The "Okie" bearing is actually a slang name for a replacement part made in Oklahoma that is intended to repair the front bearing just behind the U joint. The driveshaft on a torque tube axle is a long tubular part with a splined solid shaft at the front that engages the U joint. The support bushing rides on the solid shaft and also has a seal to prevent lube from the transmission from migrating back and overfilling the rear end. Depending on the year of the vehicle, some of them can simply be driven in from the front, and the original bearing is just pushed back on the driveshaft where it stays along for the ride. Some years have a couple of dowel pins driven in from the outside of the torque tube that have to be drilled out first. To do a proper replacement, the front bearing must be driven out from the rear with a long piece of pipe, or removed with a special puller after dismantling the rear end. Either way, it's a pretty good-sized job!
I'm not far from Tuscumbia- - - -I live near the Alabama state line and I-65 on the Tennessee side. I rode my Harley through there a little over a week ago on a weekend road trip. If you'd like to take a road trip sometime, I'll be glad to try to help diagnose the noise you're hearing.
Jerry
