1995 Previa Rear Axle Installation Questions

[morevert]

I'm starting to get noise from my rear axle after 380,000 miles. What an incredible van. The sound doesn't increase going around corners, so suspect its related to the Differential. I removed rear Axles & Differential from a donor van with lower miles. Since you have to partially remove the axles to R&R the Differential, I will replace the Axle Bearings too. The donor Axles have KOYO brand Bearings, made in Japan. Could these be originals? The Axles weren't that easy to pull out even with a Slide Hammer, so I'm wondering how to install & line up with the Differential Splines. Hopefully the axle engages with the Splines before the main Axle Bearing enters the Axle Housing.
Do you tap the axle assy back in place with a block of wood. Or maybe with some lubricant on the Bearing outer shell, the axle assy will slide in easier then removal.

[Previologist]

I've never done it with my Previa, but i just finished reinstalling the axles on my 97 4runner about 10 minutes ago. I assume its pretty similar, so they should just line up and slide in IF all the splines are clean and true. That happened on one side, easy peasy (but mine also came out easy so YMMV) but i had to tap the other side in with a block of wood because it appeared that one of the studs was slightly off kilter. i verified it was not anything on the axle binding up because if I twisted it so the studs missed the housing completely it engaged and went in much further.

The Koyo could be original bearings, and Koyo is what I would replace them with.

[tbuyan]

Drum or disc brakes?