7-1/4 Bearing Noise........

I've always used a breaker bar with a short ½" extension to open the plug. Clean as much junk as you can out of the plug so that the extension seats deeply into it. I've found a rubber plug in some of the newer 7¼" axles, so beware. My experience with the 7¼ is like a horror story, which I talked about in the thread about the restoration of the 73, Resurrected Junk.

The hardest part of replacing the rear wheel bearings is getting the collar that holds them on the axle, off. It has to be chiselled off without damaging the shaft.

When you check the oil level in the diff, suggest checking the color as well. If it is has a milky brownish hue, the diff has taken on some water. Changing the fluid will not quiet the bearings. The damage has already been done.

I've heard scraping from a rear brake drum before not related to the axle.

1. Insure that axle is not bent and that the brake drum does not rub against the backing plate.
2. Once drum is off look for loose brake parts. Usual culprits are the spreader bar below the wheel cylinder, brake adjuster, self-adjuster lever, and the e-brake lever coming off of the rear brake shoe.
3. Check brake shoes to insure problem not caused by loss of lining or an exposed rivet.