Front pinion shaft, right at the bearing seal. Snap!

 

What were you doing at the time of the snap?
PS: sorry about your luck

 

That sucks. Were you in 4 wheel drive?

 

hoooo!

1600 bucks. She's all fixed. Kinda wish I put in for 4.10's.

What was I doing? What we all shouldn't.

Peace

 

I thought the drive shaft was supposed to twist (weakest link) before anything like the pinion shaft. I've seen that happen a lot to trucks with over sized tires when they get stuck.

 

eshoaff,

You would figure. Maybe it has to do with the angle of the driveline.

 

BlueOvalBoy,
I've got a question for you since it seems like you actually use your truck in rough terrain. You've got an auto right? When you get stuck between a rock and a hard place; then put it in low range, does it take a lot of RPMs to get the tires spinning? Will the engine spin up to get the RPMs you need? I've got a 2wd 6.0 tool truck and it won't climb over a curb without a running start. With the wheels up against something 5 or 6 inches high, it won't move. I give it throttle and the RPMs start coming up but it won't spin a tire or climb over the curb. Doesn't seem right, does it?

 

eshoaff,
Yes it's automatic and that does not seem right. I haven't tried to see what it will climb over. I am not a rock crawler, it is a 50,000 dollar piece of equipment that weigh's 7600 lbs with me in it. Parking blocks need a little bump in 2 wheel drive but in 4 low it goes over no problem.
Rock and a hard place? hmm! I did not take any pictures of the situation I was in but let's say it was so deep I couldn't get the doors open. 4 low will spin them. A little too easy. 4 high heats the transmission. I suppose I'll be getting some of those v-bar mud chains for it.

 

I think you answered my question. My tool truck weighs a little over 15,000 so if I have to give it a little bump to get it over something also, that wouldn't be unusual. This is the first automatic transmission I've ever had in a truck and that isn't something I expected.

 

You would be suprised at how many we have seen !
We have seen the rear do the same thing!
Rich

 

Forty, are you referring failiures of this type? What stories are you getting if so.

Peace

 

I have seen 4 f450 dump trucks with rear pinion shaft snapped.
2 f350's rear pinion snapped hauling 5th wheel ,during setting up in a campground backing up.
1 front pinion on a 4x4 f350 doing the same above .
And now yours.
not all the same yrs
Rich

 

That sounds like something I see in the steel erection business. Steel importers don't always supply the strength of steel specified. It's apparent when we tighten bolts with a torque wrench. A 3/4 in. A325 (the same as grade 8)bolt should be tightened to 365 lbs torque but sometimes the steel is softer and the bolts or nuts strip and sometimes the bolts are too hard and they break. I imagine Ford gets supplied with the wrong strength steel sometimes and the things they make out of it break.

I originally thought that the problem had to do with tire size. The bigger the tires the more strain on the drive line.

 

Thanks forty,
The sterling is breaking also. Hmm. I had thought 4 low was indestructible. Just that.... thought. I'll keep that in mind.
I appreciate the insight.
eshoaff,
You have had issues with "Domestic" A325's? I'm curious. Message or e-mail me as that will take us off topic.

Peace