Oops. Truck down.

[bigtcustom]

Well, haven't been on the forum long and haven't posted much, but I figured this is probably worth mentioning.

Headed out this morning to get some running around done, and had something major let go.

It's -33C here with the wind chill, and it's been snowing all day. Roads are skating rinks all over the city.

Have the hubs locked in all the time cause you never know when you'll need to drop it into 4by. Well today I left my house and had it locked in to get through several intersections, until I got to the freeway, where I put it back into 2wd, or so I thought. The 4x4 light went out but I don't think it completely disengaged.

Anyways, go up to about 100km/h and started to feel something unbalanced rotating around, and really start shaking. The Tranfer case shifter started flarling around, and before i could slow down, Wham!!

Holy crap!! I could here something banging around, and figured the drive shaft had come loose.

Stopped the truck, looked underneath, and yup, the rear of the front driveshaft was sitting on the crossmember, and I've got a trail of metal pieces and tranny fluid following my tire tracks onto the shoulder. Jump back in the truck and realize the transfer case shifter has almost fallen through the floor.

Anyways, here there is a 5-6 hour wait for a tow truck due to the weather.
So I haven't had a chance to see the extent of the damage. But I would have to say that it was due to u-joint bolts coming loose. I've heard it happening before.

So next time you're under your trucks, just take a wrench to them to ensure they're tight. It'll save you a ton of work later.

 

[Tbar]

Can't remember where I read it but someone with an OBS had the same problem.

The nuts on two of the drive shaft bolts came loose..........sheared a third bolt and pivited around on the forth. The out of line......out of balance drive shaft beat the crap out of the linkage and the floor board.


Tbar

 

[Crumm]

That sux Sounds like you will need some linkage parts and a new yoke and who knows what else.

Have the hubs locked in all the time cause you never know when you'll need to drop it into 4by.

The 4x4 light went out but I don't think it completely disengaged.

Even when you put the t-case in two wheel drive the front driveline will still spin if the hubs are locked in. If you need to limp it off the road you can unlock the hubs and the driveline will quit spinning. Since you stated that you had a fluid trail I would not recommend moving it too far though. I hope the fluid did not come out of a hole in the case Might have just took the front output seal out of the t-case but it might have also bent the output shaft.

 

[AlaskaRedneK]

Aw man

Im really sorry to hear bout that. I hope you get it all figured out, please post up your findings
-Stouff

 

[bigtcustom]

Yeah, then to top it all off, when I got back to the truck (6 hours later) to meet the tow truck, unlock the driver door to turn the hazards off and realized a could have just reached through the smashed passenger window. Som-beech!! -mad
Well, now I suppose I can get around to fixing that passenger power lock that wasn't working.

I hate ignorant people!!-mad