How long should the gimble bearing last? does it go by how hard you drive, hours, years? Steering shake?

If it gets wet, it is done. That is what kills them. Otherwise they last a long time.

Depending on year of boat, you may need to keep the bearing greased up as well. Merc has recently went to permalube gimbal bearings.

Your best bet is to pull the drive checking for water intrusion while doing preventative maintenance. The u joint bellows may be bad allowing water in.

Preventative maintenance on the stern drive should be done every 1 to 3 years depending on year of boat or more importantly, engine and drive serial numbers. Follow the owner's or correct service manuals as a guide.

Good luck.

Yes, keep greasing if you can..

Not to Hijack the thread but I have a gimbal bearing question as well.

I have changed a few and last week I went to my local Marine Max and bought a replacement as my old one is a little "grumbly" I was given a box that says 30-879194A02.

I have a 2000 year boat and the P/N for my model number Bravo 1 drive should be a 30-879194A-01 or -03. I watched the guy take the bearing out of a full service kit (bellows and all that) for a bravo 1 and it is the new sealed bearing. I was told this the only bearing they are selling for the Bravo's now.

Here is my dilema... The OD of the new bearing carrieer is the same as the old, the ID of the bearing is the same. The "thickness" of the bearing inner surface is withinn .010 difference in the offset is within .020 which in my opinion should have no effect. Espeically since I have mounted previous bearings both forwards and backwards.

I want to know if this bearing is going to be the correct bearing for my application or is it going to be a problem?

Note-the new bearing has a white dot and the old has a red dot which I thought just meant it would work with x/xr drives.