I've been trying to remove these clips and not damage anything at the same time. Is there a specific method for removing them? I was trying with a couple flat head screw drivers (smaller clip, haven't tried the larger outer one yet). I'm going to clean them all up and grease them before assembly again and I'm also cleaning the outer part for painting, so it need disassembled.

 

Get a small screw driver that will fit in between the little slots and pry it out of there. It's really not that difficult. Just use a screw driver to pry it out.

 

It looks to me that you should be able to get the larger ring off with 2 small screwdrivers or small picks. The smaller one would be easier with external snap ring pliers but could also be done with screwdrivers. Be ready to catch them as they might come off and go flying across the room.

 

Dude just took mine apart tonight, use a small screwdriver and pry out in the pointed end of the clip. If is snaps back on you, pry out again, and take another screwdriver farther down and pry some more. It will pop out.

Glad to read you got your TRE out.

When I dissassembled my locking hubs, I found out the last person that did it did not put the little springs back in behind the locking ball in the dial. I need to try and find some.

 

Thanks for the help. I'll be working on that tomorrow. I'm finishing up on cleaning some parts. I only have a couple items left to clean (I'm doing a real good job so the paint will stick well, POR 15)

 

ha, have fun with that, i ran into this same problem i went out and bought some snap ring plyers.. they ended up working great in taking them off and putting them back on.. best of luck to you man.

 

Ya all this cleaning parts pretty much sucks. I am doing the same thing, not for looks but because it needs it. My frame and axles are not rusted up, just either caked in grease or bare metal.

I started on my rear axle a few days ago. Did not go into the dif, changed fluids, and brakes. When I pulled the drums they were caked full of rust and brake dust. Looked like the wheel cylenders had leaked pretty good at one point. When I got past the caked on crap they needed to be cleaned up and everyting repainted. Pain in balls without taking the axle apart.

Then I started scrubbing and cleaning the rear and frame.

By the time I started on the front, I was tired of scrubbing so I went got some muriatic acid from lowes and oven cleaner. Srayed everything up front with the oven cleaner. it took it down to bare metal in some areas. in others it needs it again. Where it was really caked on it still has a light film.

The acid works great on parts. I mixed the acid 50/50 water/acid, drop the part in for 15, take it out hose it off, blow dry with air, then put in the oven for 10 min to make sure it is dry. then get some primer on it fast or it will flash rust.

If you go with the acid, make sure you wear a respirator, face shield and rubber gloves. I got a few wiffs by accident, and can feel it a little. And put the acid bucket outside.

Also dont put any aluminum parts in it. I wanted to see how well it would clean on old aluminum valve cover. It pretty much started eating it in half. Glad I figured that out before I put my hub cover in it. But the rotors backing plates, and all that look brand new.

later

 

Parts washer and a soft metal brush is the best thing to clean all your parts...especially the aluminum stuff...tcases, hub dials and faces...just about anything.

 

them clips are easy to remove. I purchase some clip plies that when you squeege the handles they move out instead of in, they work perfect for this

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item....re&dir=catalog

 

I got some snap ring pliers and they worked perfect.