Who has actually broken an axel?

[SofaKing]

I'd like to know who has broken a banjo axel and the conditions in which it failed? Was it normal use, hot rodding, racing, due to improper torque, etc?
Thanks.

[tubman]

Trying to impress the folks by smokin' the 6.00-16's. (276 Merc with a Max-1, 390 Holley among other things) on my 36 3-window. (It had worked 3 or 4 times previously.) I think it can be reasonably called "abuse".

[Charlie Stephens]

I broke one on my '31 RDPU. This is the same axle used in a '32 Ford. I had the axles magna fluxed when I rebuilt it. Stock Model B engine. Normal driving. At about 5000 miles after the rebuild the axle broke. I think they missed a crack and it gradually worked its way through. Safety hubs (or clips) are a great idea, I just wish they made them for mechanical brakes.

Charlie Stephens

[cmbrucew]

On my 36 5 window coupe the axles were stronger than the drive shaft.
Bruce

[J Franklin]

I broke one on my A, but I was abusive to my car when I was young and stupid. Sheared the rivets on the universal joint once also. Oh yeah, I almost forgot I wiped out a banjo housing one time too. I always could beat the other guy off the line when the light changed to green.

[ford38v8]

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I became airborne over railroad tracks going 50 mph. 10 minutes later, my right axle let loose going around a left turn. Close inspection revealed an old keyway crack I had missed on assembly a year earlier. Disassembly/Assembly with a set of 18s & spider cost 36 hours and garnered a National Meet Hard Luck Award. The stub itself is my stupid trophy for missing the old crack.

[robert dick]

a 37 ford i was racing broke his left axel,it came out ,hit a car going the other way and the 37 ended up on it's roof, plus i have broken sever in my 48 merc, but always ran saftey clips so no disasters.

[JWL]

I have broken several axles. Only one broke under "normal" driving conditions and it evidenced a rusty crack. Possibly caused or encouraged by worn axle housing bearing journals. The housings were really bad before I fixed them and I thought I was too busy to worry about maxnafluxing the axles. About 2 years later the axle failed as I was idling away from a stop sign.

[V12Bill]

When I first got my 39 PU, the axle nuts were so loose that I did not need any more than the weight of the wrench to turn the nut. When I rebuilt the rear, I found a longitudinal crack along the keyway. I have to contribute that to the loose axle nuts.

[linechaser32]

Broke one under normal conditions. Just cruising along at 55 mph.

[A bones]

Laying down rubber in my 12 year old '53. (right side)

[Brian]

On my 36 5 window coupe the axles were stronger than the drive shaft.
Bruce

Likewise in my 35; I've snapped a driveshaft in it, at the front where the needle roller bearing runs, also years later stripped all the splines where it attaches to pinion.
Never busted an axle.

[jimTN]

Broke one in my 37 leaving a stoplight, changed to high range in the Columbia and slight pop. Post mortem indicated a ring worn around the break area maybe from a seal. Have heard others have broken axels at the same location.

[rheltzel]

On a very steep driveway I accidentally popped the clutch in my '37 pickup with a 4-speed big truck tranny while in granny gear. The granny gear multiplied the torque of the engine so much that even at idle it was no contest...the axle sheared like it was made of wood.

[Kube]

Two, both on the left side. HOT '39 convertible.

[Mart]

All I can say is "well done guys".

Mart.

[Admiral]

Wow, this is scary stuff ... Are reproduction axles any good? Come to think of it, do they even repop them? I'm running the ones that came in my '36.

[ReggieK]

At 17 I had a hot 48 coupe, lined up with a 39 hot coupe, he won the race, while I set in my tracks with a broke axle, main trans shaft, and cluster gear, all at one pop. Had to explain to my Dad, and had to work all week after school and into the night, to replace the broken parts. Learned my lesson, never broke another axle after that.

[cmbrucew]

There was an 1/8 mile drag strip near where I went to high school, Friend of mine slapped the automatic shifter up too high into reverse, that 55 slowly stopped and backed up.
Everyone was surprised nothing broke. Week or so later axle broke.
Bruce

[Brian]

Are reproduction axles any good? Come to think of it, do they even repop them?

They used to; I fitted a pair of NORS axles and NORS carrier into my 35 years ago. Can't remember the brand, but they were NOT Ford. Are they any good? Dunno, but I didn't break them. I have replaced them with genuine used Ford axles, used genuine carrier, along with NOS spiders and cross because the spiders wore a funny pattern, possibly/probably because of a bent axle housing, but also possibly/probably because the NORS carrier was soft, but definitely not because of abuse!! Yeah right!!!!
I drive my 35 very hard, as anyone who knows me will attest. It has never broken an axle....yet!