I have had a pinion bearing whining for a long time.  I finally took it to the mechanic and they said it would be $950 do replace that bearing and replace the side bearings while they have it all apart.  Do you really have to tear the whole rear end apart to replace the pinion?  For that kind of money, it will be whining for a while longer.  Any other options?

pull a good used for 150 instead, it'd not rocket science, run away from that mechanic

Theres  one about 200 miles from here for $350.  I dont know if I can take the time to change it myself.  I seem to take twice as long as everyone else... or more. Thanks Wild.  I remember a long time ago, you had instructions to make a full floater with maxima disk breaks.  Did one ever get built?

No, had to move    You have a good memory 

I needed custom axle shafts and that was it, but getting the length
was my hang up

I can check to see what is available here, but shipping will be the breaker.

What ratio do you need?

Its a 5.12.  I still need to check things out here more.  Thanks for the offer. I almost had the wife convinced to save up to have them put in a ARB!  We need to get to the point where this rig becomes the third vehicle to start modifing it.

Are you sure it's a bearing and not the gears?
Bearings don't cost that much and aren't super hard to change,
I have set up several

From the diagram, it looked like you would have to totally gut the thing to get to the pinion bearing. Third member and all. Can you get at it from the front?  I know the pinion seal takes a special tool to change.

There are 2 bearings, inner and outer, the outer is under the flange and the seal,
and could be replaced with the 3rd still in the truck, the tricky part will be to get
the old race out, it is not a good idea to replace just 1 part of the bearing.

But ya if it's the outer it will be easier, the nut has to be torqued down to give
a small amount of resistance, I don't remember what it is, and will be hard to do
without the axle shafts removed, you will want to make a spanner for the flange
so you can tighten the nut to the proper torque, this cannot be done with an impact
get a 1/2" torque wrench

Wild