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jerseyboy
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8/29/2003
10:58:56

Subject: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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I havent been here in awhile but everything was going wonderful....well let me tell you what i have. I have a 2000 Dodge dakota quad 4x4 with a 6.5 suspension lift, 3in body lift, 35in mud-terrains, 15in eagle 589's, 4.10 gears. I've only listed the parts that may have caused this unfortunite incident. Number 1 I havent even went four-wheelin yet and im driving down the highway and my axle just snapped and the tire,rim,rotor,brakes caliper,brake line, everything just blew off and under the truck and the front end of the truck flew up about 6 feet and then when it slammed back down caught the pavment and nearly flipped the whole rig.....not cool...has anybody had a problem with this im guessing the tire and rim was just to heavy. any thoughts?

Big A$$ Truck Big A$$ Balls

other bill
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2003
12:08:24

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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You mean one of the transaxles/ half shafts?

Bear in mind, this is pure speculation -without looking at your particular rig:
Sounds more like the lower ball joint or lower control arm came loose leading to all the other "by products", including the snapped shaft.
The way these are designed, you could snap a shaft and the vehicle still roll along. Of course the loose end would be flopping around a bit, but it is "semi-caged" if you will, by the lower control arm and frame. Take a look at the other side that is still assembled and you will see what I mean.
Your upper ball joint could have also failed, but doubtful as it does not support the weight of the vehicle like the lower one does. It is more or less in place to keep the wheel in line.

I would be looking hard at the lower control arm mounting points or the lower ball joint. Maybe something was not tightened during the lift install? Or if air was used, over tightened?

Take it for what it's worth.



92Dakota4x4
Dodge Dakota
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8/29/2003
18:46:56

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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How long ago was the lift kit installed?



jerseyboy
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8/30/2003
12:50:34

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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I had the lift installed about 6 weeks ago and as for my ball joints and lower control arm they appear to be fine

Big A$$ Truck Big A$$ Balls

92Dakota4x4
Dodge Dakota
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8/30/2003
14:43:05

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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I'm with other bill on this one..I am a professional mechanic,and to me if a front axle breaks,it would just bounce around up front and not cause the entire front suspension to break off.Is your truck full time 4wd or part time?And the front axle that snapped...did it break the actual shaft or one of the cv joints?



Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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8/31/2003
01:31:49

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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I snapped a front axle. Silverstreak ( Ed halterman) was with me when it happend. I wasnt even doing anything. its covered under the recall # 889 but I dont think they would cover it in your case cause of the lift.
the new axle that was installed has more mounting eyes than the old one that broke FYI

Rob



92dakota4x4
Dodge Dakota
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8/31/2003
11:31:25

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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Hey Rob,what happened when it snapped?I imagine the whole wheel/tire,spindle didn't break off....



jerseyboy
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9/01/2003
15:48:49

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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my axle snapped. i have to go to the shop and look at it again to see exactly what happened but it looked like it was just the axle and then everything else just broke off.

Big A$$ Truck Big A$$ Balls

Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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9/01/2003
18:28:18

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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Basically the whole center section broke off the mounting points and fell down. I was only going about 3-5 MPH but it made one heck of a racket.
if I was going faster it would of stabbed in the ground and launch my truck. As it was it jsut stabbed the ground and then the truck moving forward made the housing angle off to the left. After I pulled it out the truck could be driven at low speeds but the axle shafts would bang around. YThe delaer ended up replacing the whole front suspension and axle under the recall.

Rob



Art
Dodge Dakota
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9/02/2003
01:27:20

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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What recall #889?I never got any recall notice.



Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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9/02/2003
18:56:26

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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You wont get it as a recall. it will come in as a letter stating the frotn axle pinion bolts may be loose or not torqued to specs from the factory.
it sytates the axle may break and fall off if not taken to the delaer to replace the pinion bolts. i took mine in obviously they still broke.
if it breaks then its covered under the recall campaign 889
Rob



Dirty Durango
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9/02/2003
21:17:37

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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Hey Rob does that notice cover the Durango also.



Perpetrate
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9/03/2003
18:00:00

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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Has anyone broke a front axle while wheeling?

Rod didn't you only have 31's at the time yours broke?

Craig


Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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9/03/2003
21:13:40

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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Dirty Durango
I dotn really know. its supposed to be for the 2000 year model trucks. I would assume since the durange has the identical suspension and 4x4 system it would be covered also but I dotn really know for sure

Perpetrate

Yup it was stock as stock could be. I did break it off road but it was on a dirt road that was pretty smooth. I jsut went over this bump at mabey 3-5 MPH and I heard it clunk and it broke.
I was mabey slightly off idle when it happend. no power was being given to the motor. It was replaced. normal cost the service guy said would be 5K or so.
Rob



Jasper Johnso
Dodge Dakota
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10/11/2003
13:58:35

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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I broke my axle on my car (90 doge spirit 100hp) I had a fully loaded car and my transmition wasnt fully in gear and when i hit the gas my car reved to 4000rpms and the transmition engaged and heard a loud clunk and smoke went everywear we pushed the car back and there was grease everywhere and part of an axel boot, and once we saw the axel it was completely destroyed at the joint



Scotty6263
Dodge Dakota
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10/13/2003
10:25:19

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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I had a durango 4x4 that came into my shop and the front axel caseing was crack like an egg, never seen anything like it. It was all stock.



JES
Dodge Dakota
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10/13/2003
12:48:44

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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Sounds to me like jerseyboy's suspension lift took a crap and that broke the half-axle, not the other way around. A 6.5" lift with extremely oversized tires on a truck that was not designed for that sort of thing ... sounds inevitable to me.



jessetaylor
Dodge Dakota
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10/14/2003
13:47:46

RE: anybody ever snap a front axle?
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i am selling my complete front end to my 2000 4.7 4x4...lemme know if you want to buy any parts. 60,000 miles (racK & PINION, AXLES, DIFF. ETC ETC, ARMS, all of it!!) JESSE.PROTINT@VERIZON.NET



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