Broken rear axle, ideas

[Andy in Pa]

Wow, I have a hard time believing that this break happened due to any torsional load.

I have seen driveshafts, axle shafts, steering components and such get more brittle though when heat is applied to loosen something, like a bearing race.

Typically a twist-break does not break that cleanly, it has more of a jagged pointed "shattered" type of profile. I have broken and been involved in numerous cases of broken axle shafts in my years as a rock crawler with Jeeps, and the only thing that broke like your pictures is high-end alloy aftermarket shafts. And even they did not break quite that clean, that's crazy.

I can't come up with how it would break like that any other way though, especially at that location. Maybe the 4R was hit at some point right at that wheel?

 

[rideexileex]

You couldn’t. The whole wheel is bolted to the housing. But the OP is lucky though.

I’ve had the axle shaft itself snap and the whole wheel assembly went bouncing down the road.

The only bit actually bolted is the drum assembly. If the wheel itself were bolted, it wouldn’t spin in the first place.

 

[phattyduck]

Wow, I have a hard time believing that this break happened due to any torsional load.

I have seen driveshafts, axle shafts, steering components and such get more brittle though when heat is applied to loosen something, like a bearing race.

Typically a twist-break does not break that cleanly, it has more of a jagged pointed "shattered" type of profile. I have broken and been involved in numerous cases of broken axle shafts in my years as a rock crawler with Jeeps, and the only thing that broke like your pictures is high-end alloy aftermarket shafts. And even they did not break quite that clean, that's crazy.

I can't come up with how it would break like that any other way though, especially at that location. Maybe the 4R was hit at some point right at that wheel?

I agree - that isn't a torsional break. My non-4WD history with axles includes this:

Drag racing... yay! But that's what a torsional break looks like.

-Charlie

 

[kolelt]

I’ve had the axle shaft itself snap and the whole wheel assembly went bouncing down the road.

The only bit actually bolted is the drum assembly. If the wheel itself were bolted, it wouldn’t spin in the first place.

On what car ? 3rd gen 4runner ?

 

[T4R2014]

the bearing would have to be super bad to let the inner race go, and then you still have the retainer holding things together.

at that point, I don't see how it could be considered a manufacture defect. I cant believe they won that case.

like I said, id like to see pictures from that case.

I called BS on it first as well, but the more I read up on it the more I started seeing the potential issue. It might not be common, but when it does happen it can be bad. It's not like this is a wear part like a ball joint either. Plaintiff and defendants got some metallurgy experts to look into the issue too.

http://www.metalconsult.com/resume.pdf

^
this is the guy that tested the axle shafts for the plaintiff. His results must've had some merit. You could shoot him an email asking about his findings.

 

[dieselguy]

I’m gonna just say my axle is a fluke I suppose, it’s been wheeling around for twenty yrs and no harm was done thankfully, im enclosing a pic of how it sets now, we did add some Mickey Thompson classics and bfg’s, the slightly more offset, heavier tire and loaded down with gear may have just been the last straw on a problem that had already started, I will add that I did and always do a look under on all my vehicles before I take a trip and didn’t notice any leakage at the wheels.

 

[kolelt]

I’ve had the axle shaft itself snap and the whole wheel assembly went bouncing down the road.

The only bit actually bolted is the drum assembly. If the wheel itself were bolted, it wouldn’t spin in the first place.

On our 4runner ?

 

[dieselguy]

So what's the opinion on aftermarket axles, doorman, dana etc. I'm not real keen on wrecking yard axles simply because who knows what abuse it's suffered in the past twenty yrs, or just go ahead and drop 450$ on an oem axle hope for another twenty yrs of service ?

 

[rideexileex]

On what car ? 3rd gen 4runner ?

Yeah - I think that one was a 97... Suspicion is that the rear axle seals had leaked so badly and for so long, there was no grease left in the bearings, and after a long while, the axle heat fatigued.

 

[nevada]

So what's the opinion on aftermarket axles, doorman, dana etc. I'm not real keen on wrecking yard axles simply because who knows what abuse it's suffered in the past twenty yrs, or just go ahead and drop 450$ on an oem axle hope for another twenty yrs of service ?

a good used axle would be the best option as far as im concerned.

after market axles aren't as strong as the original stuff. but, personally, I wouldn't spend $450 for a new one. $25-50 for a used one would be just fine.

 

[rkntoy]

a good used axle would be the best option as far as im concerned.

after market axles aren't as strong as the original stuff. but, personally, I wouldn't spend $450 for a new one. $25-50 for a used one would be just fine.

There are aftermarket axles that are stronger than the original stuff. But if you are not wheeling hard then I would grab a good used one.