How long does a center support bearing last?
The center support bearing is usually found on medium sized or heavy duty vehicles such as trucks. This part is designed to support the longer drive shaft these cars depend on. The drive shaft is divided into two sections and is located between the rear differential and the transmission. During movement, the bearing provides some flexibility to the drive shaft; however, if there is too much flex due to a worn bearing, the car may have problems.
The center support bearing provides the connection point for the gearbox and rear differential. The drive shaft is located inside the central support bearing. This allows for some flexibility in the drive shaft so there is not much stress on the transmission parts. In combination with the dust shield, housing, bearing and rubber seals, all these parts play an important role in absorbing vibrations and shocks while driving on the road.
Over time, the center support bearing can wear out due to constant use. When this happens, the car starts shaking when accelerating after coming to a complete stop. The shaking will put stress on the transmission components and your car won't be as responsive to cornering as it used to be. As soon as you notice this problem, have a professional mechanic replace the center support bearing. Ignoring this problem can damage your vehicle's differential, transmission, and driveshaft. This can lead to extensive repairs and your vehicle may fail until it is repaired.
Because the center support bearing can wear down over the years, it's important to be aware of the symptoms that indicate it's about to fail.
Signs that indicate the need to replace the center support bearing include:
Noises such as screeching and grinding, especially when the vehicle slows down
Insufficient steering performance or general driving resistance
Feeling a shiver from your car when you accelerate from a stop
The center support bearing is critical to the performance of your vehicle, so any of these symptoms should not be ignored and the vehicle should be inspected immediately.
