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Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...

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Offline hcgalvin

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Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« on: September 16, 2003, 08:54:08 AM »
Well... the spool finally did it.  >:( I knew it was going to happen, but not sure when. I am sure that the added weight of the bumper, the fact that the tires are finally wearing some, and that our lovely city tar and gravels roads to save money on repaving for the winter helped.  A normal asphalt or concrete road makes for a smooth whining turn with the spool, but the tar and gravel creates a lot of binding and releasing.

Here are a couple of pics  :o





Am replacing the axle now.

Heather

Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.

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Offline NY_SIDEKICKER

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2003, 11:41:29 AM »
SO DOES THIS MEAN THAT MAYBE ITS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A SPOOL IN A DAILY DRIVER ::) JUST WONDERING BEFORE I GET MINE INSTALLED ???

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Offline Mikerpm4x4

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2003, 12:07:27 PM »
I cant belive anyone would want a spool for anything but a trailer queen mud bogger. I have run a spool in the past and had the same results Heather had. :'(  How many shafts can you snap before its less expensive than a locker.  :-/ Something I learned back then, pay now or pay more later. I am Very sorry to hear your misfortune Heather.

I do think a very lightweight rig could get away with it easier but I will always choose a locker over a spool.

Mike
If your not living life to the fullest then your not living at all.

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Offline Mikerpm4x4

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2003, 12:13:28 PM »
One more important thing Heather. Make sure all the axle pieces are out! in the rear housing of these rigs there is a metal flap that will hold axle pieces that eventually will fall out and chew up the ring and pinion. :-[ Another expensive lesson. After a few miles I would change the fluid one more time just to flush out any lost pieces.

Mike
If your not living life to the fullest then your not living at all.

You wont really know if your wrong till your upsidedown

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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2003, 08:43:24 PM »
Yeah..

I am learning my lesson.  :-[ I also tried to use a magnetic retrieval tool inside the axle tube, only to find out that I would not be able to get a flat surface on the remaining axle piece magnetic enough to pull it out. So.. tonight, out came the other axle (good thing too, the splines on it were starting to twist), and the diff, and then after everything was cleaned out, the diff with the spool went back in along with two replacement axles.

I am not quite done, but I gotta go to bed. I ruined a couple of bolts trying to tighten the heim/ball joint base down. Gotta get new ones. That joint is REALLY annoying to get back together! Any hints?

I don't plan on driving it very much for the next couple of months until I get an ARB. I did have a Lockrite inside a 10 bolt axle in my posession tonight, but time being a factor, it did not get put in. :( I would have had to take it out of it's third member, and put it in mine.

I have to say that the axle breaking was partly my fault. I started getting over-confident the last few weeks, and was driving harder than I should have been.

Oh well... lesson learned..

The spool is still in there, as I said, but I don't plan on driving it much until I get an ARB. I have 4 weeks of training coming up for a new job, so I won't be around to drive it anyways. And when I do drive it, I plan on taking it EASY.

Hey, one thing I am proud to say, I am doing this whole axle swap MYSELF.  :o (Minus a couple of heavy things carried by my hubby as well as some stuck bolts loosened..... but that's it!) BTW... slide hammers ROCK.

Thanks for your input Mike.

Heather

« Last Edit: September 16, 2003, 08:47:40 PM by hcgalvin »
Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2003, 11:50:11 PM »
I'm hoping that the axle shafts in the 12 bolt are stronger than the 10 bolt. The ones in my 10 bolt were twisted but not broken, and I had only been running them for about 6 months. I do have a heavy foot on the trail. Has any one looked into having stronger axles made? I think that will be my next option if I twist these.
Zig
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'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick

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Offline Yankee Tim

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2003, 01:00:07 AM »
Sorry to hear about the break. :(  A spool and pavement don't mix, regardless of what you might hear elsewhere.

My advice for best on and off perfromance?  Get the check book out because it's an air locker.  Open diff when you are daily driving, fully spooled when you get to the loose stuff.  This really takes the constant stress off the shafts that occurs from a spool, locker, or even an LSD for that matter.

