Bearing problem on 7 1/4" rear end

And not towing?
Yeah, that's a poser. I've never seen it either.
When you say "they split around the circumference", do you mean to say across the short side, or on a line parallel to the circumference? And if the latter, does the split run up the center, more or less where the balls ride? Just curious.

Are your shocks OK?
Any driveline vibrations?