Rear driveline carrier bearing drop

[Trail_Limo_Tim]

Planning a 4.5” lift and I’m seeing lots of different products on the market for a carrier bearing drop, varying from 3/4” drop all the way to 2 3/16” drop. Since the lift will have adjustable upper and lower arms, will I still need a carrier bearing drop? I’d like to hear about your experience with this and what you’re using.

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[TheGrendel]

I have the RK 4.5 rear springs. Went with the RK drop bearing. I ran without for awhile without any issues. Recently installed it and it becomes very noticeable how much it straights out the two driveshaft.

 

[Trail_Limo_Tim]

I have the RK 4.5 rear springs. Went with the RK drop bearing. I ran without for awhile without any issues. Recently installed it and it becomes very noticeable how much it straights out the two driveshaft.

Any complaints with the design or install of their spacer?

 

[TheGrendel]

Any complaints with the design or install of their spacer?

No complaints. It's actually really easy to do. just put a jackstand under the driveshaft near the rear pinion to hold it up. doesn't take much.

If I get a chance tonight, I grab a pic of mine and post it.

 

[Stan H]

You can also take a ratchet strap and put around the shaft to a brace

 

[Jteakus]

I have the Rockjock spacer, very happy with the results and quality.

 

[Trail_Limo_Tim]

No complaints. It's actually really easy to do. just put a jackstand under the driveshaft near the rear pinion to hold it up. doesn't take much.

If I get a chance tonight, I grab a pic of mine and post it.

I have the Rockjock spacer, very happy with the results and quality.

Were y’all having any vibrations before installing these spacers or what?

 

[Splenda]

I have the Teraflex. It's cheap and works great! If I had it to do over again, I would probably make my own by making a stack of six 1/4" thick pieces of steel (like the Rusty's offering). Probably would have cost about the same to make as the Teraflex.

 

[Jteakus]

I did mine after lift to keep proper spacing on rear driveshaft at pinion, You will be hard pressed to get the factory shaft to vibrate but it can bind at full droop where it attaches at pinion.

 

[Trail_Limo_Tim]

I did mine after lift to keep proper spacing on rear driveshaft at pinion, You will be hard pressed to get the factory shaft to vibrate but it can bind at full droop where it attaches at pinion.

Is it not enough to just set the rear pinion angle using adjustable control arms?

 

[Splenda]

Is it not enough to just set the rear pinion angle using adjustable control arms?

Why wouldn't you install the drop spacer? It realigns the two halves of the driveshaft and gives it a better starting point before the rear end droops. There is no downside to installing one, and it literally takes 5 minutes to install. (a lot less time that the amount that you've spent questioning it)

 

[MPMB]

I have the Teraflex. It's cheap and works great! If I had it to do over again, I would probably make my own by making a stack of six 1/4" thick pieces of steel (like the Rusty's offering). Probably would have cost about the same to make as the Teraflex.

I kinda laughed at the offerings. A couple $5 bushings from the hardware store and longer bolts would be loads cheaper.

 

[Splenda]

I kinda laughed at the offerings. A couple $5 bushings from the hardware store and longer bolts would be loads cheaper.

Yep! After I bought mine, I started looking around my garage and found several things I could have used instead of buying the Teraflex. It's like I paid $25 for the bolts.

 

[Trail_Limo_Tim]

Why wouldn't you install the drop spacer? It realigns the two halves of the driveshaft and gives it a better starting point before the rear end droops. There is no downside to installing one, and it literally takes 5 minutes to install. (a lot less time that the amount that you've spent questioning it)

Nothing wrong with asking for peoples’ experiences before buying and installing parts. That’s all this is about. Not trying to justify it being unnecessary or necessary. I just like to understand things before I make a decision.

 

[Splenda]

Nothing wrong with asking for peoples’ experiences before buying and installing parts. That’s all this is about. Not trying to justify it being unnecessary or necessary. I just like to understand things before I make a decision.

Just take a look up under there. There are two bolts that go straight up through the carrier bearing support into the bottom of the bed. You just put a spacer between the support and the bed and put in longer bolts. It's pretty simple. I never had any vibration, but I installed the spacer when I installed my lift.

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