How do I tell if I have a 2 piece driveshaft?

How do I tell if my truck has a 2 piece driveshaft?
X:2pcdriveshaft
  • Description

On a lot of lift kits you will see that you're asked the question; Does your truck have a 2 piece driveshaft?

A 2 piece driveshaft means that your rear driveshaft will have a u-joint in the middle of it. This is generally on long box trucks where a driveshaft that was built from a single peice of tubing could be too long and could possibly cause a vibration if it is ever a bit out of balance. If you do have a 2 piece driveshaft then there will be a bearing to support the driveshaft near the center of it. This is called a carrier bearing.

Driveshaft comparison
The picture above shows the difference between a one piece and a two piece driveshaft. The top one is a one piece and the bottom picture is a two piece driveshaft.
Carrier bearing shim

When you do a lift kit and have a 2 piece driveshaft you will be given the option to select a carrier bearing shim kit. This will lower the center of the driveshaft and will even out the angles to provide for a longer life of the u-joints. On some trucks if you don't shim the carrier bearing you can also have a vibration, usually when under acceleration at lower speeds.