Gimbal Bearing & Bellows Replacement
MerCruiser Alpha and Bravo and Volvo Penta gimbal bearing and bellows replacement, plus alignment, before a worn bearing or cracked bellows turns into a sinking.
Ethan, the owner and mechanic, answers the phone · Open 7 days a week
- MerCruiser Alpha and Bravo
- Volvo Penta
Gimbal Bearing and Bellows Replacement
Sterndrives have rubber bellows that seal the hole in the transom, and a gimbal bearing that carries the drive shaft through it. Both wear out. A worn gimbal bearing destroys couplers and U-joints, and a cracked bellows can sink a boat at the dock. We replace both on MerCruiser and Volvo Penta drives.
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When You Call, the Owner Picks Up
Every call goes straight to Ethan, the owner of EG Marine Services and the mechanic who does the work. There’s no receptionist taking a message and no waiting on a callback from someone who’s never seen your boat.
Tell him what’s going on: the alarm on the display, the noise at idle, the engine that won’t turn over. Ethan knows Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, and the rest of what runs in South Florida inside and out, so you’ll usually get a straight answer on the first call, whether that’s something you can check yourself or a visit to your dock.
- Straight answers, not a script
- Diagnostic questions answered on the phone
- Honest advice, even when the fix is simple
- The person you talk to is the one who shows up
Ethan
Marine mechanic
Describe what the boat is doing and get a real answer from the mechanic, not a message taker.
Call Ethan: 786-351-5363Open 7 days a week
Grinding from the transom or water in the bilge? Call Ethan today.
Call 786-351-5363Signs of a Bad Gimbal Bearing
- Grinding or knocking from the transom, especially in turns
- Noise that changes with speed
- Vibration through the boat
- Rough or noisy shifting
Signs of Bellows Failure
- Water in the bilge with no other source
- Cracked or dry-rotted rubber at the transom
- Trim or shift problems from damaged shift and exhaust bellows
What’s Included
Drive removal and inspection
We pull the drive and inspect the gimbal bearing, U-joints, coupler, and transom assembly.
Gimbal bearing replacement
The old bearing is removed and a new one is installed and seated correctly.
Bellows replacement
Drive shaft, exhaust, and shift bellows are replaced as needed, with new clamps.
Alignment and reinstall
We check engine alignment, reinstall the drive, and test it for noise, shifting, and leaks.
Real Gimbal and Bellows Jobs
Knocking in sharp turns
The customer heard a loud knock in sharp turns on an Alpha One. It was a bad gimbal bearing.
Water leaking from the bellows
A diagnostic found both a worn gimbal bearing and a leaking bellows, and both were replaced together.
Emergency haul-out
A leaking bellows was letting water in, so the boat was hauled the same day.
From the Job Log
Corroded sterndrive bellows area on a MerCruiser drive 
MerCruiser Bravo sterndrive bell housing removed for service 
Corroded sterndrive transom plate with the drive removed
Get Your Drive Checked
Call with the engine and drive model and what you’re hearing or seeing.
Call Ethan directly786-351-5363Open 7 days a week · No call center or front desk, you talk to the person doing the work
- Gimbal bearing replacement
- Drive, exhaust, and shift bellows
- Engine alignment
- Haul-out available in Sunny Isles
Prefer a free quote?
Leave your number and we’ll call you back.
Gimbal Bearing & Bellows Replacement FAQs
How often should a gimbal bearing be replaced?
There’s no fixed interval. Replace it when it’s worn, loose, or noisy, which is often every few years on a boat kept in salt water. We check it every time the drive comes off. Bellows are usually replaced every few years as preventive maintenance, because a failed bellows can let water into the boat.
What does a bad gimbal bearing sound like?
A grinding, rumbling, or knocking noise from the transom that gets louder in sharp turns or as speed changes. You may feel it as a vibration too.
Should the gimbal bearing and bellows be replaced together?
Usually, yes. The drive has to come off for either job, so replacing both at once saves paying for that labor twice.
How much does gimbal bearing replacement cost?
It depends on the drive (Alpha, Bravo, or Volvo Penta), whether the bellows are done at the same time, and whether the boat needs to be hauled. Call with your drive model for a quote.
Can this be done in the water?
Some drive work can be done with the boat on a lift or trailer. If the boat lives in the water, a short haul-out is the safe way to do it, and we haul out in Sunny Isles.
Areas We Serve
Our mobile marine mechanics travel to marinas, private docks, and waterfront homes from Boca Raton to Islamorada. Nearby but not listed? Reach out to confirm availability in your area.