Good post above, IMO. As I recall, and in checking my older FSM, the thrust buttons are not nearly deep enough to create 7/16' of space by removing them; this info is just relative to the green bearings, I suspect. I don't think removing the thrust block doable on this but I don't know that for sure. This leaves shortening the axle or getting a different one. The axle splines still need to be measured to be sure that they are long enough to clear the mating splines in the diff.
Question to Von Cramp: Were these the original axle shafts with the axle, and is it just that the diff is new to the axle?
Dumb question on my part (to everyone): What different axle lengths are out there for the 8.75"? Were stock sure-grip axle lengths different than for stock open diffs?
Stuff happens! Don't beat yourself up over it. The only people who never make mistakes are the people who never do anything. Mistakes don't make you bad or dumb; they make you human.
