phew, she's done.
well "professional" previous front axle work for sure... sure signs: not lining up the notch on the front wheel bearing washer and forcing it down all those rascally spindle threads... plenty of rtv to compensate for that crappy toyo tolerances and gaskets

red/black (yes, swirled and mixed) wheel-bearing grease in the birf cavity as well as the wheel bearings... the metal retainer rings for the knuckle oil seal were inside out on one side only...
good news, she's all buttoned back up and didn't fall apart on the way home

and i KNOW how it was done this time. i used marlin HD axle seals and replaced all new koyo bearings while i was there (trunnion and wheel). replaced the front diff plugs with internal allen key plugs. flushed and refilled the diff oil... re tightened the steering arm studs...
also found the "good side" axle seal was beginning to leak diff fluid into the birf cavity... glad we found that too.
bad news, more birf wear (worse than the other side, slightly deeper groove in the center star from the balls) and pretty badly scored axle journal in the wheel spindle which i did not replace... but i think i might buy the bushings just in case.
i have some pretty severe steering box play i need to contend with (certainly before i put in the lift), Ali and i traced that down to box as opposed to tie rod ends for better or worse. but switching out the cogged belts for toy OEM fixed my "whine" in the engine compartment, she just purrs meow...
my time was certainly better on the second side, but i'm not up for speed awards
THANKS AGAIN TO ALI AND HIS GARAGE... top notch "consulting" at reasonable prices

but don't get me wrong, he did get his hands dirty for the cause.
-j