Do you guys think I just need to replace the release bearing sachs or the whole thing?

OR

Could I file it down, grease it, slap on a new axle and hope for the best since it just looks like the damage was caused by the axle... I found a tutorial to change the bearings, and there are a number of tools I dont have/will be difficult to get a hold of/this is my only vehicle.

Where is the damage? That tab is bent in on purpose to hold the nut.

Corrosion? Or is that just gummed up on the upper left.

And the seal looks pretty dang bad.

It's a bear of a job. There are write ups in the archives. Vstech has a thread that shows how hard it is.

When crushing that sleeve, it's a minute turn for the last little bit. So slight, that I think most people have to do it twice.

Get an extra crush sleeve.

Idk if I recommend it. I did one side and haven't done the other yet. If that tells you anything.

One trick I did with getting the bearing back on is freeze the spindle and heat the bearing in the oven at 400. Smoked like hell with the packaging grease on it. But it slid right on without a press.

Getting the old bearing off required a three jaw puller.

Maybe you can haul the spindle and new bearing in to get pressed on. But you still will have a 3 handed juggle with getting the inner bearing onto the spindle while in the hub.

The only tool you really need other than the 3 jaw is the special socket. About $40-$50. I figure I'll sell mine for $25 on eBay after I do my other side.

But I'm not sure what the problem is or if you have one. Other will chime in.

Edit: is the bottom chewed up? Is it the hub or the nut? Or both? I won't advice on filling it. That's not right technically. Would I do it. Mehhh.

Some people have advised to get a junk yard trailing arm. If you spindle/hub is chewed up, might be your best option.

Update:

I ended up cleaning up the bearing area, greasing it, and then attached the new axles. The sound in the video has disappeared, so Im going with a bad driver rear axle. That differential with axles is mighty heavy...