Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Errant Axle Spring Clip?

Pulled the driver side halfshaft - with some difficulty prying it loose. After removal I found the circlip on the axle end intact (a greenish appearing circlip). Looking in the empty transmission axle bore, I found a deformed wire circlip lying in there. It doesn't appear there would be room on the axle shaft for two circlips. Any ideas where this extra circlip came from? Is there another retainer internally this wire clip could have come from?

Never seen/heard of that before ... could you post a picture of what's on the end of your half-shaft and also a shot (if you can) of what's inside your tranny?

When I replaced my inner cv boot I purchased the Motorcraft kit. It comes with the mentioned "green" clip and the normal steel colored one. I used the non green one when I installed the new boot and regreased the joint. I was wondering where the green colored one was used. I didn't see it anywhere in the whole axle assembly. I regreased and replaced both boots at the same time. Two clips can't even fit in that groove. Your lucky the clip stayed where it was and didn't jamb up the workings.

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Thanks for confirming the "green clip" on your axle shaft. I know from the previous owner's service records the axle shaft(s) were replaced. The more I think about this, the more I believe whomever replaced the shaft had the same Motorcraft set of clips as you describe and decided to put both clips on the axle shaft. They probably managed to ram the shaft home and this was what made it so difficult to pry loose. When I did manage to get it loose, the wire clip, trying to share the groove space with the green one, was dislodged from the end of the axle and fell off when the axle was being removed. I really appreciate the replies to this question.

You should replace these circlips...