Kieran and I checked the flap activation torque tube in preparation for flap mounting. It was found to be so stiff we could barely move it. We are instructed to remove paint from bearing surfaces on both torque tube and bearing surface. We completed this task but there remained a significant amount of friction. This turns out to be resulting from the inboard bearing for the torque tube being skewed out of alignment; it should be parallel to the torque tube but it is skewed several degrees, causing both a bow in the torque tube as it is forced into the bearing at the outboard end, and the friction noted previously. The inboard flap bearing mount was removed from the wing and verified to be out of alignment. At this point we are uncertain if it can be forcibly skewed by mounting it in a a vise and of pulling on a shaft through the bearing or if the sheet metal flanges supporting the bearing must be cut and then re-welded. The arrow drawn on the flange in the picture indicates which direction the bearing must be moved.