I assume you are talking about a 14 bolt full float. If that's the case, you can pull the pinion out from the front side and check at least one of those as well as the pilot bearing without too much effort. The bearing behind the yoke and the carrier bearings would require more disassembly though.
Full-float yes.
I've read that these are easier to rebuild than the others I'm used to. Not sure I am in the mood to tackle it right now though. I'm in the middle of building 2 Jeeps (TJ) and I've already lost 2 weeks on this with nothing else to drive. Started with replacing fuel lines. Then replacing the filler-neck, tank, pump and sending unit. Then I decided to strip all the rust off and POR-15 everything hidden by the tank. And the diff cover has a pinhole leak, so I'll replace that too..... Classic "While I'm at it" scenario.
It's not a bad, or even rusty truck. It does everything I ever what it to do. Just taking care of some maintenance, ya know? 26 years old. I want to keep in running and roadworthy for another 26.
Disclaimer: Stop here if you anger easily.
I took my truck in for an inspection A couple of weeks ago. (Went through it last a couple days before and it was perfect, ready to pass.)
I literally watched the guy put it on the lift and say "I smell a gas leak".
I replied, "it's my injector seals. Dried out from all the ethanol."
His boss comes out, "the law says there has to be a drip,"
The tech starts reefing on my fuel line up where it goes behind the crossmember before crossing over to the sending unit... until it breaks. "Looks like it's dripping."
The quote was ~$600 because where he broke it, they'd have to drop the tank. About half a day labor at $100/hr, plus parts.
I drove it home , leaking gas the entire way. So I started with emptying about 40 gallons out of my truck, into the tanks of various friends' cars. Had to order the parts, ~$250.
I'm pissed! I have zero recourse because it's my word against theirs. They failed me for a gas leak that didn't exist until they broke the line. I'm a mechanic by trade. It's what I went to school for. I got out of the industry because it's ridden with **** like this.
My usual place was out of stickers. It expired in August. There was no reason for it not to pass. Everything was perfect. I should have been able to take it anywhere, get a sticker and leave. All this for an F'ing $6 sticker.