So I had the day off work on the 4th, as did most people I'm sure. Figured it'd be a good day to run a really easy calm trail and since it was so nice out, I took the top off.

Drove a bit up the trail, found a nice rock to climb up and get some posers.



Then we made it to the end of Dakan, where there's a nice little rock cliff to play on. I decided to drive it, instead of the bypass..had to make it fun, right?





This is where it gets bad. There's about a 1 or 2 foot ledge just infront of me here. Just at the bottom of it sits a large sharp rock just waiting to poke something.



There was a number of people with me, none of which apparently know anything about how to be a spotter. I can't see what's in front of me, I must have spent 5 or so minutes sitting stopped trying to squeeze information out of them about what they could see. All I got was "You're fine, just drop down!" Great piece of advice...

Yep, you guessed it. Smacked that rock HARD. Dead center on the front diff. It's hard to see in the picture, but that bell housing is competely caved in. I got extremely lucky that it didn't smack the ring gear in there. Amazingly, it isn't leaking, and the axles still spin and work.



Here's the rock, it broke into a bunch of pieces from how hard it hit.



Now you'd figure that was enough, and it was time to go home. Well for some reason, I wanted to climb back up the way I came down. I took a line straight up, then in a stroke of genious, decided to change lines part way up it, and got sideways on about a 30 degree slant. And because of where I was, if I went forward, I'd get more sideways and roll down the hill, if I went backwards I'd drop off another cliff and roll down the hill. I was in a good jam.



Luckily, there were a few good folks that we ran into a few minutes previous that were still around. Some in a Jeep, some in a new FJ. They grabbed the straps out of my truck and tried to keep it stable. Then eventually pulled the Jeep up around top, then tied the straps to the Jeep. (Who'da thought, Jeeps are good for something, a boat anchor!)



Once strapped, I was finally able to drive forward and off the rocks.



Totally greatful those other guys were around. Completely awesome of them to help out. All in all it was a great day, minus the huge damage to my axle. I have blisters on my hands from gripping that steering wheel so hard, scary tippy for sure!

 

looks liek fun untill the rock but nice lookin rig

 

Just before I get flamed for it. It was a last minute outing, no planning really, so I don't want to be flamed for not posting up a plan to go hit this easy trail ahead of time.

 

great pics man. I think it is time to invest in some trail-gear full diff armor. Looks like a good time/

 

+1 on diff armor. After seeing that carnage, you should invest in the full weld on cover, thickest metal you can find! haha. The little diff armor I have welded on mine would help some, but still, like you said, that's a HARD hit!

 

Yep, I have many many plans to get more protection for the entire truck, not just the axles, but they deffinately need it. I just have very little money, the budget is really tight (part time work, school, bleh).

I need to learn to quit breaking things before I fix the already broken things...Poor little runner, it's a trooper!

Anybody know if that bell housing is replacable? If you pull the third does it come out at all? Or is it a fully welded part of the axle?

 

the diff armor is pretty cheap. The bellhousing you are talking about is the actual axle tube. It is not replaceable. Unless you can cut it off and re-weld on a new piece.

EDIT:If you could put a new one on, you would have to take your time and weld it on like you would a truss, so you do not warp the housing.

 

Nah as I recall it's a fully welded part of the axle I know it does not come loose with the 3rd... If it's all good then maybe just go with it and monitor it for leaks etc. as you now have a weak spot...
some one with more knowledge of axles needs to comment here...
as a cheaper alternative you could train your spotters which should tide you over til you can afford the trail armour LOL....

 

Yeah, the metal is cheap, but I currently don't know how to weld, nor do I have a welder, nor do I know anybody that can weld for me or for a cheap price. I'm looking into taking some welding classes if I can squeeze them into my schedual...

No joke! I mean, I'll spot them down or up something, works out beautifully. No damage. They know what I do, they just don't get it. They stand there and stare...I'm like, "Give me direction, where are my wheels pointing, what's in front of them, is there a ledge, what rock is there" etc. Just like, everything that I can't see that they should be telling me. They don't learn, they don't inform.....think I need to go buy some new spotters, training doesn't work!

Do you guys think that with the big dent there might be any other adverse affects, like cooling or anything?

Thanks for the input.

 

Pull the 3rd member and beat out the dent with a BFH and get some of our diff armor.

 

Time to invest in some new friends!!!

 

beat the tube out. Use a metal rod and a BFH like the wabbit said.

 

Will that work? I was afraid that if it's creased or something that bending it back might just crack the metal. Hammering away is really viable?

You ain't kidding. No more wheeling with them as spotters....

 

It is not completely caved if the gear can still turn.

Looks like moderate rock rash, not nasty carnage.

Usually the front diffs are hitting rocks you should be able to see. It is backing into rears that kills them.

I agree with Isaac.

 

X4 on what the wabbit Iasaac and Adrian said You can hammer that out. If you can drive and don;t hear anything in 4wd then your gears in there should be ok but yeah you'll want to adress that this summer. In the mean time - Join us on red cone

 

Yeah, there's no noises from the gears. It seems that I got lucky and it's not pinching the ring gear.

The picture doesn't really do justice. It's concaved in about a half inch or so.

The rock was tucked up against a ledge. Sitting stopped just before the drop off, I couldn't see it. Guess the people with me thought I'd launch over it or something...