Snap ring D25 wont fit

In my 59 cj5 I got tired of the really really old warn selectable hubs leaking at the dial and slinging knuckle pudding all over the wheel leaving it greasy all the time so I right now went out and removed them to install the original non selectable drive flanges but the snap rings wont go back on, theres no room.

why cant I get the snap rings back on? what would cause it? how can I fix it? is there a way to pull the axles out just enough to install snap rings? do I need snap rings?

They look almost identical to a Warn M2 hub but there are no markings. maybe the very first model of warns ever made but I don't know.

 

No, lots of guys run with out them. The axle really can't go anywhere.

 

someone on facebook just informed me the ends of my 10 spline axles have a threaded hole in the center and I never knew. I went out and using a bolt threaded into the center of the shaft pulled out on the bolt and shaft slid out easy then I simply installed the snap ring.

it was amazingly easy and I never even knew it was threaded in the center and I have been through 2 different dana 25 axles. and I never noticed. learned something new today

think It was 7/16 thread but I just slid in a 3/8 bolt, cocked it sideways and pulled it was so easy