What are these?

Nissan11

Nissan11

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 29, 2005
Location
Marston, NC
I did a driveshaft center carrier bearing swap in my 02 crew cab long bed frontier yesterday and after getting everything back together these littered the ground. I hope they are form the old bearing, but is there a chance they came from the u joint on one of the shafts? If they did come from the u joint, can I buy and change the joint myself or does a shop have to do it?



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Those look like the needle bearings in a U joint
U joints are pretty simple to change, just look up a how-to online and if you feel you cant do it take it to a shop.
 
Definitely needle bearings. Every center carrier bearing I've seen is ball bearings, but I guess it is possible your old carrier bearing used needle bearings? It would be worth checking out, otherwise, I'm going to say it's time for new u-joints. Did the cap come off at any time during the install?

U-joints are easy to install, especially if you have a press or a heavy duty vice. Just get the appropriate size sockets (or other round stock) to press them out and in, and you are good to go.
 
I just gave up after 2 hours of trying to change the u joint. I can't get the first 2 caps pressed onto the joint without breaking races. I've tried holding the joint tight against the cap while using a press and hitting it with a hammer. I also put more grease in the caps to hold the races tighter. I'm going to have to go get a new joint tomorrow and try again.

I'm doing it just like the videos on YouTube.
 
I think it would be much better to go to autozone/pepboys and rent a balljoint puller. You put down a deposit, use it and bring it back and they give you your money back. A balljoint puller will make your life a 100 times easier.
 
Pull your shaft out and use the ball joint tool to press out your old u-joints. Than carefully put your new u-joints in reinstall the shaft and call it a day
 
I got it done today. I used the vice with a piece of pipe for extra leverage. The trick was when I couldnt turn the vice any tighter I tapped the driveshaft with a hammer and the caps would slide in a little bit.
 
My experience with ujoint man leave the hammer for getting old ones out BUY a 6in C clamp and use sockets to get em to press down in there it makes life a hell of alot easier also make sure your parts dealer if advance, orielly are giving you the correct ujoint size diff isnt that noticable until ya trying to put the bastards in... After a few busted caps wheeling and old ones wearing out youll be a pro at ujoint!!!
 
If you like changing u-joints, buy them at Advance/Autozone/etc. If you like them lasting and not being full of mud and grit, buy Spicer joints from ECGS. There is no comparison in quality.
 
2 sockets & a hammer :D
 
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