If I was just to remove the cover, will I be able to see the splines on the carrier to count them? Or will I have to pull the axle and count them on the axle?
Getting ready to buy a locker and if its a 27 spline I'll buy one for the front and upgrade the rear in abit.

 

I'm assuming that you swapped in that 8.25", since yours is a '90. But do you know what year you got it from (?), '91-'96s should be 27 and '97-'01 should be 29.

 

It was swapped out before I bought it. I'm thinking I should be able to see the splines.

 

I've yet to read a thread on this subject that didn't involve pulling the shafts to confirm the spline count.

If you're going to pull the diff cover it's not that difficult to perform a few more steps and pull the shafts.

 

You have to take the diff cover off anyways to pull the shafts, so you could look and if you can't see the splines you've already got one step done.

 

you wont be able to. the end of the shaft that sticks out past the c-clip, which would be the only visable part is not splined. You could pull the center pin, push the shaft in, and probably see, but it will be very hard to count, at that point, all you have to do is let the c-clip fall off and pull the axle out anyway.
just dont spin the axle with the center pin removed, the spider gears will fall out, which isnt a big deal, just not sure what you know about whats in there.