So I read Hogman23's post on greasing the splines but it looks like he has a 1-piece driveshaft. What about us guys that have the two-piece with carrier bearing?? Does the splines still need to be lubed at the tranny and if so how do you back it out with the carrier bearing in the way?

I have never had a problem with my 2 pc. like the 1 pc. guys do. But I did change a U-joint once and to get to the tranny - spline I just unbolted the two bolts holding the carrier bearing and dropped both shafts at the same time.

So I read Hogman23's post on greasing the splines but it looks like he has a 1-piece driveshaft. What about us guys that have the two-piece with carrier bearing?? Does the splines still need to be lubed at the tranny and if so how do you back it out with the carrier bearing in the way?

Yep, your right, mine is a one piece. Are you hearing the clunk with the two piece? Anyone else having this problem? I'm curious about the two-piece driveshaft myself.

Can you remove the rear part of the driveshaft where it goes into the rear axle and not take the center connection apart? My thought was that if you could do that, then you could just treat it like a one piece and leave the center part connected. Not being able to look at it, I'm shooting from the hip here, so I apologize if I sound ignorant.

I have a 2003 2500HD Duramax Allison 2WD. I purchased truck used this July 2005 with 59,000mi. I immediately noticed a clunk on braking to a stop and the upon acceleration. Sound wasn't as much a clunk as it sounded like something torquing against something else. To make a long story short. I droppped the driveshaft so I could get a good look at the center carrier bearing and rubber mount. The rubber was badly weather cracked. The bottom of the rubber webs were fatigued or slightly crushed. I replaced the unitand the ujoints[they weren't bad] and there is no more clunk or thud upon braking or acceleration. I went to a heavy truck parts store so I could specify the supplier. I put SPICER bearing assembly in my truck. The parts counter person said he hasn't seen rubber fatigue that fast, 70,000 miles. I commented and so did he about the price of the bearing assembly. It was way over $100, maybe $175. Which is 2 times price of HD truck bearing assm. I also slid the splined joint in and out to try to feel if it was sticking. I could not find or feel any resistance in the splined joint.

I have a 2003 2500HD Duramax Allison 2WD. I purchased truck used this July 2005 with 59,000mi. I immediately noticed a clunk on braking to a stop and the upon acceleration. Sound wasn't as much a clunk as it sounded like something torquing against something else. To make a long story short. I droppped the driveshaft so I could get a good look at the center carrier bearing and rubber mount. The rubber was badly weather cracked. The bottom of the rubber webs were fatigued or slightly crushed. I replaced the unitand the ujoints[they weren't bad] and there is no more clunk or thud upon braking or acceleration. I went to a heavy truck parts store so I could specify the supplier. I put SPICER bearing assembly in my truck. The parts counter person said he hasn't seen rubber fatigue that fast, 70,000 miles. I commented and so did he about the price of the bearing assembly. It was way over $100, maybe $175. Which is 2 times price of HD truck bearing assm. I also slid the splined joint in and out to try to feel if it was sticking. I could not find or feel any resistance in the splined joint.

Hmmm, sounds like your problem was slippage in the carrier bearing instead of slop in the drive train. Could be easily mistaken though.