measuring final dirve preload (yet again)

Just discovered enough glitter in my 1150RT's final drive oil to decorate a Christmas tree-
All the Beemer internet sites seem to point here, the home of the Final Guru, the voice of Experience, aka CharlieVT -

I've studied your video (many thanks) & read such other postings as I can find & would like your (and anyone else's) opinion of the solder-crush method of measuring the bearing-housing gap as opposed to the pry-the-gear method shown in the video. I can see several advantages to the crush technique (more even force distribution with less chance of distortion, less time sensitivity before the cover cools & grabs the bearing, no need for rigid measuring setups, maybe more).

In the collective wisdom of the group, are there good reasons to favor one gap measurement technique over another?

My other concern is whether or not one can do an adequate cleaning of a final with a disintegrating bearing without a full teardown - seems like particles will have been deposited throughout any lubricated area -like the input shaft bearing - and of course those pesky particles go in a lot easier than they go out.

Is there any way to determine (beyond making sure no roughness is detected) that a sufficiency of particulates have been exorcised from the inner recesses of the assembly,
and that no further damage has been done?

Thanks to all; it's always a pleasure to find a knowledgeable group which is willing to share it's accumulated experience.

- ldw