how do you pull out a broken axle shaft?

[Kejtar]

OK, I haven't had that happen to me yet, but after seeing some pictures I am wondering: if it brakes inside, how do you pull out the pieces on the trail? Is there a trick to it? do you fish it out somehow? And is there a potential for it to take axle seals when it goes?

Reason I am asking is that if it happens I'd rather be somewhat prepared and know what to expect. and not reinvent the wheel in a middle of nowhere...

 

[Jes]

If you're lucky you can fish the piece out with a magnet but I've never seen that work.
Usually you have to remove the other axle shaft, pull the diff cover, and then remove the carrier to get it out.

Jes

 

[Kejtar]

If you're lucky you can fish the piece out with a magnet but I've never seen that work.
Usually you have to remove the other axle shaft, pull the diff cover, and then remove the carrier to get it out.

Jes

Why would you remove the other axle shaft? Would that be so that you can push it through from the other end?? and do you really have to remove the carrier or would you pull the guts out of it (in my case no slip) and then just use something slightly narrower to push through...

 

[Christopher]

Thanks for bringing me into this Jes... :anon: Well at least we should never see me doing that again ....Now if I could just scrape up the funds to do away with those pesky 297/760's up front... :rof:

 

[Jes]

Why would you remove the other axle shaft? Would that be so that you can push it through from the other end?? and do you really have to remove the carrier or would you pull the guts out of it (in my case no slip) and then just use something slightly narrower to push through...

You can't remove the carrier unless you first remove the axle shafts. Ususally the piece is wedged or slightly mushroomed so you can't push it through, you must pull it out(similar to a string ). I don't know what a "no slip" is, some kind of lunchbox locker?

Jes

 

[CRASH]

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

you must pull it out(similar to a string ) Jes

:laugh2: :laugh2: :laugh2:

I'm dying over here!

CRASH

 

[CRASH]

Thanks for bringing me into this Jes... :anon: Well at least we should never see me doing that again ....Now if I could just scrape up the funds to do away with those pesky 297/760's up front... :rof:

What axle did you end up putting in?

Are you still married after that trip???

CRASH

 

[Christopher]

Terra CRD 60 .....Yeah, still married. In fact it worked out perfect having the wife along. She did not like being broke on the trail and asked me what I needed to keep this from happening again....Well honey....That 35 spline 60 should do the trick ....Needles to say she actually told me to buy it :shocked: :kissyou: So I did....Wouldn't want to argue or fight with her :laugh3:

 

[Kejtar]

You can't remove the carrier unless you first remove the axle shafts. Ususally the piece is wedged or slightly mushroomed so you can't push it through, you must pull it out(similar to a string ). I don't know what a "no slip" is, some kind of lunchbox locker?

Jes

Noslip is a lunchbox locker from powertrax. By push it through I mean from the unbroken end towards the end that was broken. So the way I'm thinking is that if I pull the lunchbox locker out I should have the ability to push through as there will be an open space.
You mentioned pullint it out, but how do you pull it out if it's broken in about middle? For some reason I see it not wanting to move and kind od being wedged/stuck.

 

[CRASH]

Noslip is a lunchbox locker from powertrax. By push it through I mean from the unbroken end towards the end that was broken. So the way I'm thinking is that if I pull the lunchbox locker out I should have the ability to push through as there will be an open space.
You mentioned pullint it out, but how do you pull it out if it's broken in about middle? For some reason I see it not wanting to move and kind od being wedged/stuck.

Can you pull a lunchbox locker out without pulling the unbroken shaft?

Doubtfull.

CRASH

 

[Kejtar]

Can you pull a lunchbox locker out without pulling the unbroken shaft?

Doubtfull.

CRASH

I'm not talking about leaving the unbroken shaft, but leaving the carrier. On the other hand, one could always pull only half of the lunchbox locker out and leave the other half in, but that would give very little room to manuever.

I guess not having done that before, it is hard to ask the right questions or visualize the process of pulling out the broken shaft.

 

[CRASH]

Generally, pulling the carrier is easier than pulling the lunchbox out.

But, if it was possible to pull out just half the lunch box, the broken side, the broken stub that was jammed into the side gear would come out with it!

CRASH

 

[Beezil]

doncha have to wheel to break stuff?

 

[Kejtar]

Generally, pulling the carrier is easier than pulling the lunchbox out.

But, if it was possible to pull out just half the lunch box, the broken side, the broken stub that was jammed into the side gear would come out with it!

CRASH

Ok, so I guess the complexity of removal would depend how far along the axle shaft the breakage will occur.

 

[CRASH]

Ok, so I guess the complexity of removal would depend how far along the axle shaft the breakage will occur.

Keep taking stuff off until you isolate the problem.

Or just take the housing off and get some help shaking the loose parts out while the housing is oriented vertically.

CRASH

 

[Kejtar]

Or just take the housing off and get some help shaking the loose parts out while the housing is oriented vertically.

That'd be interesting to acomplish on the trail

 

[MrShoeBoy]

If you're lucky you can fish the piece out with a magnet but I've never seen that work.
Jes

I have seen it work...

I watched a guy running 36s on a stock Dana 35 break a shaft (didnt see this breakage coming did you). All he did was jack it up, pull the tire from the shaft and reach in with a magnet, at the same time, another guy was banging on the pumkin with a hammer to help unseat the shaft and it pulled out with the magnet. This was a non C-clip 35. I think they had this down to a science since it went so fast. It was a big magnet on a telascoping pole.

AARON

 

[Beezil]

if you have an aluminum dana 44 out of a zj, will the magnet work?

thanks.

 

[Kejtar]

if you have an aluminum dana 44 out of a zj, will the magnet work?

thanks.

aluminum shaft?? Well put some chewing gum on the end of the magnet then

 

[XJoachim]

You can't get the broken pieces out if it's a c-clip axle. At minimum you have to open up the diff and remove the center bolt to be able to remove the c-clip that still holds the broken piece in the axle unless it is just the groove for the c-clip that let go. Then you just have a bit debris and a loose clip lying around in the pumpkin. But you still have to open the diff to get the new c-clip in when installing the spare shaft.

A bit more complex is it with a Nslip locker in the rear. If you broke the drivers side shaft you have to disassemble nearly the complete locker to get the clip out.

If i would ever manage to break a shaft on my 70 FF axle i think the big ol' magnet will do the trick