Looks like 5 full twist, then pop went the Foote Long Axle

[W_A_Watson_II]

WARNING: The Picture links to a VERY Large Image: http://m37.wawii.com/images/DSC05631...teLongAxle.JPG

Well, I broke a long rear Foote Axle the afternoon before a trail ride! Looks like 5 full twist before it broke. I was able to swap out the broken axle for a stock one in just over an hour and was ready for the Memorial day Trail Rides.

I was lucky the broken end came right out with a magnet (after pulling the center section). I did pull the center section out to be sure there were no other damage and any broken pieces left in the axle housing were removed.
I was in the Ozarks and pulling my Sister-In-Laws car back on the road after an accident when it let go. I was NOT using the lockers, but was up on all four on a gravel road in 4WD low, it let go with a pop.

After puller her out I loaded up and drove the 90 miles to my brothers shop so I had a floor jack and a patch of concrete (the shop was occupied with an 18 wheeler with out a drive shaft).

Not sure why it let go, or that all the twist damage was from this one event. Any suggestions or ideas?

On the Trail Riding, well Gabrielle (just turned 10) had a blast, except for the extreme trails). It was another great weekend with Daughter, M and Friends.

Will

[Gordon Maney]

That much twist is remarkable.

I have pulled out stubs with a piece of wire formed into a loop.

[Kaiser2boy]

How old is that axle? How many times have you asked it to do hard work?
If you are not the original owner , God only knows what it has been through before you got it.

As far as I understand it the levers for LOW RANGE and ALL WHEEL DRIVE are set up so you cant use LOW RANGE and not be in all wheel drive just to prevent over stressing and axle. With the front wheels unlocked you defeated that idea and put a bit to much power on one axle. POP.

[W_A_Watson_II]

The axle was new and I installed it August of 2009.

My front axles were NOT unlocked they were engaged and pulling, I was in 4WD, just did not have the ARB Lockers engaged.

[Kaiser2boy]

In that case I say Hmm. I thought you had the front hubs unlocked. Just bad luck or a defective axle. Good luck trying to prove the later.

[W_A_Watson_II]

http://m37.wawii.com/images/DSC01440...teLongAxle.JPG

Looks like cut splines.

[pwrwagonfire]

Ouch!