Looking for reassurance/advice
 

2002 Mustang GT with 128K miles

Issue 1: Replace pinion seal - Got Ford shop manual and Haynes manual. Will borrow all the special tools. Besides following the manuals, is there any advice/watch-out-fors you guys can pass on to me when replacing the pinion seal?

Issue 2: Replace axle bearings - I'm hearing a whomp, whomp noise where its tempo adjusts according to my speed. Is always there no matter if I'm decelerating or accelerating. Lifted rear, put on jackstands, removed wheels, and put in gears. Noise still there ... sounds to be at left rear behinid rotor toward pumpkin. Observed rotor while in gear.... looks like entire rotating assembly outside the axle tube is wobbling. This makes me think the left axle bearing is bad. Concur? If so, same as above.... what advice/watch-out-fors can you guys can pass on to me when replacing both bearings?

How long you reckon this will take for a guy who is mechanically inclined but has not done this to do each job? Not planning to use a lift.

The most time consuming part on the axle bearings is removing the axles. Piece of cake once removed as long as you have a decent slide hammer.

1) don't over tighten the pinion nut when reassembling

Make sure you don't have a bent axle.

Can I re-use the pinion nut? I'm having a hard time finding a new one. Thanks for all the advice.

I've typically re-used the pinion nut as long as you use a new crush sleeve. Dorman/Motormite/HELP! products make them and they are available at most parts stores.

I reuse the pinion nut and crush sleeve, but I am good :D

I've re-used pinion nuts, just use some red loc-tite on them with a torque wrench, and you'll be OK.