just curios,
When you say the "axel bearing" do you really mean it was the axel bearing, or was it the diff bearing?
The reason I ask is because I have an 02 KJ with 200,000 km on it. The back end has started making a "rrrrrrrrrrrr" noise. I pulled the back diff cover off to have a look at the gears. I suspected maybe someone had not put enough lube in or something. The gears looks almost brand new. Which makes me wonder if the problem has been here for a while and the precious owner had been chasing a problem allready?
Anyway, I have decided its a bearing problem. Mostly because when I first get in and drive, there is no noise at all. Then after a few blocks it starts to make noise, and then 10 minutes of driving and the noise gets the most worse.
I was looking through the FSM and figured it would be the "diff bearing". My only reason for thinking this is because it states that the axel bearings would make more noise under load, by turning hard onto one wheel or the other. Since my noise comes on at about 60 km/h (45 mph I think) and is the loudest then, but is still there (quieter though) at 120 km/h in a straight line it says it should be the diff bearing.
So I am curious to know if your situation was the same, and they just said "axle bearing", but really changed the diff bearing. Or if it really was the axle bearing.
Anyone with some insight on this? Otherwise I may just replace them both while I am there anyway. I would much rather not though.