So doing a restoration on my 1968 AMX 290 4sp with 53,000 miles on it and I will shortly be coming to the differential. Likely 3:54 gears, I'm guessing that's what AMC would have put on a base AMX - non TG. I'll be putting in a parts order shortly and wanted to know what to include.

I'm wondering what is in store, has been sitting for decades, haven't popped the cover to have a look yet.

I'm assuming the seals are dry and grease is toast.

I'm hoping all I'm looking at is new inner and outer axle seals, repack the wheel bearings, new pinion seal and hopefully that's it.

Should I be replacing the wheel bearings as well? I notice the TSM specifies a new pinion nut so I guess I'll replace this as well.

I also see the TSM also specifies some tools for the pinion. (I have a hub puller)

Can I get away with finding a way to bind the axles while I turn the yoke and pinion nut or do I stand a chance of damage?

I'm hoping that I don't have to deal with end play etc. or would I have to deal with this if I require new bearings?

Thanks!

I disagree on pulling that inner seal, it's easy to do without harm. I don't have a tool, I cut a rectangle of scrap metal with a hole in the center, small enough to pass through the hole and large enough to toggle inside. With a few inches of threaded rod and a nut, and similar on the outside end, it makes a decent puller. Just lever off the open housing end.

I've not used a claw-type puller before, can't they be set to just fit inside the seal hole? Why do they necessarily gouge the housing? Which would be bad I agree.

I cannot recall how I've inserted the seals. It's not a big deal. Sealer and I probably use a short length of something like tailpipe (thin wall tube). Doesn't require a lot of force, tap and go slow.

Rear axles seem so grossly overbuilt -- for the sixes anyway -- that I have not once had tro service ring and pinion or internal bearings on multiple axles well over 200K on them. Hubs, SET6, inner and outer seals last about 20 years.

With only 54,000 miles, I doubt anything needs replaced, even the wheel bearings. I'd still pull the axle shafts out to clean and repack the wheel bearings since the original grease has likely turned into peanut butter by now. Cleaning that stuff out and repacking with new grease will let those old bearings run for a very long time. Of course I'd change the gear case oil too. 

AMC axles typically do not require an overhaul until at least 150,000 miles in my experience. They were very high quality units dating back to the days before Pearl Harbor. 

I'm going to start pulling the front end apart in the next week or so and looking at the front bearings should give me some insight on what the rear is like. Tempted to just pop the cover take a peak, new gasket, refill with some At 209 put in to soften gaskets and give it a try ;) But might be wishful thinking that the grease hasn't turned to peanut butter as mentioned on this thread or the seals won't leak like a sieve. 

Wheel bearings fail fairly slowly, they get louder and louder. Unless something is really extreme you'll get plenty of warning, probably months.

I'm a huge fan of doing preventative maintenance, but there's no sense in doing work that doesn't need to be done. You might get another decade out of it before it dribbles or groans.

Do tighten the hub nuts though. Stripped hubs suck.