Ok, it has gone very well so far. I feel luck was on my side and when I tapped the back of the flange a few times, it poped out!! Couldn't have been happier. The snap ring stayed it the differential so I fished it out. I cleaned everything and replaced the seal and was ready to go back together. I put the snap ring in the groove at the inner end of the shaft and tried to "pop" it back into the differential. This is where the trouble started. I can't get it back in. I now see what rex was talking about as the flange is JUST BARELY touching the frame rail with the clip on the shaft. With the clip off the shaft, it slides in and out with ease...plenty of clearance. So I put the clip back on the shaft and inserted it so that I could "Tap" the flange. This hasn't worked either and am afraid to hit it too hard, and am also concerned about damaging the seal...defeating the purpose of this whole job. SO (sorry for the long story here), my question is this, do I dare try to put the clip back in the differential first and THEN tap the shaft into the clip? Or is it definately necessary to put the clip on the shaft first. I guess this would mean lowering the differential a little to gain some clearance. I hate the thought of that as it has gone SO well up until now. ANY INPUT is appreciated. Sorry for being so long-winded!! John