How to install new driveshaft center bearing and bushing?

[sprnova]

Looking for some assistance on the proper installation of a new driveshaft center bearing and support carrier. I purchased the "kit" which comes with the bearing, dust caps and boot. I also purchased a new support carrier.

I am looking for some clarification if the following steps for install are correct:

1. Place dust cap on driveshaft
2. Press new center bearing down onto driveshaft. Should there be grease between the dust cap and center bearing?
3. Press support carrier down over the center bearing.
4. Install dust cap

Any additional steps or gotchas involved?

Thanks!

 

[samiam44]

I didn't know there was a kit. You need to support it in a way to not load the u joint.

M

 

[M104]

Don't use grease, just clean this surface with sand paper.
Pay attention to the correct installation - signs on both halves of driveshaft.
If you have large nut in one of halves of driveshaft, tighten it after complete installation to remove needless clearance between halves. Also, you must unscrew it to remove driveshaft.

It seems to me that this nut does not occur in us-spec 500e/e500

 

[sprnova]

I already have the driveshaft off the car and apart. I have installed the new bearing but its squeaks when I rotate it back and forth. I suspect it is because it's touching the dust cap.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[samiam44]

"If you have large nut in one of halves of driveshaft, tighten it after complete installation to remove needless clearance between halves. Also, you must unscrew it to remove driveshaft'

No nut on a E500E.... your thinking the 034,032,030s.

It's hard to assess not being there.. is it possible that you tweeked the cup a bit and it is rubbing? Good job marking the spline =0)

 

[sprnova]

"If you have large nut in one of halves of driveshaft, tighten it after complete installation to remove needless clearance between halves. Also, you must unscrew it to remove driveshaft'

No nut on a E500E.... your thinking the 034,032,030s.

It's hard to assess not being there.. is it possible that you tweeked the cup a bit and it is rubbing? Good job marking the spline =0)

Yep that's correct, no nut. I have pulled the "squeaking" bearing off and devised a good way to press the new one on (using old bearing). Some guides say to put the bearing into the rubber support carrier and press everything on, but I don't see a way to properly do that. If anyone has done this before, please chime in. Thanks!

 

[samiam44]

I did put the brg in the support on the brg 1st. The u joint pivot sits press plate. I used a scrap of pvc pipe to press it on. It's a light pressfit. So it's not hard. The centers support has a fwd direction...
Care on pressing.. don't want to have pvc splinters in my face...

M

 

[DerFuror]

Looking for some assistance on the proper installation of a new driveshaft center bearing and support carrier.

The FSM is always a good starting point. If you haven't already done so, review 41-100 beginning at page 14.

 

[gsxr]

I haven't done this in a while but from memory, I pressed the bearing into the rubber carrier first (don't deform the new carrier!), then pressed the assembly onto the shaft after sliding on the correct dust cap first (there are 2, and they are not the same). As samiam mentioned, the bearing is not a super tight fit. Just make sure to use an appropriate diameter pipe as a drift to tap it in place. You can only press on the inner race when installing on the driveshaft to avoid bearing damage.

 

[sprnova]

Thanks guys. Last night I installed the new bearing and center support successfully. Steps to accomplish this:

1. Placed larger of the 2 dust caps onto the driveshaft (slides on with no resistance)
2. Installed (manually pressed) the bearing into the new center support
3. Placed center support onto driveshaft
4. Used old center bearing and PVC pipe (of correct diameter) to press the new bearing and center support onto the driveshaft. It was a fairly tight fit (used a rubber mallet) and I did use a light coating of grease.
5. Used the PVC pipe to tap the smaller of the 2 dust caps into place

Thanks to everyone who responded with advice!