Driveshaft Center Support Bearing

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the center support bearing on the two-piece driveshaft of a 4WD 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 3.5L EcoBoost engine.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Driveshaft center support bearing assembly × 1 — Use OEM Ford specification
• U-joint strap bolts (if damaged) × 4 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Chock front wheels securely
3. Raise rear of vehicle and support with jack stands at frame rails
4. Allow exhaust system to cool completely if vehicle was recently driven
5. Verify driveshaft rotates freely by turning rear wheels with transmission in neutral

Procedure

1. 1

   Mark driveshaft alignment
   Using white paint marker or chalk, mark the alignment of all driveshaft components before removal. Mark the front driveshaft section to the transfer case yoke, the rear driveshaft section to the front section at the slip yoke, and the rear driveshaft to the rear differential yoke. These alignment marks are critical for maintaining proper driveshaft phasing and preventing vibration.
2. 2

   Support rear driveshaft section
   Place a transmission jack or support stand under the rear driveshaft section to prevent it from falling when disconnected. Position the support near the center support bearing area.
3. 3

   Disconnect rear driveshaft from differential
   Remove the four U-joint strap bolts connecting the rear driveshaft to the rear differential pinion yoke. Note the orientation of the U-joint straps and caps. Carefully lower the rear end of the driveshaft slightly and secure it to the side with mechanics wire to prevent strain on the slip joint.
   ⚠Do not allow the driveshaft to hang unsupported by the slip joint as this can damage the joint or allow it to separate.
4. 4

   Remove center support bearing mounting bolts
   Locate the center support bearing bracket mounted to the transmission crossmember. Remove the mounting bolts (typically two or three bolts) securing the center support bearing bracket to the crossmember. The driveshaft assembly should now be supported only by your jack or stand.
5. 5

   Disconnect front driveshaft from transfer case
   Remove the four U-joint strap bolts connecting the front driveshaft section to the transfer case output yoke. Keep the U-joint straps and hardware together. Carefully lower the entire driveshaft assembly and remove it from under the vehicle.
   ⚠The complete driveshaft assembly is heavy and awkward. Get assistance if needed to prevent dropping or damaging components.
6. 6

   Separate driveshaft sections
   With the driveshaft assembly on a clean work surface, carefully slide the rear driveshaft section out of the slip yoke on the front section. Note the depth of engagement and any wear patterns. Inspect the slip yoke splines for wear or damage.
7. 7

   Remove old center support bearing
   Remove the bolts securing the center support bearing to the front driveshaft section. The bearing is pressed into a rubber mounting that bolts to the driveshaft tube. Remove the entire bearing assembly from the driveshaft. Clean the mounting area on the driveshaft tube with a wire brush, removing any dirt or corrosion.
8. 8

   Install new center support bearing
   Position the new center support bearing assembly onto the front driveshaft section. Ensure the bearing is oriented correctly with the mounting holes aligned to the crossmember bracket. Install and tighten the bearing mounting hardware. Verify the bearing rotates smoothly without binding.
   ℹ️Some replacement bearings come pre-greased and sealed. Do not over-tighten mounting bolts as this can distort the rubber isolator.
9. 9

   Reassemble driveshaft sections
   Apply a thin coat of transfer case fluid or ATF to the slip yoke splines. Slide the rear driveshaft section into the front section slip yoke, aligning the marks made during disassembly. Ensure proper engagement depth.
10. 10

    Install driveshaft assembly
    With assistance or using a transmission jack, raise the complete driveshaft assembly into position. First, align and connect the front driveshaft section to the transfer case output yoke, matching your alignment marks. Install the U-joint straps and hand-tighten bolts. Then position the center support bearing bracket to the crossmember and hand-tighten those bolts.
    ⚠Ensure all alignment marks match before tightening any fasteners to maintain proper driveshaft phasing.
11. 11

    Connect rear driveshaft to differential
    Align the rear driveshaft U-joint to the rear differential pinion yoke, matching your alignment marks. Install the U-joint straps and hand-tighten bolts. Verify all three connection points are properly aligned before final torquing.
12. 12

    Torque all fasteners
    Torque the center support bearing mounting bolts to specification. Then torque all U-joint strap bolts at the transfer case, center section, and rear differential to specification. Tighten U-joint strap bolts evenly in a criss-cross pattern to prevent binding the U-joint caps.

Reassembly

1. Double-check all alignment marks are properly matched
2. Verify all fasteners are torqued to specification
3. Ensure no tools or parts were left under the vehicle
4. Remove jack stands and lower vehicle to ground

Verification

• Start the engine and shift through all transmission gears while stationary to verify no unusual noises
• Test drive the vehicle at various speeds (15-65 mph) and listen for vibrations or unusual noises
• Check that acceleration and deceleration are smooth without driveline shudder
• Re-inspect all U-joint connections and center bearing mounting bolts for proper torque after test drive
• Any vibration indicates incorrect driveshaft phasing or imbalance - recheck all alignment marks

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