So I ordered a low hour 05 rear carrier of ebay to put into the 03 baja. Carrier came in, bearings were good, so pulled the rear end apart, cleaned up axle, removed seized bearings, an all that goof stuff.

Lubed up the axle and went to put it in and when the left side of the bearing area on the axle got to the right side bearing it just stoppped. Couldn't push it in anyfurther and couldn't get it out. I wound up having to take a block of wood and 3lb sledge to knock axle back out.

Seeing how the rear bearings are the same on an 03 vs 05 even though the houing is a little different I figured it would work.

Any ideas?

Oh and the 03 carrier is trashed so fixing it isn't an option.

 

The 05 does work in 03!