A couple of useful things I've learned in this process.
First, LMC Truck's catalog made choosing the correct bearings and seals easier than any of the other catalogs I had on hand. I've not used them much, but was impressed that two-day air actually resulted in fast delivery of the right parts.
Remove the seal before trying to remove the bearing. My first effort was to remove both as a single operation. Once I decided not to be lazy, and pulled the seals out, the bearings came easily.
Schuck's rents a bearing puller for $6/day. I spent more time driving to and from than using the tool, and was very pleased with the result.
I have a seal driver that has a metal handle, a steel plate, and then a bunch of plastic adapters to fit the seal. I found the correct adapters to hold the OLD bearing in place and was able to use the seal driver to drive in the bearings. I tried the socket approach first, and the seal driver approach was much better.
I hope my experience can help someone else...
Update on the project: Bearings and seals are in place. The new axle arrived yesterday, but I had to run out and buy studs for it, I didn't think to pick them up earlier.
I decided while it was apart any way that I would refresh the brakes. I discovered that the adjusters are rusted solid. I should have new ones tonight, and then this thing will go back together at last.
I hope to drive it tomorrow, and next week it embarks on a 3,000 mile round trip hauling a car to Colorado and then returning to Washington.
