I just replace the carrier bearing on my sister's 1996 ford ranger with extended cab. It has the two-piece driveshaft and has a carrier bearing mounted on a cross member. Before I replaced it there was a grinding noise and the vehicle would shake past 30mph. Now it doesn't make a sound but the vehicle has a slight vibration at 35+ mph. does the driveshaft need to be rebalanced? Or did I put it on incorrectly. I doubt i installed it incorrectly because I am very mechanically inclined but anything is possible. any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Its possible it needs to be rebalanced, I'm not sure if its possible to put the shaft in out of time (or phase), I dont think so on these. Do you feel it through the seat or the steering wheel?

 

Reinstalling the center u-joint 180 out from its original position can and will throw it out of balance.
That's why you always mark the yokes in their original position before disassembly.

 

Oh darn! that is probably what happened, i'm going to flip it and see what happens. thanks a lot

 

Thats what happened when i did mine. I forgot to mark them up and it rattled and vibrated like you wouldn't believe.