Re: Broken Axle

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/9/29 8:15:53

You've got my sympathy, the only significant breakdown I've had on my 34 Eight in 45 years was breaking a rear axle; it broke just shortly after I got back from the 1999 Warren Centennial - could have been much worse - it could have broken while at Warren but I was just around the corner from home when it broke. Since it broke at about midpoint between the differential and brake drum I didn't loose my brakes or cause any damage to the wheel, drum and tire as they were retained in position by the wheel bearings and backing plate, but it didn't matter much as you don't need brakes when you can't go (and of course with mechanical brakes if you loose one wheel you still have brakes on the other 3). The break appeared to perhaps have been caused by a flaw in the original forging. Had a devil of a time getting a new one as, if I remember right that axle was specific to only the 33-34 Eights and right and left were different (lengths).