what should I do?

[ljedik]

This doesn't look good.....anyone have any idea if there was anything that should be covering this? it is the connection of my drive shaft. I was under the truck working on getting bolts loosened when I saw this. I'm really worried that this is missing something.

this is from a 1979 Class C Chevy Midas...

[ArmyEOD]

that is just a spline that goes into a floting bearing (part of your drive shaft) There is no cover. You are good to go.

[Perry White]

Should be a grease fitting on the outside of the slider. Make sure the bracing is good where the carrier bearing is bolted to.

[ljedik]

Why would they not protect that gear? if it gets rusted (as it is getting) it will never come off if ever needed.

[Perry White]

The driveshaft turns so fast at highway speeds, you couldn't keep a rubber boot on it. Besides, it just slips out when pulling out driveshaft.

[bjsheldon]

It is not a gear. It is an involute spline and is designed to slide in and out as you vehicle suspension goes up and down. It is suppose to be like your picture, don'y worry any more about it.

[ljedik]

Thank you. I will stop worrying and think about the million other issues I have going on with my remodel! lol

Thanks again everyone.

[leadman]

As the others said this is how it is supposed to be.

The rubber in the carrier bearing behind the spline that holds the bearing in that u clamp shrinks with age and the rubber will move up and down in the u-clamp. When this shrink enough it can give you a vibration in the driveline at highway speed.
There is an easy fix that GM came up for this. GM published a technical service bulletin to cut a piece of metal about an 1/8" to 3/16" thick and the size of the flat top side of the rubber when the clamp is taken apart. It just takes up the extra room caused by the shrinkage.
When I was a Foreman in the shop we came up with an easier fix. We cut a piece of an old serpentine engine belt to take up the room. Works great.

This works on any model vehicle with this carrier bearing set-up.

Just one of the things you can easily do to make your ride smoother.

[RedneckExpress]

Looks a little like the slip joint on my power wagon, except the joint is reversed, the inner piece is stationary in the u-joint at the carrier and there's a slide sleeve on the piece connecting to the main drive shaft.

[mick]

Actually you are lucky that the carrier bearing in your picuture is not like a Dodge. Go look under a Dodge Dakota and look at their carrier bearing. 89.00 to replace the rubber boot that covers what you are worrying about.