Pass. side rear wheel bearing is going out. I'm afraid to even drive the tracker because it makes such a hellacious noise right now. I figure it's about time I replace the bearing in her. Any input, tips, suggestions, etc about replacing these would be greatly appreciated!!!!

The driver side went in mine a couple months ago. I just replaced both of them while I had it apart. Your probably gonna need a slide hammer to get the axle out, I did for mine. Feel free to ask any questions!

".... we just pulled the drum, unbolted the 4 axle retaining bolts on the back side of the hub, pried up on the brake spring while we popped it two or three times with a slide hammer and out she (the axle) came so no disassembly of the rear brakes was even required.  While the axles were out we cleaned and re-packed the axle shaft bearings and installed new seals.  Was able to pull out slightly on the rear brake assembly to pry the seal out (from under the brake assembly) and clean the area for the new seal.  Same with applying RV sealer on the mating surfaces during reassembly."   BLUF:  you shouldn't have to disassemble your rear brakes or disconnect your emergency brakes to pull the axles or remove the seals to replace them on either side.

If you don't have a die grinder or 4" grinder to cut the old bearing/race off or a press to seat the new bearing on the axle you might consider locating a garage that does and have them remove the old bearing and press/seat the new one/s onto your axle/s.

I'm curious how many miles you had on your truck when you noticed the axle bearing making noise?  

It would be a "good idea" to replace both axle bearings and put new seals in your axle while you have the rear end partially dismantled IF you have the $ and time to do it.  If one went bad (from age or contamination from a bad seal) the other bearing probably isn't very far from going also.  At the very least, grab an extra axle seal, pull the other axle, clean the bearing and repack it with fresh grease, then re-install with a new seal.

Typically on these trucks when you get into the rear axle you also discover one or both brake wheel cylinders are weepy OR leaky too. Replacing them isn't expensive or difficult if the lines come off easily.  Then bleed them and you are back in business.

I got 94,xxx miles on it right now and that's when I started hearing the noise and knew it had to be replaced. Thanks for the info about not having to disassemble the brakes and emergency brake. I probably would have done that otherwise.

Both of mine went at about 82k. Shop charged me $400 per side and kept my ride for about 30 days. I argued that it sould be warrantied considering I had purchased it from them about 600 miles earlier. Ended up paying for one side.

Wow.  That seems like crazy low miles for the axle bearings to be going out.  I was thinking around 175K or so.  Did you guys wheel alot in wet mud or in water? 

Not sure what the previous owner did to my zuk as far as wheeling, I attributed it to the fact that mine had been t-boned in its prior life.

That would do it!

I have done zero wheeling in mine and I highly doubt the previous owner did any seeing as how it was bone stock when I purchased it about a month ago