[b-man]

I would check the axle, which of course requires removing the differential cover to access the C-clips. Not so bad as this gives you a chance to identify your posi unit and put some fresh gear lube in there, don’t forget the little bottle of friction modifier additive.

The bearing design unfortunately uses the axle itself as the inner bearing race. Once the hardened surface on the axle becomes worn you need to replace the axle and bearing.

However if the axle isn’t too worn so as to be unsafe, you can buy an ‘axle saver’ bearing that is essentially an offset bearing (towards the outside) that allows the bearing to ride on an unworn portion of the axle.

I once owned a 1976 T/A and had to use one of those special axle saver bearings and it worked out fine. I was transplanting a set of 1979 rear discs and axles onto it and finding another disc brake axle would have been difficult.