Broke the axle on my Badlands Bronco... pics and video

[NorthShoreBronco]

Yes

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[Beach_Bum]

I rarely use the front locker and when I do I try to be in a straight path. Steering is limited when front is locked and I wouldn’t try turning as sharp as some of the points in the vid. Rear locker can stay on.

I already commented on how good you and your kids attitude was on YouTube.

Quoted for emphasis. It was how it was explained at the Off-Roadeo to minimize the front locker engagement and when you do to minimize the steering. If I recall, the obstacle was called the Texas Two-Step. It is a wall of a rock that is much steeper than photos show it to be. Only after the approach was aligned were the lockers engaged and disengaged at the top.

 

[NorthShoreBronco]

I was just talking to my buddy Dave (the guy with the grey Jeep in the video). And he thinks my wheel was turned at full lock when it happened. It makes sense because I'm remember trying to turn the steering but it felt blocked.... I thought I was straight but I was at full lock... My bad.

 

[vzqhsg]

If bigger wheels, lifts are added, why isn't a beefed up axle included?

 

[Arrowbear Rider]

I was just talking to my buddy Dave (the guy with the grey Jeep in the video). And he thinks my wheel was turned at full lock when it happened. It makes sense because I'm remember trying to turn the steering but it felt blocked.... I thought I was straight but I was at full lock... My bad.

Thanks to your mistake I/we are learning much about the front locker and properly using it.
Keep it straight and use it sparingly, check. No bumping, bouncing or sending it.

After reading about lifts and the diffs and IFS v live and etc. it makes sense that the IFS with CVs and steering is going to bind a locker and something is going to fail, but sometimes we have to see the whole picture to get it.

And when that fails we replaces broken parts.

 

[mike8675309]

I was wondering when looking at the photo. That looks like a possible shock load, which would make sense if the front diff was locked and you had a significant difference in the speed of both wheels with a high load on it.
I've seen 18-wheeler tractors with air diff locks break a massive axle shaft when one side bites but the other doesn't when turning around. It was typically in the lease trucks we would send out to the beet fields, where they would break axles and transmissions regularly. Eaton and Rockwell reps loved to deny warranty coverage on them. (this was back in the mid to late 80's.)

Edit for the update where I saw you wiggle the axle. It looks like the tripod in the CV axle failed. there may be other issues inside the axle because it's weird you would lose 4wd just with a CV axle failure. It can't detect that. So something in the axle housing is unhappy.

 

[Lcubed]

Even at the offroadeo they stressed how little you should use the front locker. My guy straight up told me driving with it on will blow out the CVs.

interesting. i remember them emphasizing which locker (front or rear or both) to use was situation dependent. definitely warned that locking the front adversely affects effectiveness of the steering, but no warning regarding blowing out CVs

 

[4runner]

come on !

 

[Bikeric]

This was NOT a “locker” issue. I’ve broken CV’s in my Tundra that were bigger than the Bronco’s axles. I didn’t even have a Locker on the front.

Parts break. It’s part of the fun of off-roading. I didn’t watch the entire video yet, but I intend to. Toyota Tundra (full

size) replacement axles cost less than $200. I’m looking forward to the day Bronco CV axles cost less than $1,000.

 

[Cat]

Even at the offroadeo they stressed how little you should use the front locker. My guy straight up told me driving with it on will blow out the CVs.

Yep...our Rodeo guide in Vegas gave the same advice.

@Northshore bronco Thank you for sharing this and all your other videos. You've taught me alot!

 

[SS Bronco]

This was NOT a “locker” issue. I’ve broken CV’s in my Tundra that were bigger than the Bronco’s axles. I didn’t even have a Locker on the front.

Parts break. It’s part of the fun of off-roading. I didn’t watch the entire video yet, but I intend to. Toyota Tundra (full

size) replacement axles cost less than $200. I’m looking forward to the day Bronco CV axles cost less than $1,000.

Just fyi, you can get a pair of Factory CV for around $500.

 

[OX1]

IFS vs solid axle. You don't want IFS problems, don't get IFS.
I'll keep the IFS and upgrade the axle and CVs.

I was told 1000 times on this board the IFS would be fine. We are only talking upgrading ONE tire size over stock (since 36's are very limited).

Why wouldn't Fords premier offroad vehicle come with upgrades on at least the steering and axles (at least as an option). Charge 15-20 grand extra if needed, make it a hard core "crawler" version (without all the other Raptor upgrades, which I could never use where I live) on a lower level or base.

 

[NorthShoreBronco]

I was told 1000 times on this board the IFS would be fine. We are only talking upgrading ONE tire size over stock (since 36's are very limited).

Why wouldn't Fords premier offroad vehicle come with upgrades on at least the steering and axles (at least as an option). Charge 15-20 grand extra if needed, make it a hard core "crawler" version (without all the other Raptor upgrades, which I could never use where I live) on a lower level or base.

Well for 15 or 20 grand you can upgrade a whole lot! The market would be small for those upgrades and not worth the time and money from ford. This is coming from the guy who just broke his axle.....

 

[ATLBronco75]

So what did they say to use it for then? just use it then turn it off. Is there a time limit? Kind of anoying.

They said only use it when you need it and keep steering to a minimum. Rear locker and GOAT modes were recommended over locking both all the time. Basically turn the front on for the obstacle then turn it off.

I will caveat this by saying I was in Moab where you could suddenly have a lot of traction. Unlike deep snow…

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