Recently brought my 98z34 to the alignment shop. They said I have a bad drive axle and bad wheel bearing on driver side, shop quoted axle at 120 bearing at 145 and labor for both at 160. I'm gonna do the bearing myself for sure and try to do the drive axle. Do I need any special tools? Should I buy new or junkyard? Any tips or tricks? Beware of's? Or anything else you think I should know.

 

Buy the parts and do both yourself. The parts should cost about 175 new. I'm not 100% sure but I think after you pull the hub bearing the axle will come out through where you removed the bearing. It should just pop out of the trans with a pry bar. When you put the new one in line up the spline and make sure it locks in all the way.
The only special tools you would need that i can think of is the axle nut socket.

 

awesome I got one of those like 3 years ago so if I can find it Im in there. Thanks lou!

 

There are four bolts holding the wheel bearing to the frame

Make sure you have deep sockets and extensions

Getting the axle out of the transmission can be tricky, so have a pry bar available

Buy new parts. The whole axle should be ~$100, the wheel bearing is like $70. Or at least that was the case about a year ago when I replaced mine

Once you're getting ready to pull the axle, try to pull and wiggle it. There's a little snap ring on the end of the axle that is a PITA to get out sometimes

Good luck