Well, I got a mini spool for my 8.8 in my ZJ. Anyway, the c-clips won't slide through the slots and I can't push the axle in far enough to get them in, I figured I'd just grind em down till they could slide through the slots, it's maybe 1/8" on each side of the c-clip, I kinda dont' want my axles to fall out, you know.
-Nate

N8 Don't grind the C clips. Got to be the Flange and bearing not fully seated. you get it with both axles? There is some endplay on the axle to the C clip. like .020"~.030"

yeah I get it with both axles, it's fully seated, the only way I could push it in further is to take apart the drum for the e-brake but even then I'm not sure if I'd get the extra distance I need. maybe 1/8 inch in more or so. The c-clip would set just right in the axle if I could get the fawker in. I've heard of people grinding them down a little, that's why I thought of it??!?! I didn't mess with any of the bearings or anything, and these are replacement shafts but they're the same length and everthign as the stock ones.
-Nate

I just insalled one for a friend and had this smae issue. It was with one from Randys Ring and Pinion if that matters.

The problem was the splines in the spool where actually bottoming on the splines on the axle shaft. No matter how far we pushed them in, even after removing the e-brake parts they would not seat.

After pulling the whoel axle out we found the real issue and I took the grinder and "dished" the inside of the spool till the axle would slide in all the way and let the c-clip seat right.

HTH