Hub Flange Snap Ring

Help,
Working on a M38A1, Dana 25 front axle. Jeep came with lockout hubs. Previous owner said he had some axle work done at a shop, I don't know exactly what.
I have a set of hub flanges salvaged from a '64 CJ5, I think a Dana 27 axle. If I recall correctly that axle had snap ring grooves cut into the axle shaft to retain the hub flanges. This was under the little hub caps. I suppose that was to prevent them from falling off if the flange bolts get loose?
I am installing the hub flanges on the M38A1 (restoration to military appearance). The axle shafts on that vehicle do not have snap ring grooves cut in the end. From looking at the original manuals there should be. Is this likely from replacement parts installed that weren't 100 percent correct? Is there any problem running without the snap rings?
Any thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks,
Ken

 

No. I never use them on any of my 4x4s.

 

the snap ring hold the end play correct for the u joint. From what i gather its more important for the early threaded axles which use a different style joint.

 

Back in the '70s at the Jeep dealer, about half the Jeeps that came in to the shop were missing the snap rings. They did not seem to make any difference in wear/longevity/whatever.

 

Thanks for the thoughts. Any ideas how I ended up with axle shafts with no snap ring groove?

 

Could be aftermarket replacements or were threaded and someone cut the threads off to run the locking hubs. Certain disc brake conversions you cannot run the snap ring and it hasn’t been an issue.