Should I assume that the rear wheel bearing needs to be replaced if the wheel wobbles without the axle installed?

hine62

That or the bearing is not fully compressed e.g partially separated

Would the axle tighten the bearing together? I watched a YouTube video of the bearing replacement and it looked like there wouldn't be any play between the bearing and hub. They are pressed together.

No. The stub axle holds the bearing together. If you've rolled the car around with the wheel on the ground but without the stub axle or some substitute installed, you probably need to replace the bearing.

The Cap'n

There was a noise coming from the passenger rear before the repairs started, so they needed to be repaired anyway.

Thanks guys,
hine62

......Both extremes,are not good(too loose or tight)

I had an experience with an aftermarket brand bearing. It is brand new, pressed into the trailing arm fine. When I started to press in the hub, halfway in, as the hub was through the outer race, the hub could wobble. I wasn't sure if that broke the integrity of the bearing, but I pressed it through and running with it now.

I've only put on couple hundred miles. Never had that experience with other bearings.
I tightened up the axles and waiting to see how it works out.