Well, my truck is stranded 300 miles south of the border.

Driving back from my Baja trip, on the Highway, driving at about 40 miles per hour, my rear end dropped down to the drum as I watched my rear drivers side tire fly by me and into oncomming traffic.

I pulled off the side of the road somehow, and my axle shaft was sheared off.

Since it was the day before Easter, all the shops were closed, and the mechanics and families that came and helped me said there were absolutely no axle shafts in the area. Welding was not an option...

So, I took the bus home to the states. Toyota tells me there are 4 different axle shafts. I took a spline count, I have 30 splines, I gave them my VIN and they say that my axle doesn't match? WTF.

Looks like I'll be driving down tomorrow to trailer my truck back.

Anyone have ideas on which axle shafts would work? I thought they were all the same for e-locked/non-e locked diffs!?

Here's some pictures

 

Good luck. I hope it is still there when you return to trailer it home.

 

Looks like you were well prepared for your trip, and of course whatever can go wrong will go wrong. I too hope your truck is still there when you return, seems somewhat unlikely it would be undisturbed though.

 

WOW! I hope you can pull it out without too much hassle and it is still there. Good luck!

 

here are the part numbers:

42311-35280 9511-9608 RZN/VZN185L Limited & SR5
42311-35280 9608-0008 RZN/VZN180L/185L with ABS and 16" wheels

42311-35220 9511-0008 VZN180L/185L with ABS

42311-35350 0008-0208 VZN180L/185L SR5

42311-35400 0008-0208 VZN180L/185L with VSC & 16" wheels

the EPC doesn't mention the e-locker option. what's given are ABS, 16" wheels, VSC, engine and 2WD/4WD (180L / 185L).

from the pics, the shaft has ABS and since it's 96, there's no VSC so I would go with 42311-35280.

 

Wow, thanks for the part numbers!

Now my question is that my backing plate (the peice which holds the bearing and brake components) is shot. Toyota said that the axle shaft and bearings on the backing plate are pressed components. Does the axle need to be pressed into the bearings or not?

Also, I may try and go to the junkyard and find one, but, it may be easier to buy one new from Toyota, $400...

Lastly, I have never heard of this happening on the road before in a 4runner or Tacoma. Is this a common issue? I could have been killed or killed someone else if I was going faster or on a mountain.

The people there were very caring, they dragged my car into their lot behind locked gates, gave me some Tecate's and fish tacos and offered me their room for the night.

I ended bussing back since I needed to trailer it back anyways. I just hope I can get a new shaft, backing plate, bearing, etc for semi-cheap...

 

Yes, both the bearing and the abs rotor have to be pressed into the shaft. same goes with the locks for the bearing and the rotor.

btw, another good choice for the shaft would be the 42311-35220. that's the one on mine (4WD TDI with ABS and 16" wheels)


there's a recall for the LC95 prado. but the shaft failures were near the diff. it's discussed in the ih8mud LC90 series forum.

 

I have some used shafts laying around if you are lookin!

 

I have read on Pirate of this happening with several TRD axles. Your picture looks exactly like the same shear spot.
Lysmachia had a similar incident with Tippy, at least the axle passing her. Sounds like you may want to look at Front Range's Full floater conversion, I know it is something I would like to do.

Hope all is well when you get down there, heck of a way to be spending Easter...

Edit: found the thread on Pirate: http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...=648777&page=6 see page 5 of the thread for more details

Pictures are from wckedyota's TRD axle's with E-Locker (SCRunner is that what you have got?)



Please see page

 

I may be looking dirtyboy. Let me know what you've got and what the prices would be.

So, the bearing needs to be pressed onto the bearing carrier, which holds the brake stuff. Then it also needs to be pressed on to the axle, as well as the rotor, and the resulting retainers?

Crap, a full floater setup would be nice, I just don't have the cash right now.

Are there any aftermarket shafts I should look into?

 

dang...talk about ouch. good thing nobody got hurt..you especially. thats not a common failure, but it does happen.

might want to look into polyperformance axles...i think abq jim has a set. theyre stout 4340 flavoured axles, and $420 for the pair. of course you'll need to get the bearings pressed out/in.

or you might want to find one out of the junkyard to get yourself back up and running. just grab the whole axle, & drum. this way its a quick re & re...probably will have to do new axle seals & shoes since youre there.

 

SC: I can ship you out an axle tomorrow. It would have backing plate, bearing, etc etc already on there. All the pieces you need to just bolt it up and go are already assembled. 16" wheels, with ABS, and with E-locker.

Let me know, or call me at 800-782-0682 tomorrow morning about 9. We can also ship next day air if it comes down to it, so you can drive your baby home.

 

Yeah, looks like I'll buy the axle assy and fix it there.

I still am pissed off... Who the hell has broke a rear axle like this? Its BS.

DC, will it come with the brake parts or not? It dont matter , I can drive back w/o that brake. I'll have to just plug the line.

So how much is it to press axles into the bearings? If I were to get new axles down the line that is... right now I need the fastest, easiest setup.

 

One last thing, since my inner axle seal took a beating, has anyone used Marlin's new Inner axle seals?

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=31311.0

Or should I just go ahead and buy OEM?

 

X2.... DAMN... that sucks.

 

Those seals don't fit ABS axles. Re-read the text on this page:
http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/axles.htm#hdseals


Bummer dude. Hope you get it home with no further issues.

 

Ok, thanks for pointing that out, I did not see that at all. Whew.

As far as the truck being ok... Well, I'm pretty confident it will be good.

The people there will literally (and did) take their shirts off their backs for me. I couldn't believe how fast they were there making sure everything was ok with me. They were already battering up some fish taco's and cracking beers for me within the first 15 minutes. Then, they offered me a room in their house until I fixed it!!! I don't think that would EVER happen in the states... Cultural differences for sure. I couldn't imagine letting someone off the street stay in their house!?

The truck is parked next to a house, and in a locked gate. It shouldn't be gone. If it is, well.. that would suck. I'm more worried about someone getting my wheels since those are some pricey MT/Rs.

Moral of the story is... Always travel with another vehicle... That was my Baja rule, and my fathers. But, I said screw it and paid the price. I was lucky enough to have ALL my tools, BFH, ratchets, lever bars, etc...

Luckily, the bus ride back into the states (5 hours) wasn't all that bad. It was only $30 too!!! I was only sketched to arrive in TJ at 11:00 at night and walk to the border with all my stuff..

Here was our bus stop and my buddy watching for that rare 2-hour bus.

 

uuum, in most cases, the bearing can just be manually pushed into the cup in the backing plate. then the backing plate (with the bearing) needs to be pressed into the axle. then the retainer, then the abs rotor, then the retainer... I would recommend that you get the complete assembly and just install it down there. if you do the pressing, you need to take measurements for the position of the abs rotor..i'd rather that the dealer do it themselves.. it will save you a lot of time and trouble....and don't forget the outer oil seal that needs to be installed before the backing plate..

 

Ok sounds good!

I'm still thinking I have to try and uhaul this sucker up... hmm..

 

It's really a simple fix with junk yard parts. It's only 4 bolts, a brake line and the e-brake cable and you are good to go. (don't forget to bleed the brakes)

Get a set of these and stop worrying...



Glad you are ok...could have been much worse.