super k spider gears

HI there. My old case 580 is getting a facelift and in the process new oil and filters. I dumped the transaxle and pulled the screen. There are the spider/gear shims in pieces. I fished out the chunks with my magnet. This machine has had aterrible differential howl in fourth gear roading for some time. I've read here that these shims were a problem and I do see new ones at Minnpar. My service manual shows two versions...one with and one without the shims. My question here is can these be changed out without a full transaxle removal? Cam I just pull the pin and slide new shims into place or is that just wishful thinking??

Unfortunately, the crownwheel needs to be removed from the carrier to pull the pins for the spider gears.... so the transaxle needs to be removed along with the axle housings/ brakes & rear cover.
If you decide to go ahead with it, make sure the new washers are the updated ones having the external locating tabs.

Thanks for that...Ugh. not sure I'm going there. My old digger is used mainly on my 5 acre property now. I'm 59 now, my eyes are shot, knees are bad and no young fellas around to lend a hand! lol. Why did these spacers fail? Someone stepping on the diff lock under way? I'm going at the e-brake and likely will pull the rear cover to clean out the scudge. I saw some picks on your site alrman so I think getting that scudge out is the least I can do! literally lol.

The early thrust washers were faulty.
They were made with a pressed dimple that stopped it from rotating in the housing - this unfortunately caused them to fail - hence the updated design.