You may be right.

Then again around the 1990-1991 model year they changed the design a bit. Your 88 I'm pretty sure has 5 lugs on the wheels. Mine has 6. If they changed the lug pattern like that, what are the odds they changed the axle setup too?

In any case I don't think I can tackle this one. This is one for the mechanic...

Yes I have 5, I read in a few spots about 6 on later years and I thought it was a
mistake, after all these are smaller than the rams, why 6....?

Well, good luck however you handle it, and as always we, and I am very interested
in hearing how its going with your Dakota !

Have a great day !

.

Thanks.

Yeah, 6 lugs on 1990 and later models and I think it stayed that way until 2000 when they went back to 5.

Changing the Axle seals and bearings isn't all that difficult but it requires some special tools like a slide hammer and adapter for knocking the bearings out.

I found this post on changing the bearings, it's for a Ford but they are basically identical.
One quibble, he says his axle looks fine but it doesn't look good to me, the bearing surface looks pretty bad to me.

http://www.f150online.com/forums/art...lots-pics.html

That surface actually looks very good ! I would not change that shaft....
And I think I would have left the bearings if they were not making noise.
It's not an easy call on stuff that takes a lot of work to get to. It's the same reason
when doing timing belts on honda's they always say do all the oil seals
and water pump - because your "in there". I left one water pump in my
wife's honda for 200K and it started leaking out the weep hole by the time
The next T-belt was due. So now I do it on the 100's with the belt.

That guy with all the tools laid out on the bench, I don't have 1/3 of those
fancy tools when I do a job like that, so don't be intimidated. That bearing
puller for example, I have made soooo many tools from threaded rods from
the hardware store.... Pullers of all kinds can be made from stuff at the hardware
store..... I have made lots of tools for those jobs as well. I got lots of steel, and a
welder, so there is no tool you can't make at that point.

.

Oh if I had a welder...