Here is a shot of the Front Diff of an XT6;

What all needs to be taken apart to replace the Circlip on the Axle Shaft?

 

Is it possible to do this without completely removing the diff?

 

For some background on the problem check this out;

oops....

You know from looking at the diagrams it looks like the stub axle is held in with the newer style clips. If you are lucky, you might be able to drain the transmission and find the old clip stuck on the drain plug magnet. If that's the case, remove the stub axle from the DOJ put the clip in the grove and see if you can get the stub axle to go back into the diff. You may need to tap it with a dead blow hammer.

The weather broke and we were finally able to work on the XT6 again yesterday.

 

After disconnecting the entire spindle from the strut and tie rod, we pulled the shaft out from the car to find that the circclip was indeed still on the axle stub. I then removed the axle stub from the DOJ and hammered it back into the diff. The stub went back into place and stayed in place

 

Then to stick the shaft/spindle assembly back in place and finally get the NEW ball joint together (the project that started this all)

 

Everything went back together smoothly and the rain started just as we were cleaning up the tools.

 

Thanks to all for your advice and guidance.

 

<now it is time to do the other ball joint >

Except now I have 1/2 a clue