Repair Lane

Center Support Bearing Replacement

Replace the worn center carrier bearing on a two-piece driveshaft to cure the shudder and rumble under acceleration.

Difficulty: moderate~1.53 hrs2–3 hours
Estimated total
$235–775
Parts$60–250
Labor$175–525
Labor time1.53 hrs
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What's involved

What this repair actually is.

Longer vehicles use a two-piece driveshaft supported in the middle by a rubber-mounted carrier bearing. When the rubber cracks or the bearing wears, you get a shudder on takeoff and a rumble at speed. We drop the driveshaft, press the old bearing off, install a new one, and reinstall the shaft aligned to its original position.

Symptoms

How you can tell.

  • Shudder or vibration when accelerating from a stop
  • Rumbling or growling under the middle of the vehicle
  • Vibration at highway speed
  • Clunk from the center of the vehicle over bumps
If you delay

A collapsed carrier bearing lets the driveshaft flail out of line, which wears out the u-joints and can damage the shaft itself.

Educational estimate. Real pricing depends on your vehicle, the inspection, parts availability, taxes, and shop rates. Use this as a guide while you shop quotes.
Related

Often done together.