I try to avoid appending to old threads - but this one seems recent enough!

I pulled apart the propeller shaft assembly today and got the rubber seal off the center bearing.

<pic>

The two outer "dust covers" I can't seem to remove. Not really sure how to hold onto it to separate the halves.

But now I've done some reading, and realized that the bearings are non serviceable, and no repacking is possible. Now I question the need to even pull it apart, other than to clean it up a bit. There is no play in the bearing, it spins freely.

The rubber boot wasn't tight in the carrier - my whole reason for removal.

So now I plan to buy the 3/4 ton center cushion and modify it to fit - as I read that in another post here, and the 1 ton version proves difficult to locate.

Thoughts?