info with me.
BTW - I looked the bearing over, and other than the two holes on one side and one on the other I couldn't see any other differences. Do you know why the bearing has to be oriented with the single hole down?? Just wondering.

- JAMES

[Mornes]

Very nice to hear about the bearing carrier orientation, I also want to know why this makes a difference? Mine was wrong way round as well.

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[JAMES399]

Driveshaft Vibration UPDATE:

I thought that I had solved my driveshaft vibration by rephasing the u-joints, but the vibration returned. Slowly building up and peaking at about 86km/hr. It disappeared if I went faster. Everything checkout ok, and I was at wit's end. As I was rechecking the front and rear u-joints, I noticed just the tiniest amount of looseness in the rear joint. I removed the it, and found that ONE needle bearing was missing. Probably omitted whenever the joint was installed. Replaced the u-joint and problem solved.

Hard to believe that so much vibration could be due to a single needle bearing.

- JAMES

[Mars]

Very interesting and very good to know. Thanks for the update.