1998 Ford Ranger 4WD CV axle retaining clips

Try someplace like Oreillys or Autozone, they can bring up the diagram. If it's a 98 model, that's about when they went to the ifs front end instead of the split axle, and depending on where this clip broke off, it may have to be replaced as an assembly instead of the clip itself. If I'm correct, the nut in the center of the hub should come off, then the cv axle pushed through the hub before loosening the hub itself, then pull the cv axle out of the front differential like with a front wheel drive car. If I understand this correctly, sounds like the joint on the hub side of the cv axle shaft may have been bad. See if the local parts house will be able to pull up the correct diagram though, and see if that helps.

If you haven't found these yet the Ford part number is 3B457 and you can get them from your Ford dealer

There is no nut on 4wd 1998-2000 front axles. Ford mechanic told me they do not replace these clips when I checked on availability at dealership. Bearing in hub is already secure. Go figure.