Nissan Repair: 350z rear wheel bearing replacement, rear wheel bearings, wheel bearing replacement

Question
I'm looking for technical info. and exploded-view diagram of how to replace both rear wheel bearings on my '04 350z, which are roaring pretty loudly and getting worse gradually day by day.  The car has a little over 60k miles on it.  I'm in a local car club in Austin TX and several other members have had to replace their rear wheel bearings, esp. if they're turbo or highly modded (I'm not turbo, but modded, and speed-shift a lot).  I used to work as a mechanic long ago on old-school cars and have replaced bearings before, but never on a later-model foreign car like the 350z and I want to know if there are any special tools needed or special torque numbers, spcl. procedures, etc. before I get into it.  

Dealer confirmed noise from bearings with stethoscope, yet insists on not replacing bearings but rather replacing the entire diff. just because it has just a little play in the input shaft, even though there is no other indication of bearing issues in the diff. such as a rough feeling when you manually spin the yoke by hand with the drive shaft removed.  An independent shop with ASE certified tech's also agree with me on the wheel bearings.  I think the dealer just wants to make more $$ by doing a diff. replacement vs. wheel bearing replacement myself . .  This is certainly not the first time I have totally disagreed with the dealer's diagnosis (probably won't be the last either!) and have turned out to be absolutely right about my own diagnosis in the end.  A while back, I even had a "senior mechanic" at another dealer tell me that my '84 300z turbo's rear wheel bearing roar was from my rear struts (!), which were nearly-new!  Yeah, right . .  Strut's make "roaring noises" like bearings . .

Please give me all the all the precautions, procedures, spec's, and diagrams you can on rear wheel bearing replacement for '04 350z.  Thanks!

Answer
Michael,

Yes, it is the rear bearings and not the differential.  But, if you have not changed the rear end grease do so and use something like Redline API GL5 85W90 or the like.  I have an 03 350Z and have done the rear end and the bearings.  The bearings are a pain.  If you email me at vonsudderth@yahoo.com I will send you the procedure in PDF.  There was a technical service bulletin on my 03 350Z and the dealer did them...