Yep, you found it, Tightening the axle nut without it would have been a problem. Get new bearings and seals, pull the snap rings and replace the bearings, helps to heat the hub with a heat gun or hair-dryer for a bit then they should tap right out using something through the hub from the other side., Use a pipe, large socket etc to install the new ones, tapping only on the outer bearing race. Heating the hub for a couple minutes also helps the new ones go in easier. Don't forget the spacer in between the wheel hub bearings on re-assembly.
If you don't get OEM bearings,,, Should be 1 6205 and 2 6303 bearings, take the numbers below to a bearing distributor or auto parts, those suffixes on the numbers can mean different things. Try to get the best quality, the chinese ones do not hold up.
601
BEARING-BALL,#6205UG
601B6205UG
$26.44
601A
BEARING-BALL,6303LLUC3/2ASU68
601B6303UU
$27.63
If you don't get OEM bearings,,, Should be 1 6205 and 2 6303 bearings, take the numbers below to a bearing distributor or auto parts, those suffixes on the numbers can mean different things. Try to get the best quality, the chinese ones do not hold up.
601
BEARING-BALL,#6205UG
601B6205UG
$26.44
601A
BEARING-BALL,6303LLUC3/2ASU68
601B6303UU
$27.63