Setting up a Detroit Locker

I'm in the process of installing a Detroit Locker in my tapered D44. I have swapped the diff out and have the housing back in place.

I've run into a little head scratcher and need some direction from someone who has done it.

When I took the axle apart, I could swear that my 11" backing plates were up against the axle tubes(the bore in the center fits perfectly over the bearing cup) with the shims, bearing retainers and seals installed over them. So that is how I put them back. While doing this, I realized that I hadn't installed the spacer buttons into the locker. So I installed them. I was done setting the end play and was installing the hubs when I noticed that the seal lands were not in the seal fully. Some further figuring showed that the hubs were way too far out from the backing plates...

So I went about tearing the axle shafts back out and removing the buttons(no small feat since there was a roll pin through both of them). There does not seem to be any evidence of contact on the spacer in the locker which leads me to believe I was on the right track with the buttons installed. Since I had them removed I set the end play without them just to see where everything ended up. I am able to get the end play right, but the backing plates have to be over the shim pack and retainer. And the hubs still do not go deep enough into the seals...

What say the experts?

 

Spacer button? What axles are you using?

I have a 30 splined Detroit locker in a tapered axle 44 housing. I had to go with a FF set up to do it.

 

I have 19 spline axles. The spacers were from the powerlok.