Bearings, or wheel cylinder?

Okay fellers... Today, on my day off, I sit here working on the rig. I pulled out my bumpstops and broke one in the process of removal! Spent a few hours at the junkyard trying to get one and snapping a couple off there as well! I've been working on the rear so far, and I have a problem!

I will turn the rear with my hand, and it makes a noise like its the bearings... Like its missing a ball? I pull both drums off and the passenger one has what looks like to be grease on the pads and on the drum? I can't figure out if it is grease or brake fluid. It may have mixed with the crap from the pad and got all grease-like?

I do further inspection, and I can't see any fluid from the wheel cylinder. I look more and I see its wet where the axle goes into the rear-end.

So my question is, how the hell do I pull the axles? I also need to see if my rear wheel bearings are good too!

Heeeelp!

pulling axels is not easy, you need to remove the diff cover and seperate the gears inside... not a fun project, easier to go get another rear end for 50 bucks at a junk yard

i've never taken apart a mazda rearend, but have done a few 9" fords and a couple chevy's and they're not that hard. the ford rearend is the same banjo style as the dawg, and there's just 4 bolts per side that hold a retainer plate and the axle in...

Speedster is correct... There is only 4 bolts holding each axel to the rearend housing. But to actually pull the axel out to inspect the bearing & seal, you will need to disconnect the brake line, pull the brake shoes & springs, then undo the 4 nuts on the housing just behind the brake backing plate. You can use the brake drum (installed backwards) as a slide hammer or get an actual slide hammer to pull the axel (can be a little tight some times. Also, pay attention to if and how many shims there are between the bearing retainer (4 bolts) and the axel housing - this is important for reassembly.

Eh, so I looked at it furthermore and it appears that it is the seal. Its wet on the bottom of the axle. I pressed on my brakes and had the pops look at it and fluid didnt come from the wheel cylinder. Although, I wonder another thing: I'm in neutral and the rear axles spin. Could my clutch need adjustment, or cause it was jacked up? Lol, I don't think its suppose to do it, anyway? My reasoning is that its fine cause its not in gear and it just means the main shaft is still spinning... But my dad has me concerned...

Now, I really don't look forward to doing this, but if I have a problem I would rather take care of it, and inspect the rest of the stuff as I'm already in the whole mess... I left my dang Chiltons manual at my Motel in Pullman too!

If your in neutral and the rear end is not on the ground it will spin there is nothing stopping it from turning and the clutch can not be adjusted there hyd it will stay adj the right way if everything is working

I decided that I will skip trying to pull the axle and leave it be for now... probably not a good idea though...

I found out it was because of the adjustment of my star wheel... Everything is all hunky dorey now, but still bothered with my axle...

Did a drop and decided to use my 4" blocks. Shaved the stops on all four corners... I have quit a bit of clearance for the back, but the front still lays on my stops, after shaving them! It sits even lower now... lol... I drag on everything now, too! I had to put on my 195/75/14's though... Other ones were too small to let me drive good enough, lol!

I got alot more looks now, for some reason...

just don't let the housing go dry. that's not so good on the ol' gears and bearings.