Alpha one bearing noise

[The Car Doctor]

Looking for advice. I've got an alpha one gen one that makes a bad bearing growling noise when I turn when cruising. It's not the gimbal, I already replaced it with no change in the noise. The U-joints were free of any binding and no movement due to wear. If I spin the prop by hand while on the trailer in neutral, it sounds like a bad/dry wheel bearing noise. I'm thinking it's the carrier bearing that's the culprit. Thoughts?

 

[alldodge]

In most cases a growl when turning only its the U joints

 

[Rick Stephens]

Afraid you can't tell a failing u-joint working it by hand. The tell all is it growls when turning.

 

[Bondo]

Afraid you can't tell a failing u-joint working it by hand. The tell all is it growls when turning.

Ayuh,..... Agreed,..... Take it apart, 'n the bearin' surfaces will look like corduroy,...

 

[The Car Doctor]

So I replaced the Ujoints and the noise is still there. I can't reproduce the noise on the muffs even when in gear. Yesterday I could hear it in the water as soon as I shifted into forward and didn't matter if I was turning. I've decided to go ahead and replace the drive with one from SEI.
New question. In one spot my drive is stamped 165 and another spot it's stamped 184. All my research says it came with a 1.65 ratio. What do I need to disassemble to count teeth and know for sure what it has?

 

[alldodge]

It went from making the noise when turning to making the noise full time FWD or REV

Ratios for both are changed in the upper, so remove cap and count teeth

Your first post listed the roughness sound in the lower

 

[Rick Stephens]

What did the magnet on the bottom oil drain plug look like?