Here is what you need to do to get rid of the c-clip on the less costly replacement shock shafts. This mod had already been done on the Phatdad BajaRampage replacement kit.
For garage shop guys:
1) put a hand drill into a vise and get it solidly clamped.
2) chuck up the bottom end of the shock shaft into the drill chuck
3) Spin the shaft in the drill on its fastest setting
4) use a dremel with a cut-off blade to grind the red areas away in the pictures.
The best thing to do is get a washer that is slightly smaller than the treads. Then "thread" the washer onto the end of the shaft, and it will sit right where the old c-clip should have gone.
If anyone wants to send back their shafts to me, I can do this in my lathe very easily.
I will ask Phatdad to do this mod on the next batch of replacement shock shafts as well.