Lockout hub assy in Chiltons manual, K10 and 20 lists the spring retainer plate as a seat for a large spring. These were in our 78 K5.

This concave plate was installed 30 years ago with new Warn lockout hubs where the plate and spring didnt do anything.

If the plate is installed concave out, a DANGEROUS condition occurs where the outer wheel bearing roller cage grinds against it and eventually in this truck, sucked the plate into the bearing.

This caused severe steering problems and it was impossible to correctly adjust the bearings, after adjustment the bearings were immediately loose again.

VERY DANGEROUS, CAUSING SUDDEN CHANGES IN STEERING THAT TRIED TO TAKE THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD!

Picture, the ring on the right is whats left of the plate, it was ground down and left metal fragments in the outer bearing.



Its CRITICAL to install it face out so the concave allows space for the outer bearing.

 

I've seen that before. We had a hired hand replace a lockout on one of our farm trucks ('74 K10). It did not make very far before it got chewed up though, but that truck was driven hard and put away wet all the time, every time. Couple a jittery bearing/wheel with some slight play in steering linkages that are already known for their skitish familiarity with stability and yeah, you definitely could have some close calls. These trucks certainly let you know when things get worn beyond their liking in the front end.

The bad part is that even the factory illustration manual has this part (GM PN 612082) drawn lacking enough detail to really determine orientation in one of the illustrations and in another illustration, it appears to be oriented incorrectly...