I was driving to my house and when I went around a corner my car rolled to a stop and wouldn't move. I walked around my truck thinking my u joint broke. But on the passenger side my whole wheel was sticking out my about 12 inches. I looked under and the whole inner axle had slid out. When I pulled the cover off, sure enough the C clip that holds it in was off. Whe i put the axle shft back in I was able to easily slide the C clip back on, as I rotate the tires in the air it looks as though it will easily come off again. Likthe whole axle shaft slides back and forth way to much. Why would this be???
:hail:

 

do you know if any work has been performed on the rear axle ? the cover gasket look like its been replaced ever ? any silicone sealer onbthe bolts or anywhere ? maybe someone lost the original clip at one time and found another but maybe not form same model of axle and is hair thinner maybe, id remove the other one and compare thicknesses

other than that i dunno, hopefully someone else knows soomething, i think ive heard of this before and saw info on what probably is the cause, as long as the lockshaft and screw are all intact there really is no reason why a C clip could fall out, unless maybe axle shaft has been replaced and the distance from the C clip groove to the inner end of the shaft isnt the same as whats on the other,

 

you can't just easily slip the c clip back on, the shaft the spiders ride on would be in the way, or if you did you have better luck them me getting the clips on.

 

well it wasn't very hard to slide the c clip back on. It is fairly loose. Not only that but the whole axle shaft slide in and out, when it slide in all the way it allows the c clip to easliy be pulled off or on. It was good for the longest time, and no it doesn't look like the rear end was recenly worked on.
I don't seen any kind of screw though, where will that be.
Ps: this is my first time working on rear ends.

 

There's a large pin, about 3/4" in diameter, that goes through the middle of the carrier. The screw goes through one end of it, to hold it in.

I'd bet your rear is the victim of too many one-wheel peels (pass side wheel of course, per normal), and the thrust washer thing behind the side gear on that side has disintegrated. That's usually what causes that to happen.

I believe if I was you I'd be looking for another rear end, or at least another carrier; and I'd avoid the one-wheel-peel thing from now on.

 

where is the thrust washer, I am working on a very limited budget here so i would like to reuse my rear end, can i not just buy a new thrust washer?