JXB Performance Driveshaft Carrier - 6th gen Explorer - Street Bushings - FRD07A0-S
The stock center support bearing carrier holds the driveshaft in place with a layer of thin rubber. While that’s great for making sure no NVH makes it to the cabin, it doesn’t keep the bearing centered well under load, allows the bearing to sag and ruin driveshaft alignment over time, and creates slop in the driveline during shifts and throttle application.
Over time the OEM bushing becomes brittle, eventually dry rotting and cracking. Even on the best-kept cars, the stock bushing can start to form cracks in as little as 5-10 years.
When the bushing wears and sags, it changes the alignment of the driveshaft, putting more stress on the joints. During rapid loading of the driveshaft (launches, shifts, and quick application of the throttle), the bearing is allowed to travel off-center, introducing slack in the driveline, which results in laggy and unpredictable driveline response.
Our upgraded driveshaft carriers keep the driveshaft firmly in place at all times. The more solid bushings ensure the bearing cannot move from center, maintaining torque delivery and driveshaft alignment at all times, resulting in more direct driveline response under all conditions.
Benefits as described by our customers include:
More direct throttle response
Firmer, more direct shifts
More instantaneous launches
Reduction in vibration due to driveshaft misalignment and/or rubber deterioration
Smoother low-speed on/off throttle behavior (1st gear in parking lots)
The videos below were recorded on a 2020 Explorer ST with just a tune. The driveshaft is not well-supported by the soft OEM carrier, so it’s allowed to travel off-center under load. The video shows a comparison of how much an OEM carrier gives under load and the improvement with the JXB carrier.
Installation doesn’t require removal of the driveshaft. The 2-part design clamps around the OEM bearing. The old carrier must be removed, so a cutting tool is required.
The exact steps to access the carrier will vary slightly by model, but the removal and installation of the new carrier are the same. The basic steps are:
Remove any braces or splash shields preventing exhaust and heat shield removal
Remove or lower exhaust in area of center support bearing
Remove heat shielding covering center support bearing
Cut off OEM carrier and remove rubber support material with razorblade, leaving base layer of rubber intact on the bearing
Clamp new carrier around OEM bearing
U625 (6th gen, 2020+) Ford Explorer models including:
4 and 6 cyl engines
AWD and RWD drivetrains
All trims
U611 (2nd gen, 2020+) Lincoln Aviator, all models
Street and Track refer to the durometer (stiffness) of the bushings. Track are roughly twice the durometer of the street bushings. Both track and street are many times stiffer than stock and will hold up to whatever abuse are thrown at them, but the street bushings are better at soaking up drivetrain noise and vibration. Usually both street and track are completely silent and vibration-free, but in cases where there is an underlying drivetrain issue causing the driveshaft to vibrate badly, the track bushings may not be able to soak it all up, where the street bushings can.
We generally recommend street bushings for any car that's not purpose-built for track or overland use, since the street bushings have a much lower chance of transmitting drivetrain NVH to the cabin at high speeds or under heavy throttle loads.
If you’re not sure which to go with, the “Give me Both!” option will give you a full set of each of the street and track bushings. You can use all street, all track, or even mix and match them to find the perfect balance of performance and NVH-absorption.
Street - FRD07A0-S
Track - FRD07A0-T
Both - FRD07A0-B
Street - BSH09A0
Track - BSH09A1
SHS04A1
