Driveshaft question - loose bracket

Hello all, here is my first post and Im happy to be here. Ive been reading some threads on the bearing on the driveshaft. I just bought my tundra a few days ago and missed a noise it was making so Im trying to fix it. Im not sure if I found the problem but I think I have.

First, I am the furthest thing away from a mechanic but if you show me how to do something I can usually do it. So I recorded the noise my truck has been making and Ill post it here. It only does it 20 mph+. I crawled under my truck today to find a stack of washers in between the frame and bearing. Im guessing since the truck might have a few inch lift on it but its not much. The bracket on the bearing looks pretty shiny so Im guessing its pretty new. The main issue here is its loose!

So here are my questions:

Why did this become loose? Does it just need tightened? The arrow on the bracket is pointing to the rear of the truck, is it backwards? Ive read sometimes the bracket is backwards but the bearing is not.

Here is a video of the noise (its a constant thumping like sound)

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A7tqkxJbrk8



Here is a video of the loose bearing and to show if its installed correctly.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVTMth-ePZw

thank you for any help!

 

Put a flat washer under the head of each of the bolts and tighten them up if they will. Hopefully those bolts are the correct size and thread pitch.

The bearing is sitting the correct way, and the stack of washers were done as a makeshift carrier bearing drop. If you don’t have vibrations with it tightened, the drop may just be the right amount for your amount of rear lift.

 

I'm curious why the previous owner replaced the carrier bearing? I wonder if it's because they don't know about the TSB on 2WD trucks that causes clunks/knocks at slow speed and while turning, stopping, and accelerating... because the transmission crossmember bolts are missing, or cracked.

I also wonder if they even bought the right carrier bearing. I can't tell if it's installed correctly. Too many people replace the carrier bearing when it's not the problem, sometimes causing more problems.

I also wonder if they didn't know improperly adjusted rear breaks will cause similar vibrations, and clunks while accelerating and stopping? And all you need to do is set and release the e-brake (if working) a few times, and if they're not frozen up, it'll fix the issues.

That and a lot of other issues are discussed in THIS THREAD, if you're interested... there's a link to the 2WD TSB I mention above in the TSBs/Recalls section of the post.

 

@OP that support bearing is definitely supposed to be tight. in all likeliness, the previous owner replaced it trying to fix the vibration issue. the washers are there to adjust driveline angles.

The way that bracket is positioned it seems like the may have not gotten the correct part. Hard to say for sure.

 

Curious if that bearing has any part numbers anywhere on it, or a brand. Spicer stuff is usually branded with their logo or stamping.

Also curious whether or not the bolts are loose, are they too long and bottomed out already?

It's a curious situation.

 

So it seems the bolt the previous owner installed was an incorrect size. I tried to tighten the bolt because it seemed loose but it would just keep spinning. I went and got a set of bolts/washers/nuts. I got rid of the stack of washers that was being used and bolted the bearing flush with the U shaped bracket coming off the frame. I tightened them down and took it for a ride and its not making any kind of noise now. That was the noise for sure I was hearing since the whole driveshaft was bouncing around.

 

Good news.

Do be aware though, your '05 2WD has a TSB for the transmission crossmember cracking. And many members have reported the bolts hidden up under the crossmember (holding the tranny mount, not the ones bolted to the tranny) being loose, either due to crack or other compression/movement.

If you're new to the 1st Gen Tundra, it may be worth spending 10 minutes reading that post I linked to a couple replies up. It covers all this stuff and more.

 

Just got done reading the TSB for the crossmember. I will definitely check it out, looks pretty simple as well. Thank you for the info so far.

 

Well I went out to go ahead and check the crossmember but it started pouring. I was able to get a picture of the inside of the crossmember for now, not sure if that would tell or not if its ok. Also took a picture of some fluid that looks like it might be dripping off near the back of the transmission.

 

There should be 4 bolts, not just two, check the on the other side of the round nub from the mount. And one is clearly missing. That would cause a clunk as described in the TSB. You need to replace the bolts, esp. if more are gone.

This is a view from the TOP of the crossmember, showing what you'd see for cracks in a typical case, though they may be smaller. It also shows the bolt pattern for the mount. You may or may not be able to see cracks from below, which is where your pic is taken from. But regardless, like I said, new bolts and install with BLUE (non-permanent) threadlock.

I'd almost put money on your previous owner not knowing about this problem, and replacing the carrier bearing trying to fix that problem

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Well...heres the other side

Pulled this part # off the TSB for the bolts, 90119-08895. Does that sound right?