It will still turn but may not make the same noise since it’s not under load. So tech it may help confirm that it is one or the other unless the bearing is really bad, it still might chirp.
I mean, only one way to find out!
New axles shafts will not cause or contribute to debris in the oil unless of course you grenade one.
You could very well have a failing pinion bearing, especially since you are seeing consistent debris in the oil.
Great shots and a great time! Thanks for sharing these. And hey, we almost had that rock moved 😂
It was also great seeing Moby back on some dirt. Glad he's working again.
I actually just saw his video pop up about it. He wasn’t on an obstacle or anything that should have caused the break. He was fortunate that it happened early on and not deep into the trail.