Thank you all... I am embarrassed to say you were all 100% correct... I have done this a dozen times without issues and could have sworn the drive shaft was all the way in. I guess the pic I took was deceiving Still confused that the opinion gear pin has a flat side, but the car is going so I'm just...

What seems to be happening to me... and it's easier to see if my photo is blown up, is that the bar (pin?) in the center is up against the splines in the differential and not leaving a big enough gap for the circlip to get into position and engage (please see my crude drawing). https://i.imgur.com/6...

Thanks for the pics... I had thought about the pin originally, but what is obstructing mine is square (or rectangle) but more importantly it's sitting just on the opposite side of the female splines in tranny so the driveshaft won't go in far enough for the split ring to engage... the drive shaft at...

this should do it...

https://i.imgur.com/OS1My2i.jpg

OK let me try another way

Not quite sure how to post a picture here… here is a link to a pic on Google Drive let me know if you can open

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1puP4Ml ... p=drivesdk

Hello all, I have a 2003 Pontiac front wheel drive with automatic transmission… I was replacing the drive shaft but was given the incorrect one by the auto parts store… when I tried to put the old one back in it would not seat all the way because there is something obstructing it inside tranny… It i...