I buy and mod beefy extended needle nose pliers for doing specific clips.
Shawn, If you just did the axles you better check that the bolts are tight. May have loosened up.
As to "learning": You have to get the Haynes manual and read it cover to cover several times. Also go to
www.clarks-garage.com and read everything he has on his web site. Keep in mind that the rear suspension changed in 85.5 model year. Yours is the earlier one as shown on the diagram above.
If you jack up the rear wheel, grab it at the top and the bottom and can move/wiggle it then something is wrong with the stub axle. Can be the bearing(s). Can be the hub.
Then all this just may be bad brake pads or a loose caliper.