How do I kno0w if my rear wheel bearing s are bad? I have loud whining from the drive train that increases and decreases with speed. I have chnged the u-joints, noise still there. How hard is it to change the rear wheel bearings?

 

You have to pull the axles, if the bearings are visibly worn replace. Axles might be worn to the old bearings too. This doesn't happen often though.
Check the brakes and stuff like that first.

 

Thank you, your right, check brake drums and work my way in to axles. Can you direct me to any good step by step to pull axles if I get that far?

 

Drain the fluid. Pull the bolt on the center pin. Pull the center pin. Push the axles in, pull the c clip, pull the axles out. Make sure not to spine the diff with the center pin out. The spiders will come out and suck going back in. Put the center pin in while working on it.

It's really easy, the worst part is the gear oil.

 

Also it may be the bearings in your rearend, its just hard to tell you which one it is without me being there to hear the sound.

 

Jack the truck up really steady on jack stand and let it idle in gear and see if you can figure exactly where the sound is. End of axles would be brakes or bearing obviously, inside the center would be a pinion or diff bearing.
Make sure it is realllly secure and chock the front wheels.

 

Thanks for the information. I think I will start by looking at the brakes then move on to pulling the axle and looking at wheel bearings. I might strap my brother under there and drive around to see if he can pin point where the noise is coming from.....NO not really!!!
Really I am just kidding! I hope its not pinion or another bearing in the differential, I dont want to get in too deep, It may be time to sell "old blue"

 

I would do it. You might not get a good diagnosis but it would be fun... hahah
If it is something in the differential, I would look at getting a junkyard axle if parts are cheap near you.

 

Check the carrier bearing if you have the two piece drive shaft.
regards
rikard

 

Click my black Bronco in my signature & read the captions in the 8.8" Axle album.