Replaced the CV shafts on my '02 Tracker this weekend.  Been a real bear.

The spacer at the end of the passenger side CV shaft that goes between the unit bearing hub surface and the lock ring...I CAN NOT get that thing in there at all.  Just not enough room for it between the lock ring groove and the hub surface.  If I put it on there the lock ring won't go into the groove at all.

I've got a 8mm bolt threaded into the shaft and have yanked and yanked on it and the damn CV stub will not budge out further.  Vehicle is back on the ground and has moved back and forth down my driveway and over the curb several times.  Any thoughts?

Not sure what your talking about BUT there is a threaded HOLE on the end of the (front) axle shaft,one of your 12mm hub bolts will go halfway in,then you grab it with Vise grips and GENTLY pull the axle shaft out that tiny bit to get the LOCK RING over the end of the shaft...your welcome??

The 8mm bolt I mentioned fits that hole in the end of the shaft.  Won't budge any further if I pull gently or yank like a demon.

The lock ring fits but the spacer that goes between the lock ring and the end of the hub won't fit in it's space there.

Have you compared length of old and new CV's, from bearing to snap ring groove?  Aftermarket's CV's could be slightly different.

No, the new went into the Tracker as soon as the old came out and the old promptly went into the dumpster which got dumped yesterday...

...I am wondering if the dimension is slightly different somewhere.  I did measure the end length to the groove and it was the same.  Learned that lesson a long time ago.