The top stub axle is a high strength alloy Warn/Dutchman, the bottom is a stock Spicer. You can see how the stock axle is thinner between the splines and the yoke.
In addition to being stronger material, there is also more material in the yokes. Supposedly the yokes hold up to repeated destruction of u-joints without significant deformation. We'll see...
On the left is the alloy axle. You can see how more material was cut away at the base of the yoke allowing the use of full circle snap rings. The stock Spicer yoke can also be modified to accept full circle clips. I'll probably do that when I break my current axles and piece them back together for trail spares.
Here is a comparison of the standard axle u-joint c-clip and the full circle snap rings. Actually they are just normal external snap rings. After searching at a number of auto parts stores without success I finally followed the recommendations from the Pirate board and went to Home Depot. I had to raid 2 different stores to get enough snap rings to do 2 sets of axles but both stores had them and they were only 69 cents apiece. Napa was out of stock but their part number for the correct snap rings is 1345. Pep Boys only had the sizes above and below 1 3/16" but at least one guy on the Pirate board reports running the 1 1/8" snap rings even though they are a bit smaller than the stock c-clips.
Unlike the c-clips which are snapped in place after the bearing cap is seated, the snap rings need to be placed on the u-joint cross before pressing in the bearing caps. As the groove moves into position use snap ring pliers to expand the snap ring and move it over the grease seal and into position. I put a little bearing set on the caps as they were pressed in and used the usual oversized socket and BFH method to seat the snap ring solidly against the yoke.

Home