What retainds the spring in the passenger side front axle??

[RyanDS650X]

I lost 4x4 out at the dunes. I noticed the passenger side axel had come out of the diff just enough and in the u joint i could see a spring that had come out and was sitting sideways. So my question is, what retains that spring? Id imagine that spring is what holds the axel into the diff corect?

[philofab]

I lost 4x4 out at the dunes. I noticed the passenger side axel had come out of the diff just enough and in the u joint i could see a spring that had come out and was sitting sideways. So my question is, what retains that spring? Id imagine that spring is what holds the axel into the diff corect?

There is a cap inside the slip yoke. Normally this cap has to be "tack" welded to hold up to the spring, yours most likely was not. The axle originally had a clip in the differential but many people go to a spring for easier access.

[SteveG]

A snap ring is supposed to retain the axle. The slow speed (crawler) guys like to use a spring but I don't see how this will hold up in a go-fast truck. I would ditch the spring and go back to the snap ring or find an early model differential that uses a bolt-on flange.

[philofab]

My spring has held up since I installed my gears, about 20k ago.

[SteveG]

I had no idea you were a slow-speed crawler, Philo! Ha! Evidently It's working for Philo, so I would take his advice and tack the cap in.

[Nick]

I'm glad i read this. I was going to go with the spring method, but i think i'll stick with the clips.

[RyanDS650X]

thanks for the replies fellas, im gonna stick with the spring, ive just gotta find someone to tack on the cap. Will i need to pull the entire axle out or is this something that can be done while its stil inside the beam? Might be a pain in the ass to try working around the u joint...

[philofab]

Make sure this spring you have is soft, and although it could be done in the truck I would take it out.