I've got another leak at the rear axle seal and I'm wondering if I need a bearing. The seal is about a year old to the week. I've checked the breather and it works and is clean so I wonder if the bearing is out. I guess it could be the seal but like I said, it's about a year old. I jacked up the rear axle and bear hugged the rear wheel in an attempt to feel any bearing play. The parking break was off and the transmission in first gear. Now the wheel will "roll" forward and back and what seems like a little up and down but no left to right. I guess is what I'm trying to say is that the end of the axle shaft at the wheel seems tight and no real play.
All I really did was clean up everything and put it back together. This is a super busy month for me so I'll have to find time after work one of these days to dig into this thing.
Question for those that have been envolved with a bearing replacement. How much play was there in the bearing? Does what I have seem normal. I've got 104K on the clock and I assume the bearings are from the factory. For those that have replaced the bearing did you do this at home? I'm wondering if I can use a HF press (not that I have one but maybe I can talk the wife into letting me make the 'investment' if I can do it myself).
Any suggestions at this point would be helpful, thanks.