Who Has Broken An Axle?

And how did it happen?
Curious to know how common it is to break an original axle and what kind of use (abuse?) caused it.

 

Used to break em a lot, in a MB with a SBC. Full floater rear end so it was not bad getting the short end out.

 

Would you say it was from too much skinny pedal?

 

I broke a 19 spline axle backing out of the garage once in an F-head Jeep.

 

That is a possibility-or it could have been being 18 and stupid. But it also was because I bought a MB JEEP that had been converted into something that was not going to hold up no matter what.
I also did not have enough common sense, even after the 5th or 6th broken axle-to stop buying replacement parts from good old Vern Sutton out in Prunedale CA. Almost anything that Vern had for sale it was a bargain price-kinda like a very poor mans Chinese import-only worse. But it also taught me something. The next JEEP I bought was a brand new 1969 CJ5 with a V6, overdrive, posi in the rear and a Witco Soft Top. Then it was only a matter of a couple of months I got a new set of Gates Commandos and mounted them on some shiny chrome wheels. Then I set out to try to keep myself alive while making that little thing do things that were unbelievable. Still own the 69-but some A**holes stripped it. I still have great dreams (and some double bad nightmares). I don't know when, but some day I want to bring it home and work on it. Just not sure it is a logical dream at this point in my life. I read posts on here every day and it seems like an awful lot of us are finding out what it is like to get old. I am pretty sure if I every get-er-done it will be not quite the somewhat scary ride I have been on. Good memories.

 

I've broken 3 fronts, at least. Dana 30 front in an intermediate with a lock-right. Pretty kuch only the long side though. 2 u-joint failures, and one outer stub sheared off where the splines end. The u-joint breaks were combos of steering angle high torque load. The sheared shaft was wheel speed and a sudden stop when my dad got it stuck plowing and tried to throttle out.
I never broke the rear 30 spline dana 44 axle shaft, but I did blow up the spider gears when I got airborne on a hill climb and landed hard.

 

broke my dana 27 getting out of a mudhole. started bouncing the front and finally the spiders went when it made contact with the hard dirt. the skinny pedal and the dummy applying pressure to it was a big factor. just didn't let off in time when it made contact on the way down.

 

Was the stay cable missing and it got to hopping?

Appreciate the feedback, more stories?

 

Had a M38A1 Marine Corp (power lock rear and trac lock front) with a sbc, stock 5.38 gears and 32 inch tires ( this was in the early 70’s).
Sheared the Dana 44 Power lock housing in two. Went to a 57 Pontiac rear - cut down.
Pulled the long side out of the Dana 25 when jumping dunes near Baker CA. Put back in another 25 with a long axle gusset.
Ran the Borrego Rough race (150 miles) with the last setup- running in 4 wheel drive until I sheared off the front drive shaft. Did finish the race after going 2 wheel drive and removing stub of driveshaft from front axle.
Never broke an axle

 

Before I finally gave up on my early '70, it was iron clad from front to rear and way overweight. I was giving it a little too much optimism up a nasty, rock-face hill climb when it got hopping on the left rear tire. I broke the LR (tapered) shaft in half like, in a spiral pattern. Too much weight combined with too much twist.

 

I've got a 66 with Powr-lok front and rear that I bought as a project. Dana 44 rear had a twist in the splines at the differential on the passenger side. Dana 27 front passenger side was sheared off when I got it. This was a ranch/hunting rig out here in California and I think the dry hard ground and an enthusiastic throttle probably caused it. I've rebuilt both axles hub to hub with stock components.

 

1 D25 front, passenger side
1 D41 10 spline tapered, long side.
2 D44 19 spline tapered, short side both times

D25- Bound up in a gulley in Truckhaven; full right turn, in low range, jumped on it. Axle broke just before the axle ujoint and spit it out thru the locking hub.
(Well as much as an F4 can be jumped on.)

D41 10 spline- Screwing around on the street, F4 5:38s, 2wd in low range; barking the tire(s) shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear T90.
Pop, Outside the axle bearing, wheel wobbled considerably on the slow drive home. Slow was okay as I
had to come up with a story to tell my dad.

#1 D44 19 spline- One broke on a trip out in the desert trying to go up small loose hill. Just heard a pop. Drive 200 miles (home and back) in nephews Jeep to get replacement and install in desert.


#2 D44 19 spline- Crown replacement axle for #1 D44 above; backing out of the driveway at the cabin in Big Bear.
Let out the clutch in reverse, Jeep moved about 3" then heard the pop.
replaced axle; Installed+ FF kit 2 month later.

 

Here is a thread about my two axle breaks.

Axle Woes

I'm still baffled. Both happened on pavement while giving it a little extra gas, but nothing special. This Jeep had done a hundred "spin-out" starts over 50 years, with no ill effect. The conclusion of the wise men here was that the original axle shaft simply gave out after many years of use and abuse, and the replacement axle shaft broke because it was poorly made and of cheap materials. I have no better theories.