front diff-HELP

[dmaxx3500]

customer came in today[2006 3500 ext cab d/a 4x4],it looks like it needs a front left carrier bearing,just getting a weird growling noise,,[i thought it was a front hub bearing],but both are tight,front flange at carrier/diff moves up and down 1/4-1/2'' and theres no fluid in diff,,,its probuly cheaper to put a used diff in it,,he needs to drive to penn next week,can i

1.take out the axle shafts,or will the bearing fail with-out pre-load?
2.just leave in the outer stub shafts and re-tighten the axle nuts?
3.what vehicles does this diff fit [3.73 gears],1500-2500-3500 ?
4.what axles fit the bearings?[so i might have some used ones to cobble-up]
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[bison]

Its faster if you change the whole front diff than to take the CV joints out unless you cut them in half.
You need the stubs with the nuts trough the hubs anyway to keep the hub brngs from seperating.
Its near impossible to get the CV joint out without undoing a ball joint and the front torsion bar long bolts.
Cant help you on the gearing

 

[dmaxx3500]

thanks its a start