Broken Axle

[Desert Fox]

I was searching around and I cant seem to find any info.

I was pulling in to school this morning, and just as soon as I got in the parking lot, I changed from neutral to first with heel toe. as soon as I applied the gas, I heard this huge horrible clunking noise.

I looked under the car, and I could see from the back my right axle had disconnected from the diff. I was told when I got the car it had vlsd, and I know I do now, from seeing the viscious material all over the housing. It looks like the bolts cracked away from the housing on the axle.

I havent been able to find much info about vlsd's in these cars, so i wondering if this one broke, should I replace both axles, or get a new diff, or what. Also, ive been hearing a bit of a grinding noise for the past few days, is this what ive been hearing?

Btw, it was 35 degrees this morning in sacramento. I think that might have something to do with it cracking...

Ill put pictures up after we tow it home today.

[tctomasc]

hmm not sure exactly what your explaining, but sounds like your output shaft broke and is now leaking?? If you have 6 bolt 3 flange, go grab a vlsd out of a J30 with either the 6 bolt or 7 bolt with equal flanges to bolts, and that'll be A LOT stronger. the fitment on the J30 VLSD in an s chasis can be a little tight around exhaust tho. I have an hks hi power and it sometimes hits, but I don't care enough.

[Desert Fox]

Ok, so with further inspection, I have determined that where the output shaft comes out of the vlsd to where it connects to the axle is where the problem is. It looks like the bolts that connect the two sheared off.

All the holes in the axle and the output shaft are intact and not cracked, so I really am having trouble understanding how this happened. But now the problem is I cant get the axle out from under the output shaft because from looking at it from the wheel, on the right side it is under and to the left. Does this mean I have to take the brake assembly off to get to it?

I was gonna put my pics up, but I left them at home. Ill get them when I get back.

[Chris28]

Uhhh I don't really get what you are saying. You can get a new lsd and a new axle, they aren't that hard to swap out. The axle is held on with a nut behind the wheel, you don't have to take off the brake assembly but it might be easier with it off. If the axle is stuck somewhere around the lsd area just drop the lsd out before trying to get the axle out. Pictures would be helpful.

[Desert Fox]

ok, heres some pictures:

View from wheel well of lsd output shaft and axle boot: From behind the right side of the axle and diff.Axle: Another of output shaft

What I need to know is where exactly do I remove the bolts that hold the axle in?

I appreciate the help.

[r34 gtr]

Eeeeeewwwww!

Remove axle spline from hub, discard.

The bolt holes on your output shaft look a little messed up too. You might want to consider replacing it too.

[tctomasc]

get a new axle and output shaft to be safe. If you mean how do you remove the axle completely, you need to jack up the rear of the car. Take off the wheel, and then there is a nut under a cotter and holding plate that you will need to remove. then hit it a couple times with your method of persuasion (I usually grab a decent sized hammer) and out it should pop.

[Chris28]

That's not viscous fluid, it's just grease that the cv joint is covered in. I guess your boot ripped and the force of the axle spinning flung grease everywhere. Yeah new output shafts are a must, but it might be easier to just get a new diff.

[Desert Fox]

I ended up throwing on a new o.s. and used my friends axle. Went out and dropped the clutch from 6k a few times, and then came back and checked it. Seems to be holding tight. Thanks for the help guys!

[tibbar650]

Went out and dropped the clutch from 6k a few times, and then came back and checked it. Seems to be holding tight.

lol..... smart

[hbpignosePA]

I ended up throwing on a new o.s. and used my friends axle. Went out and dropped the clutch from 6k a few times, and then came back and checked it. Seems to be holding tight. Thanks for the help guys!

i forsee a new thread in your future entitled "i spun a bearing, or why is my clutch slipping?

take better care of your car dont beat it

[1unar3clipse]

same screwing thing happened to me... except I was on a freeway on-ramp about to merge into traffic and BAM my axle sheared the last bolts holding it to the diff and it wound up and tangled the passenger side e-brake line locking the rear wheels almost instantly.

my advice...Replace both axles (or at least inspect the other side for wear or damage)

inspect output shafts for wear damage (as r34 said)

Go to True value, size up the diff->axle bolts and get some of the highest grade you can afford also make sure that they fit snug as using bolts of a smaller sleeved diameter gives the tiny room to start bending the bolts and eventually shear them.

use a good torque wrench and actually torque them down (inspect them every 1k miles ESPECIALLY if you have a habit of dropping the clutch from 6k)

also... you don't want to touch the grease that has exploded out of the axle.. it contains tons of tiny metal particulate.

[Desert Fox]

i forsee a new thread in your future entitled "i spun a bearing, or why is my clutch slipping?

take better care of your car dont beat it

Haha, well I actually really baby my car, I just wanted to make sure it would hold. After I did that I came back ad made sure they were still torqued. I think its better to find out now than later.

My clutch is completely gone from the previous owner, im surprised I was able to do that much.