Warning on Smashed Axles

[Axetamer]

Whilst offroading on sunday I lost all drive in both ranges but had one wheel drive when using difflock, so had obviously broken something in the axles somewhere so the end of play, my first major breakage in 15 months with this truck

After talking to a few guys about the possibilities I decided to risk trying to get it home, bad bad move......this could have been fatal as I found out 200yards down the road....I  drove out the site and said to my mate "this don't feel right, its steering where it wants", I was going carefully along at about 35mph around a right hander when, without warning, there was a loud crunch and the truck violently skidded 90 degrees to the right, crossing into the oncoming carridge going sideways, I managed to stop it without going in the ditch.....but....had there been anything coming the other way on this fairly busy road,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,???.

I managed to get the truck into a lay-by, fortunately only about 50 yards up the road, got out and had a look.......oil was beginning to drip out of the front diff, and after cleaning some of the crap from off and between the guard I could see a split in the diff pan.........call the RAC

My theory: Broken half shaft end has gone into diff breaking the gear carrier and locking the whole lot solid

So, on weds I start my 3 days off and I'll be under the truck again............Oh well, could have been a LOT worse.

My turbo rebuild kit has turned up today so 2 jobs...

[extreme90]

nah,
broken half shaft ends cannot drop out of the diff

broken up center bits out of the diff floating around however can be picked up by the crown and lobbed out of the casing  :P
it pays to remove propshafts and drive members before driving on road, as guessing is usually wrong  :roll:

[Axetamer]

Absolutely correct on your diagnosis.......On disassembly and pulling the halfshafts out, I found the center drill hole from the manufacturing process still in the end of the shafts, so the problem was at the diff. After removing the diff and fishing out all of the debris, pin broken in 3 places, end of pin is stuck in carrier and bent into crown gear, I also found a circlip in the oil....so....ciclip falls off...pin slides out a bit......lose drive.....go down road...diff spinning at road speed.....spits out pin and gears...bang lockup.

it pays to remove propshafts and drive members before driving on road, as guessing is usually wrong

Thats what I shall be doing in the future if it happens again, one near miss is enough!!!!!

I'm saving for ARB's and HD Ashcrofts to beef it up somewhat....



I've rebuilt my turbo as well, an interesting exercise..I definitely have a lot less smoke than before, still a little blue when revved hard, But haven't yet managed to monitor oil consumption, but I will do this weekend as I'm risking the run to Avon Dasset...I was using well over a litre per 100miles.....

[extreme90]

it'll be stem seals or the engine is breathing
clean the cyclone filter out and make sure All breather pipes are clear

diff wise, circlip didnt pop off, it was just broken then the crown picked it up and did the rest
depending on how it breaks determins how long it runs for
hell i didnt even know my front diff was broken until i removed it to fit a locker  :shock: :shock:
dan

[extreme90]

if you need a axle case give me a shout btw