I'm in the process of rebuilding a Warn 8274 winch. One of the "funnest" steps is the reassembly of the brake. Advice on the web on how to complete this step goes something like this: "mount brake shaft vertically in vice, install case side brake plate, friction disc and toothed brake gear. Then the spring and retainer. Place the 21 bearings along the inner diameter of the brake gear center hole. Then add the other friction disc and the outer side brake plate. (Most advise not to use any grease on the bearings to keep them from moving during the next step, since this is a brake assembly.) Finally, compress the spring by pushing the brake plates toward each other." This is when the bearings will move preventing the retainer, which becomes the inner race, from seating. So, you then have to remove the brake plate, reposition the bearings and start all over, and over, and over... This is where I found an easy way out. After repositioning the bearings, curl a pipe cleaner to fit inside the inner circle of the bearings with one end of the pipe cleaner exiting across the surface of the brake gear. Then place C-clamps opposite each other to compress the plates together. When the spring is compressed enough to begin seating the retainer, pull the pipe cleaner out. Finish compressing the brake plates together, place the keys and the C-clip. Done.

 

Here is a series of pictures to go with the play by play: