rear wheel bearings

[JackstandJohnny]

the rear end in my ZJ is loud. very loud.  it sounds like the whine of a bearing.  i've never changed a rear wheel bearing before. i believe its a non cclip axle but i have to pull it to check.  i haven't checked much out yet, just wondering what kind of job it is, tools, tips etc.  also, how do i tell the difference between carrier bearing wear, pinion bearing wear and wheel bearing wear?  if its a rear wheelbearing i'll fix it. if its a carrier bearing i'll junk the axle. no problems there.

cheers.

[WhiteOut]

Though you were gonna take the entire back end out of mine?

[JackstandJohnny]

i'm still taking the diff

but if its just a wheel bearing might at least try to fix it, for learning sake.

[WhiteOut]

You wanna do it tomorrow afternoon?

[morerpmfred]

pinion bearings howl either under load, nuetral load or under coast. If there is a change of noise with gas pedal then pinion bearing. Wheel bearing or  side bearings will make noise all the time or at certain speeds. Jack the tire up and check for play at wheel end , then there , if it feels rough only when you turn it by hand then it could be side bearings. Damage to a limited slip will due the same. Do you have a cv joint in the rear driveshaft? Some times it is the pinion bearing or crush sleeve has crushed more when you get a little extra traction and it crushes more and when you get back to town it starts to howl .  The pinion bearing turns like 3.55 or 3.73 or 4.11 times faster then the side bearings. The pinion howls and the bearings grind.