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This problem only affects your truck if you have a 1998-2000 model with a two piece drive shaft and the "3 prong style" carrier bearing. If you have a one piece drive shaft and/or a solid rubber bushing that has no prongs you aren't affected.
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The above picture is an example of a typical
carrier bearing failure. The bottom prong of the rubber bushing
that surrounds the bearing pops out the yoke that keeps the bearing
centered. The most common problem caused by this failure is a
vibration during medium/hard acceleration or when carrying a load.
Another symptom of a bearing failure is a squealing coming from the
rear of the vehicle during acceleration. Click on the images for
a higher resolution example.
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"The most common problem caused by this failure is a vibration during medium/hard acceleration or when carrying a load." |
| "Even though the carrier bearing failure posses little or no safety risk I would still inspect your bearing on a regular basis." | 
This is what your carrier bearing should
look like. Notice the bottom prong of the bushing is tucked into
the yoke as it should be. There was a supposed "New &
Improved" bearing in circulation to replace these defective
bearings. I have had my faulty bearing replaced with the
"New & Improved" version and it has also failed.
Others have had the same problem with the "New &
Improved" bearing also. Although it doesn't seem to make
much of a difference, one I did make between my old and new bearings
was that the rubber the new bushing was made of seemed much harder
than the rubber the old bushing was made of. To date, I have had
five bearings fail on my 2000 KC. The dealership even tried
installing a solid one piece bearing from the older Frontiers and
Hardbodys into my truck with no luck. Needless to say, I am
getting a bit tired of dropping my truck off at the dealership.
My next step may be to have my truck fitted with a custom one piece drive shaft.
Most dealerships are replacing these bearings without putting up a
fuss but...in case they do I have attached copies of the Nissan TSB
below. Even though the carrier bearing failure posses little or
no safety risk I would still inspect your bearing on a regular basis.
A driveline vibration that seems unimportant could possibly cause you
other big problems in the future. .Be sure to spread the word to
fellow Frontier owners and please call 1-800-nissan-1 to file a
complaint. I am currently having my carrier bearing replaced
with a new and improved model and I will post the part number once I
get my truck back.
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Thanks you to mrbieler who
was my partner in spreading the word of the carrier bearing failure in
the beginning, when no one really knew about the problem. Thanks
to begelfor for documenting his bearing failures and replacements with
photos. I would also like to give a thanks to everyone on the
message board who helped spread the word and hound Nissan about
getting this problem fixed. If you have any questions please
feel free to send us an email
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