Hello,,I am new here and if this post is in the wrong spot sorry.

I have an 02' Ram 1500 4x4 quad cab. My problem is the front CV axles. When installing the new ones on the truck, what keeps them attached to the front differential? Meaning I have slid them as far on to the splined shaft as I could butwhat keeps them locked onto the splines?
Was I supposed to hear a ''click'' noise from a retaining ring or washer? Really need help and all help is greatly appreciated.

 

If they are like all of the axles I have put in there should be a C shaped ring at the end of the splines and when you push the axle in all the way it should lock. when you took the old axle out did it just slide right out or did you have to pry it out? If you had to pry it out and your old axle does not have that C shaped ring it may have poped off of the shaft if so you need to take off your diff cover and find it. hope that helps you.

 

There were no lock rings when I went to install the new CV axles. The spline shaft coming out of both sides of the front diff had a groove in them. I slid the new CVs on them first but dont think I pushed them all the way. I didn't hear any locking click noises so I think I was just shy of fully being on. Was just curious if the new CVs would have those rings built in or not? What sucks is the truck drove fine for 3 days, but this morning while pulling the boat it started to clunk. Pulled over and seen the front passenger side had slid almost all the way off the shaft. Pushed it on as best as I could and limped home with my tail tucked. Thankfully I was only a couple miles from home. Now I sit here wondering what I didnt do right while installing them? Even followed the Hayes book to a T.

 

Ok I did some checking on the front diffs and there are inner shafts that will sometimes pull out with the cv axles. So your inner shafts may have pulled out when you removed your cv axle they all use C shaped lock rings. If you saw a groove with no locking ring that is a problem. If your inner shafts did pull out you need to pull them all the way out and make sure the locking rings are still on them. If not you will have to remove your diff cover and find them. if they are still on the shaft you can slide them back in make sure they lock. After the inner shafts are in place you can get the locking rings put on the ends of the inner shaft that the cv shaft slides on. And then you should be able to slide your cv shafts on and they should lock with no problems

 

The inner shafts were still there. Just no locking rings on them to hold the female side of the CV on the shaft. Are the rings built in the new CVs? i will get some pics posted as soon as I can. Thanks for all the help.