'83 K20 auto to manual locking hubs conversion

[MARKDTN]

I always like to close the loop on an issue. I ordered a set of Warn 20990 hubs. RH side went on no issues. LH side when I got it all together I could not fully lock. Took it apart 3 times and put it back together. Finally I grabbed a pair of pliers and made it lock-bad mistake. Messed up the plate in the cover that pushes on the spring. Called Warn and admitted my mistake. They don't sell just the cover so I had to buy a complete new hub (1 side). Tried with just the new cover and same thing, won't fully lock. So I pulled the hub and swapped it too. Locked the first try as it should. I guess that hub was somehow defective. Anyway, got it all worked out, just cost me more $$ than it should have.

Thanks for the help.

It made me a bit nervous to remove all the snap rings in the hub as the instructions say to do (and a few videos I watched). There was one right at the bearing retainer. If you leave it the hub won't go in far enough to put the hub retaining clip in. Mine did not have a groove near the end of the splines-also just as the instructions said it wouldn't. But with a straight axle There is really no place for the axle to go so I guess it is fine. I assume it still has a C-Clip in the differential holding it in place.