750sx Drive Shaft

Couple quick questions on the 750sx drive shaft:

  • Are the two cover pieces that bolt to the block over the coupling necessary? I have one ski with them and one without.
  • Do the shaft bearings and seals where it passes through the hull commonly go bad? Is there a quick pass/fail check? If the engine is already pulled, is it something worth changing as preventative maintenance?
Thanks!
 
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