An actual Vanagon problem post from me. Lately I've been hearing some nasty
noise from the rear driver's wheel. Jacked it up and wheel feels smooth and
all, but there's a little slop when I wiggle the tire. I then noticed that
the PO had taken a chisel and hammer to undo the axle castle nut, which
tells me he didn't have the right tools. Also reused the old cotter pin,
which was broken. Where the slop is coming from is between the nut and the
hub.
SO there are two possibilities. The PO put the nut on hand tight 'cause he
didn't have the big socket and it's worn itself loose, or the bearings are
going and everything is starting to slop around.
I assumed the worst about the PO and was going out to buy a big socket when
I realised that just tightening the sucker might not be the solution. I know
it's supposed to be like 360 ft-lbs.
What are the symptoms of a bearing going other than a bad noise? Will the
wear actually create slack between the nut and hub?

CV joints look and sound fine.

Nathaniel