ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum
ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair => Topic started by: RJkick on October 23, 2011, 10:39:29 PM
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I had my front driver's side axle replaced about 2 months ago and on my first trip out it disappeared. I was at the Salton Sea last Saturday and being my first trip on the new axle I thought all was going to be great. Turns out after about 20 minutes I stopped as I felt no traction coming from the front end and low and behold - the axle was gone.
Just out of curiosity
What would cause this? Faulty installation I'm guessing but... Could it just fall out?
Any thoughts? The dirt road was 2 wheel drive accessible so the 4 wheel drive was to make it easy and to test out my new shaft
What holds the axle in - C-Clip?
Thanks for any thoughts on what happened
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??? You mean it's GONE ? I just can't imagine a scenero where an cv axle can fall out and not be noticed, I mean damn, it's gonna make some kind of hellacious noise when it drops out and starts wacking the front suspension. On top of that it would have to pull out of the hub too, either breaking the retaining clip in there or leaving part of the cv still attached. Add to that, you would be loosing all your diff lub out the giant hole where the axle slides in. Maybe they never put it in. You should start looking under your truck occasionally, especially after you've taken it to a shop.
The axle is held in by a c clip in the diff, but it also has a retaining clip inside the hub. It's kind of difficult to remove one without removing the hub to access the clip. Unlesss the clip was never installed. Still be a bitch to wiggle one out, without it making a SHITLOAD of banging, especially if the truck was moving. Theives?
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No loud noises whatsoever. I just noticed I wasn't getting the traction I get in 4 wheel drive so I stopped and it was just gone. Grease was coming out but I bagged it and drove in 2 wheel drive for the rest of the run. The shaft was there as I did look to see the shiny new shaft after it was replaced. The other sad part is that I couldn't find it. Possible thieves on that front.
It is back at the shop today so they can guarantee\explain what they think might have happened. And if they are confident in actually replacing it. I have some doubts now as you can imagine
Also, is stock OEM the best replacement cv shaft or is there a better aftermarket CV?
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Shop called and said it sheered off on both sides but no damage beyond the shaft. Is it possible to sheer off both sides of the axle simultaneously. I was on an ATV dirt road driving in 1st and 2nd gear. The zuk is a '92 so the original shaft lasted almost 20 years and multiple off road trips and 5 times on the same exact road so it is really hard to believe I was able to sheer off an axle shaft 2 months after having it replaced and 15 minutes into the ride
I don't have the shaft so I don't think the manufacturer is going to warranty it so hopefully the shop steps up
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I've found the stock rebuilts the best, most aftermarket ones that aren't rebuilts are just not up to the quality of a stock axle. Make sure you get all the old parts and PLEASE post pics of the damaged parts that are left. Still find it hard to believe it sheared off both sides. Very strange, got to be some kind of defect in the shaft, maybe a heat treating issue. GET PICS!
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The shop stepped up and replaced it for me free of charge
They said the ends were still intact but the shaft was just gone. I'm still unclear how that can happen. Hopefully it was a fluke but I'm going to engage 4wheel drive on a dirt road this weekend to test it out
No pics or parts since they fixed it and close before I can get there, luckily they have an after hours when I can pick it up. just a clerk though so they really have no clue what's going on after hours
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I was driving down some dirt roads in 4 wheel drive and when I stopped to look at the axle it was broken....again. It looks like it is breaking from the front diff side.
Any Clues to what I should be looking for?
I'm taking it back to the shop and possibly getting a refund since this is the 3rd time.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
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the shop is replacing the cv shaft as a warrantied item at no cost to me.
Now it seems part of the diff came out and they said they were able to put it back in and to them it seems solid, however they have no clue why it would come out. It came out about 3 or 4 inches which is why the cv shaft came out again
At this point I'm in the market for an FSM to try to figure out what is happening
I have not had to replace a cv shaft since 1992 so this is just frustrating
could it be an issue with the front diff?
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The only part of the Diff. that could come out and be put back in w/o any issues would be the inner axle. I broke the Drivers side Diff. mount and the CV joint, and it made enough noise that everyone knew it was broke. Maybe have a hearing test? ::)
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I have read threads on the Toyota forums about aftermarket CV shafts not having the range of motion of a stock CV shaft. If you are running a lift the new CV could be dropping below its range of operation seizing and then snapping (though I would hope that you could hear this....). If this were the case when is is "seizing" it could be pulling the half shaft out of the differential.
This would also explain why you didn't have any issues before, the OEM shaft simply operated at more extreme angles.
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The only part of the Diff. that could come out and be put back in w/o any issues would be the inner axle. I broke the Drivers side Diff. mount and the CV joint, and it made enough noise that everyone knew it was broke. Maybe have a hearing test? ::)
Funny you should mention the hearing test. I just had tubes put in my ears and my hearing has been crappy all my life. On the hearing front No one - not my wife, my 2 nieces or the other 5 vehicles on the ride heard anything and when I was in Salton Sea no one behind me mentioned seeing the shaft either.
The inner axle - does it look like a sleeve?
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I have read threads on the Toyota forums about aftermarket CV shafts not having the range of motion of a stock CV shaft. If you are running a lift the new CV could be dropping below its range of operation seizing and then snapping (though I would hope that you could hear this....). If this were the case when is is "seizing" it could be pulling the half shaft out of the differential.
This would also explain why you didn't have any issues before, the OEM shaft simply operated at more extreme angles.
At this point I'm thinking you are correct since the passenger side has no issues. I suppose I could have busted something on the driver's side of the diff but unlikely. I am going to make sure I get a rebuilt shaft this time. They are green correct?
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Not sure about every single one ever made, but all of the stock ones laying on the floor of my shop are green.
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it sounds like the diff.s locking up on the driver,s side n then snapping the bearings mite b gone in the diff i would check that
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it sounds like the diff.s locking up on the driver,s side n then snapping the bearings mite b gone in the diff i would check that
How would I check the bearings?
Thanks
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when the shaft is out they sit right there about n 1in in