Yup, they are expensive.  But so is replacing axles and the time that takes.  If you can swing it, I would install and ARB while it's apart.
Yankee Tim

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Offline ebewley

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2003, 01:50:06 AM »
Quote
I'm hoping that the axle shafts in the 12 bolt are stronger than the 10 bolt. The ones in my 10 bolt were twisted but not broken, and I had only been running them for about 6 months. I do have a heavy foot on the trail. Has any one looked into having stronger axles made? I think that will be my next option if I twist these.
Zig


Nope, the late-late [96-98] axles don't appear to be any stronger. I've toasted 4 late model 5 bolt flanged since July. Right now I'm averaging less than 20 miles an axle! Which makes sense since they are still whittled down to the 26 spline pencil tip. I'm hopeful that one of the vendors will come up with a solution.

-Eric
« Last Edit: September 17, 2003, 01:50:27 AM by ebewley »
Eric L. Bewley                               
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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2003, 04:11:15 AM »
I forgot the name of the company, but Scott had some axles made to beef up his ford 9" that has lasted him over a year with no breakage. I'm going to call them to see about $$$ on a set.
Zig
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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2003, 04:11:22 AM »
Quote
I'm hoping that the axle shafts in the 12 bolt are stronger than the 10 bolt. The ones in my 10 bolt were twisted but not broken, and I had only been running them for about 6 months. I do have a heavy foot on the trail. Has any one looked into having stronger axles made? I think that will be my next option if I twist these.
Zig


Nope... if it helps any, mine was a 12 bolt. Apparently they don't last either. Yes, I would like to know if a vendor out there would provide a stronger axle shaft.

Quote
Nope, the late-late [96-98] axles don't appear to be any stronger. I've toasted 4 late model 5 bolt flanged since July. Right now I'm averaging less than 20 miles an axle! Which makes sense since they are still whittled down to the 26 spline pencil tip. I'm hopeful that one of the vendors will come up with a solution.

-Eric


I REALLY hope I can get more than 20 miles out of another axle.  :o I managed to get 4 months out of the original ones... :) So are you tearing apart the whole rear end every 20 miles?! Or do you have a hint for getting broken axles out of the tube?

I do want an ARB, but I don't have the funds right now :( . I could have taken out the spool and run open, but that would have taken more time than I wanted to deal with right now. I still have a spare 12 bolt I can take parts from, and it still might come to that if I start popping axles really quick like.

Heather
Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2003, 05:02:29 AM »
I would highly reccomend pulling the whole rear apart even if you can get the broken splines out. The last time I broke a shaft I thought I had removed it all in one chunk (with a magnet). When I was rebuilding it a few weeks ago I foung out different. Luckily the left overs chunk stayed attached to the magnet when it fell.
Zig
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Offline hcgalvin

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2003, 05:10:04 AM »
Quote


Nope, the late-late [96-98] axles don't appear to be any stronger. I've toasted 4 late model 5 bolt flanged since July. Right now I'm averaging less than 20 miles an axle! Which makes sense since they are still whittled down to the 26 spline pencil tip. I'm hopeful that one of the vendors will come up with a solution.

-Eric


Well, I've beaten you so far! I've already been out delivering pizzas and have so far put about 35 miles on the new axle shafts. I have been taking my corners a lot wider and slower though.  ::)

Heather
Heather Galvin
2005 GV with Zuki Nation 4.5" Lift.
Sidekick's gone... Still have Bob's Knob.

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Offline ebewley

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2003, 08:31:04 AM »
Quote


Well, I've beaten you so far! I've already been out delivering pizzas and have so far put about 35 miles on the new axle shafts. I have been taking my corners a lot wider and slower though.  ::)

Heather


I probably have the record, albeit a crappy one, for getting the fewest miles on an axle. I had one that I changed in Attica at the Zukimelt last me for one trail there and some pee-gravel running then I put it on the trailer. Next, I go up to the Little Crusher in TSF and get about 90% through when it went. Litterly 5-7 miles!
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Offline Natebert

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #13 on: September 18, 2003, 09:53:31 AM »
Quote


Litterly 5-7 miles!


DAAANG!

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Offline Mikerpm4x4

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Re: Well... Finally twisted an axle shaft...
« Reply #14 on: September 18, 2003, 03:40:26 PM »
I bet you two (and Zig) will be happy to hear that Calmini is going to be building stronger rear replacment axles soon  huh.  ::)  I dont know how much or how soon, you will have to call them and find out.  :-*

Mike
If your not living life to the fullest then your not living at all.

You wont really know if your wrong till your upsidedown