One piece drive shaft swap question

[94BonB]

Ok so I know this has been covered on here somewhere cause I have read it before but I just can't seem to find it. I'm about to do this swap and I'm just wondering how many of you guys have just pulled the whole carrier bearing member out and left it out instead of cutting it for clearance. I have just heard mixed opinions on whether the member is actually structural or not. Any opinions would be appreciated.

-thanks-

 

[railman]

i cut out RangerSVT's when we swapped in his....

i don't think he has had any problems since....or at least none that he has mentioned...

l8r, John

 

[AllanD]

Ok so I know this has been covered on here somewhere cause I have read it before but I just can't seem to find it. I'm about to do this swap and I'm just wondering how many of you guys have just pulled the whole carrier bearing member out and left it out instead of cutting it for clearance. I have just heard mixed opinions on whether the member is actually structural or not. Any opinions would be appreciated.

-thanks-

You don't need to remove the entire crossmember, and infact you don't want to...

the "skid plate" extension for the front of the supercab gas tank
is mounted to the crossmember...

ALL you need to do for clearance (unless you have a serious lift kit)
is remove the raised "pedestal" that the carrier bearing is mounted to.

And for that you need only cut or drill the rivets that hold the
pedestal to the crossmember.

AD

 

[94BonB]

So for those that have removed it what did you do about the skip mount? and the truck has about 5 inchs of rear lift not sure if you consider that a serious lift or not... I would much rather just pull the whole member but if its structural it obviously has to stay or be moved... anybody else have an opinion?

 

[94rangersplash]

I have a 94 with a 5 in sus lift and have had no problems and all i removed is the saddle.

 

[Yellowsplash]

I left the crossmember in originally, while sporting a 4" Lift out back. Now, while upgrading to SJ 6" leaf springs, it seems it will hit with little travel.

I say it all depends on how much lift you have, stock to 4" Lift should be okay to leave it in.

When you install the driveshaft, allow the rear axle to droop and see if the angle is too much for the flange yokes to touch before hitting the crossmember.

 

[94BonB]

Think I'll just remove the saddle and see if it gives me any clearance problems.

 

[RangerSVT]

We tried to remove just the carrier pad, but it wasnt enough, we had to cut out the x-member...From what I remember nothing bolted to the carrier x-member, not even the skidplate. I could be wrong, but that what I remember, I'll have to crawl under and shoot a pic....but on my truck I had x-members front and rear of it, so I wasn't worried about structural support being weakened...
SVT