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I finally think I have located a worm shaft to finish my M38 steering box rebuild! I have a question about the assembly process. In the TM is shows using lock rings of some sort on the bearings. I did find two rings in the bottom of my box (the bearings and all were kind of laying in the bottom too!!) . One of the rings was flat and the other one had three pieces sticking up (not out). Are those the lock rings? Do you acually need to use these? Shouldnt correctly placed shims keep everthing down snug?

I know this Is alot of questions but maybe someone will know what Im talking about.

Ryan,
Did you ever get an answer to this?

The lock ring retainers are necessary because depending on loads the bearings have a thrust funciton in that they must limit travel both down and up even after the initial wear-in of the bearings.

I may have to look again but Are there groves for those rings to sit on or do they just fit against the bearings? Also are the rings I described out of the bottom of my box the lock rings? If so where does the one with the tabs go, top or bottom?