just to add to this, i bent a floater for the first time this year. i didn't know it was bent until i changed gears towards the end of the season and found out i had an axle that was hard to get in and out just like yours. found out the left side was towed out about 1/2 inch. i am kind of glad i found it because my car was definitely slower the second half of the season. my chassis builder, who has been around for years and builds everything from late models to bombers and has won a lot of races himself, told me he didn't even know how i could drive the car anymore with the rear end towed out 1/2 inch. according to him that will definitely screw up the way the car handles. so it's not even so much if it will hurt the bearings as much as it slows you down.