Thanks, guys.
Got $8 exchangeable tip pliers from O'Reilly. Even the nicer ones still required a little creativity and aid from other hand and other tools, so cheap ones makes sense.



PULLED AXLE OUT


THIS WAS AFTER I WIPED THE LEFT SIDE CLEAN, BUT IT WAS CLEANER THAN THE RIGHT SIDE (FURTHER BELOW. Seal even looks good, no excessive gear oil outside this flange.



At first I thought mark said, "NGK". It's actually "NOK"! LOL!


SNAP RING REMOVED. (For the left side I got creative with 2 screwdrivers leveraged and operated by one hand and skinny long-nose pliers. After that extraction, I bought the snap ring pliers for the right side. But that still required some creativity. I guess, no plug-and-play snap ring pliers, eh?)



RIGHT SIDE IS NASTIER THAN THE LEFT SIDE.
So it made sense that, compared to the left side, it was more gritty and louder as heard via my organic stethoscope- LOL!

VIDEOS OF PLAY BELOW:
LEFT SIDE^^^

RIGHT SIDE^^^

 

 

I'd say the wheel bearings look bad. Just so you know what to expect, the new bearings will have similar play but to a much lesser degree.

 

Yes, Arlindsay.
New bearings also have some play but are smooth. Right rear bearing which I found the louder was crunchy
Just had old bearings pressed out and new pressed in. We cut the two old retainer collars and expanded the I.D. to use as special pressing tool; Worked like a charm with the Harbor Freight press

Noted some wear on the axle shaft. Could be from:
1) Play in right rear bearing OR
2) Oil deflector/baffle popped out of position.
I'll feel with a broom stick. Worst case, I'll have to open up diff (Tnx again to Alexman Videos!) to fix it.


COULD BE OIL DEFLECTOR/BAFFLE RUBBING


Yes, Wallytoo. California truck all the way, and relatively low miles I think. 169k miles @ 26 years when I got it.

 

 

Nah, that shiny line is on the inside of the axle, outside the side gear and diff carrier.. Likely to be the tin oil baffle. It should'nt require any corrective action.

The seal rides on the steel collar behind the bearing.

 

YES, and DAYMN! Don't you just hate it when others work on your truck????! Whoever re-inserted the axle before must have knocked that baffle out of position.

Correct, I could probably leave it alone, but the thought of it bugs me; Reminds me of what a college professor said... Many ways to cut a log. If you had enough chalk and time, you can cut a log like that baffle is doing to the axle shaft- LOL! Not in my lifetime, though. LOL!

I figure, I might as well fix it. I think it requires removing the differential like Alexman did. Will review the procedure (video and FSM).
IIRC it requires sealant. Anyone knows how much sealant is needed? i got a small (maybe 12 oz tube of Perrmatex Ultra-grey.

 

I think that no useful thing would be accomplished by removing the 3rd member just to bend the oil baffle a little.

Just wasted effort and sealant. There'll be another time in the future when the 3rd will have to come out for another reason. Time to bend that piece of tin then.

Might be a different story if that baffle was completely detached and rattling around in there.

 

Thanks for the insight, Millball. Yeah, I guess I'll jut do it at the same time I replace my transfer case output (rear)and differential input seals. Will save me time.
I wonder if I could "hook" it and pull it toward the right... may just pull it back into the bumps that hold it?

Will keep you posted.

 

Thank you very much for all your suggestions, shared experiences and knowledge, and for chiming in!
Right Bearing is shot; while spinning it with my hand I could actually feel positions where it binds. Left is still smooth. I'll keep it for spare.



Done!
Bearing did it's job; it complained but held the fort until it was replaced before serious damage, a leak, or anything more than a noise occurred. No more Bon Jovi Backup Vocals.

Ready for another gig

I'll revisit the oil deflector / baffle when I do the transfer case output (rear) seal,since that would mean unbolting the drive shaft and breaking out the sealant, anyway.

 

YUP!
We also realized that cutting the old locking collar and spreading it out a little, and using it with chamfered side against the inner race, would make it a good tool for tapping the inner race of the bearing onto the axle.

 

Another nice youtube video for reference:

keywords:
rearaxlebearing

rear axle bearing