How do i know if my carrier bearing is bad

Title pretty much says it all. Does it typically wear out slowly & is there a way to test it to see if it's good or bad?

The only real way to know is to drop the carrier down and spin it around your self and closely check it for play in the bearing itself and not the rubber junk around it.

I have found more than not that the rubber gets old and gets alot of slop in it before the bearing ever thinks about going out.

there are times when you have a vibration in your driveline, and it very well coould be your carrier bearing if you dont have any play in your u-joints. The carrier bearing is pretty durable, they dont go out as often as u-joints. We have had a few carrier bearings go out in some of our trucks at work here in the Air Force, and they are a PITA to replace

get under your truck and push it up and down and see if you have any play but like what was said before the rubber will wear out before the bearing will.

it sucks when your rubber breaks.....

it sucks when your rubber breaks.....

When you have a full load.

Title pretty much says it all. Does it typically wear out slowly & is there a way to test it to see if it's good or bad?

You will get vibration when slowing down with you foot off the pedal or coasting if the carrier bearing is going bad, while accelerating it won't vibrate since there is a load on it. I had mine go bad on me and I asked the service manager a million questions about how and why and it killed some time on our test ride. I had quite a bit of play in mine too and he said that they all have a little play in them after using the truck and it's hard to tell that way but the vibration never lies. I solved the problem by switching to a one piece driveshaft and never looked back.

I am having this very problem as I type this.

01 PSD 4X4 CC w/119,000 miles.

It's been lifted 6.5" since the dealer had 4 Wheel Parts install it back at around 35,000 miles. The driveline is shimmed properly. I pulled the rubber around the carrier bearing and it did not seem to be tore up per se. There is some play at the carrier bearing location. Not a ton but definately noticable. I get the heaviest vibration upon takeoff between 5 and 25mph and then after that it seems to smooth itself out until I stomp on it around 65mph it will make some higher pitched whining noise. Any thoughts?

If my truck was lifted I would seriously consider getting a single piece driveshaft from Jesse at High Angle Driveline. As long as you don't have a crew cab long bed he can make on for you.

I had one go bad in my truck.....stock no lift. Ford had an updated on them and replaced it for free. Might want to check into that. I didn't have any vibration just a chirping noise at low speed.