replacing diff and axle this weekend... Couple questions..

[everpresentnoob]

So I finally got he extra cash to pick up a replacement diff, axle and hub bearing for my car, a 1990 na. Previous owner apparently replaced the front oil seal on the diff, but completely jacked it up and it wouldnt hold oil. Didnt stop him from driving it though. the thing worked, but had a god awful whine above 30mph. Saw a listing here in our craigslist finds thread back in october for a guy in Houston that was parting out a Pearlglow yellow with around 60,000 miles on it. Well we came to the agreement of 175 for his Diff. I already have new axles and hub bearings that i am waiting to put in when I do the Diff.

Now for my questions...

When i pull the diff out, can I just knock the axles out through the back or will I still need to pull the spindles?

As long as my old hubs are still in good shape after I finish fighting the bearings off them (I have read countless accounts of the races getting stuck and having to be chiseled off) I can reuse them right?

Any thing else I need to be aware of when swaping the axles?

When pulling the drive shaft and axles off the diff I know it is recommended to match mark the pieces so they go back on the same way. Obviously since Im putting a different diff in that aint gonna happen. Should I be concerned about it?

My replacement Diff came with the stub shafts still in it, should I swap them to the ones from my current diff or would that even make a difference?

The donor car was an Autotragic trans. Mine is a manual. The front companion flange that the drive shaft bolts to is the same right? So I wouldnt need to swap them? I really dont want to have to risk me screwing up the pinion gear depth, although I know it dosent have a crush washer in it, just a solid spacer, so realistically that shouldnt be an issue if I have to swap them right?

I have new Redline 75/90 gear oil for the diff, but I dont have a 36mm socket for the axles... I always love buying one to use just once... So much fun. Can anyone confirm that the axle nut is 36mm? That is what I have read, just looking for a little validation as I cant remember where I read that. I currently have a 32, 34, 35, and 37 from other cars, but no freaking 36. yay me....

Well thats all I can think of right now. Looking forward to you guys advise on this.

[everpresentnoob]

well, couldnt find a damn socket locally to fit the axle bolt, so I didnt change that out. But I did get the diff replaced. All my mystery noises are now gone. Guess Ill wait until spring and do the axles nad hub bearings then. working in a gravel driveway in 30 degree weather with a wind sucks. If I dont have to be under my car no I dont plan on being there.