i was able to use a right angle regular screwdriver and a hammer to get the bearings out.
When i installed the new ones, i used a 30mm socket and it was just a little small. Everything was going well until i got it down where i needed it to be. i crushed the first bearing and the cage wouldn't turn inside of it.
When i installed the second one, i walked the socket around the outside edge of the bearing and it didn't crush. Then i had to remove the first new one i installed. I broke the right angle screwdriver, and fought with it for 2 hours trying to get it out with what was left of the right angle screwdriver and some other punches that i had. It literally fell apart until all i had was the metal ring (no lip at all to speak of on top or bottom to push against). I had to use a grinding stone to grind through the ring and then i was able to knock it out with a chisel. Boy, i learned my lesson. I will have to be more careful next time.
Now what about the seals that go in on top of the bearings? The dealer didn't mention them. Does anyone know the part number for them? And what about the seal that goes over the slip spline on the driver's side? i know it sits in a rubber boot, but i'm sure there's a reason it had a seal. i damaged mine when i was replacing that u-joint. Does anyone else find it ridiculous that this axle has 10 or so seals on it???