Amazing -- this is EXACTLY what happened on my Rodeo. I had no idea the snap rings were gone until I put in 4x, and the axle shafts popped back from the hubs. Becuase of the miles put on during this time, the ends of the splines were completely GONE.

[Linked Image]

Thankfully, the Dremel - groove technique was successful, and a slightly-smaller snapring is holding things together OK.

1993 Trooper
"Purple People Eater"