I am an idiot -- Can anyone tell me what I just messed up?

[Moparal]

   Let me know if it follows any grooves in the road.     That's the axle end play adjuster.   Chryco will see this

[Chryco Psycho]

the adjuster sets the end play for the alxes & keeps the brgs located on the races correctly, you need to "set' the axles by hitting the side with the adjuster with a hammer then tighten the adjuster so there is .008 -.018 end play so just enough to feel the axle slightly move in & out3-04 thicknesses of a hair
 I assume the shoes are now contaminated with gear oil so they should be replaced or they will be very grabby , if the oil saturation is Minor you may be able to save the shoes by soaking them with brake clean

[hemiken]

You can actually clean the oil residue off by doseing the shoes with a flammable liquid and setting them on fire, this will burn off the oil and will only last for about 30 to 40 seconds worth of flames.  This will not damage the shoes at all, but do not try this while the shoes or on the car, they must be removed first.

[covert]

Hi Chryco,

I just replaced the shoes.  They were completely covered with oil, plus, with the emergency brake incident, I figured it was worth the $25 or so for the piece of mind.  Doing the (back) brake job wasn't as bad as I thought it might be either.

I just cleaned up the drums with brake cleaner -- they still seemed OK.

Alright, I think I understand the adjuster, and I'll take a look to see how tight / loose the play is.  When I took them out, I did it one side at a time, and tried to not really move / twist or change things too much, so hopefully when I tightened everything back up it was close.

It did seem to drive OK today...

[IMNCARN82]

        I adjusted mine too much once...Don't ask me how I know.

[covert]

Hi guys,

OK, I'm trying to adjust the axles.  I've tightened up adjuster on the passenger side.  But the axle on the other side didn't tighten as the right side was tightened.

Ugh, I guess the buttons that are supposed to be in there for my 742 center section aren't there, or have fallen out.

Is there anything I could have done to prevent the buttons from falling out, or is there anyway I could check that they are there before I tear this whole thing apart.  Maybe the guys that rebuilt the rearend never put them in?

How exactly are you supposed to keep them there between the time that you put the rear end in, and when you slide the axles in?

Ugh -- as usual, fix one thing, break 2 others...

Cheers,
Covert

[Chryco Psycho]

the buttons have a rivet through the center of them , once you install the 2 buttons the rivet is peened to hold them in place , the downfall is after a while the rivet wears or breaks allowing the button to fall out again

[covert]

OK, Finally got around to taking the center section of my diff out. 

No buttons at all.  When they rebuilt it and re-assembled, they never put any in.  Which is why the first seals failed, I'm sure. 

Needless to say, I will not be using that shop again.  The new buttons on order.

Good thing I didn't drive around like that for too long.

Cheers,
Covert

[Chryco Psycho]