[T3] Rear Bearings ? (2)

[J. Jonik]

To add a little to the original message (below)...
  I just took the car for a drive around the block.  The noise from rear wheel area is like a deep, somewhat screechy  squawk....like a big duck with throat problems.    The squawk happens just once every tire revolution...squawk.....squawk....squawk...like that.  It's not a constant noise.  And it's loud.  People turn to look.

   Also, the axle tube on the noisy side can be moved in and out easily, with a solid bang at wheel side and at transmission side.   The axle on the other side moves in and out, of course, but not as freely, and with no banging at either end.

  Does this description narrow the search?

(Earlier message)
Re/  71 Std FI Sqbk

 While driving, out of the blue came a fairly loudish scraping-grinding noise, from a rear wheel area.  It didn't change when braking.   Coming home 
later, the noise wasn't there...but it returned the next day. It wasn't 
as loud as when it first started.

I jacked up the car and just spun the wheel, forward and backward. There was no noise then. 

I took off the brake drum and found nothing odd in the brakes. All intact.  And there's no in and out wobble play.  

So, next step will be to check the bearings, but I still haven't 
managed to find or borrow a big enough socket to get the big nut 
off...and I'd rather not do the old hammer and dull chisel method if I 
can avoid it.

Question:  Does this sound like bearing trouble?  What other possibilities?  And, 
if it's the bearing, does one really need the special puller to get the 
bearing out? (as shown in the Bentley)And...what about driving it with a bad bearing...IF it's that?  (In case I have to resort to taking it into a shop..)   
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