RedRunnerTC's rear axle swap after accident (with his 93 4Runner Ron)
12-29-2009, 10:31 PM
#1
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
RedRunnerTC's rear axle swap after accident (with his 93 4Runner Ron)
Drama - recompiled from CoTTORA.... http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147788
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12/24/2009
So as Troy was pulling into my parents neighborhood (on Dec 24th) as he was turning my sister slid into his rear driver tire. Ron (His Rig) got hit on the rear driver wheel, which shifted the axle over 6" towards the passenger side. The passenger side upper link bent and cracked.
See how the other upper link in the background has a much milder bend?
Rear axle shifted to the right.
Tony and Davin know a 4x4 guy next to their shop. Troy called him and we are gonna take the bent link to him sat. See if he can make a new one and cut the old jhony joint out of it and we re-use that.
*sigh*
12/25/2009
Ouch!
12/27/2009
So Sat about 1:00 we got the Redone (sleeved) upper link back
Scott, TacoBlanca helped us put the links back in
Tony and Davin also came over to help.
While driving into town to get beers, Troy and I knew right away something was very wrong. The back end was kicking out all over the place. It was almost undriveable at 15 mph on snow pack. Then on the drier pavement it was only slightly better. So Tony offered the use of his shop to get under and adjust the links.
We just used the fork lift instead of bothering with a floor jack!
Silly the Greyhound has a 1 5/8" nose!
The rear axle wasn't square it was off by 1" on one side vs the other.
We adjusted the lower link and got the axle within a 1/8" tolerance.
The truck drove a lot better after that bit still we could tell it was still off. The passenger rear wheel was bent in (camber) which we confirmed with a level. Driving it this morning (Sunday) it still wasn't right. But Troy had to get home and we knew that if he had to he could call AAA. He left at 10:00. Took him 6 hours instead of 3. The axle seal failed and maybe issues in the 3rd member. Had to have the Truck towed from around costco. Yeah AAA! Hopefully Troy will post more.
12/28/2009
12/29/2009
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So looks like a new axle is-a-comin' Full Float!
I can dream right? - That will explain why the Johnny joints had to be re-adjusted so much in Tony's shop! Still looks like Ron will be down for a month now while we figure out what to do!
***********
12/24/2009
So as Troy was pulling into my parents neighborhood (on Dec 24th) as he was turning my sister slid into his rear driver tire. Ron (His Rig) got hit on the rear driver wheel, which shifted the axle over 6" towards the passenger side. The passenger side upper link bent and cracked.
See how the other upper link in the background has a much milder bend?
Rear axle shifted to the right.
Tony and Davin know a 4x4 guy next to their shop. Troy called him and we are gonna take the bent link to him sat. See if he can make a new one and cut the old jhony joint out of it and we re-use that.
*sigh*
12/25/2009
Ouch!
Oh and we were having a hard time figuring out WHY the link failed at such a low speed accident, and we realized it was because he was on ice. Had his tires been on pavement and my sister hit him she would have munched the civic and troy;s rig would have been fine. Then again the civic never would have hit him because she tried to stop and slid right into him. It was a nasty day for her, as she did a 780 on rabbit ears pass about 15 minutes earlier while following troy. She said she came close to going over the edge, and was pretty freaked. Lesson learned I guess that civic really didn't have snow tires.
So Sat about 1:00 we got the Redone (sleeved) upper link back
Scott, TacoBlanca helped us put the links back in
Tony and Davin also came over to help.
While driving into town to get beers, Troy and I knew right away something was very wrong. The back end was kicking out all over the place. It was almost undriveable at 15 mph on snow pack. Then on the drier pavement it was only slightly better. So Tony offered the use of his shop to get under and adjust the links.
We just used the fork lift instead of bothering with a floor jack!
Silly the Greyhound has a 1 5/8" nose!
The rear axle wasn't square it was off by 1" on one side vs the other.
We adjusted the lower link and got the axle within a 1/8" tolerance.
The truck drove a lot better after that bit still we could tell it was still off. The passenger rear wheel was bent in (camber) which we confirmed with a level. Driving it this morning (Sunday) it still wasn't right. But Troy had to get home and we knew that if he had to he could call AAA. He left at 10:00. Took him 6 hours instead of 3. The axle seal failed and maybe issues in the 3rd member. Had to have the Truck towed from around costco. Yeah AAA! Hopefully Troy will post more.
12/28/2009
Obviously Diamonds are the cats ass. I'd be curious to see how the ruff stuff housing looks, and wheels, especially since you've had such good experiences with them previously troy.
Probably could get them to add the upper link mount part to the housing for minimal extra cost, so you'd get a housing thats ready to go. Could get it all hung in a weekend.
IMO, let Ron hang out in the garage while you gather parts, and just run the Impalla.
I agree, this is far too good an opportunity to pass up. Look at it on the bright side that this happened out of wheeling season, and a chance to put a real axle under the rear end.
Probably could get them to add the upper link mount part to the housing for minimal extra cost, so you'd get a housing thats ready to go. Could get it all hung in a weekend.
IMO, let Ron hang out in the garage while you gather parts, and just run the Impalla.
I agree, this is far too good an opportunity to pass up. Look at it on the bright side that this happened out of wheeling season, and a chance to put a real axle under the rear end.
So looks like a new axle is-a-comin' Full Float!
I can dream right? - That will explain why the Johnny joints had to be re-adjusted so much in Tony's shop! Still looks like Ron will be down for a month now while we figure out what to do!
Last edited by Lysmachia; 12-29-2009 at 10:34 PM.
12-30-2009, 07:37 AM
#4
Contributing Member
It's funny, everyone I've talked to has said "oh 1.75"x.120" isn't strong enough for links" and the bend and all that, and then when I clarify I was hit by another car, even at slow speed, all of them have said "Ohhh, well, all bets are off then - you can't build it strong enough to guarantee survival in that situation!"
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12-30-2009, 11:26 AM
#9
Contributing Member
Wow, sorry to see that TC. It does seem to be a lot of movement of the wheel for a side impact. My pickup was hit broadside in the rear wheel by a Mustang running a red light. The Mustang was totalled and I drove away with a slight wobble in the rear wheel from a bent axle but there was no displacement of the wheel like that. Of course leaf springs are totally different than your setup. Good luck with it and you guys/gals have a great New year. 
12-30-2009, 11:55 AM
#12
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
12-30-2009, 04:15 PM
#14
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Axle housing is bent. Measurements from lug to lug on the 9:00 position (looking at passenger rear) was 59 3/4" Rotated the same spot to the front, the 3:00 position and it is 61 and 1/4"
It is off by 1.5"
So a new axle housing is a for sure. Which sucks because the amount of work required to redo those rear link mounts and get it all dialed in will be a lot.
It is off by 1.5"
So a new axle housing is a for sure. Which sucks because the amount of work required to redo those rear link mounts and get it all dialed in will be a lot.
01-13-2010, 03:27 PM
#17
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Got the new Trail Gear Axle in! 
The welds are good and beefy!
Mmmmmm Poly Pro mounts are sexy!!
Drained all the diff fluid so we can get into that 3rd member...
Man Diff fluid is nasty! But easy to carry juice bottles are much cleaner to take to recycle instead of the drain pan!
I think Ron is gonna be on jack stands for a month at least
The next step is to get into the 3rd member and hope the locker is ok as well as the Ring and Pinion, not to mention the axle shafts. Those could be bent too...
The welds are good and beefy!
Mmmmmm Poly Pro mounts are sexy!!
Drained all the diff fluid so we can get into that 3rd member...
Man Diff fluid is nasty! But easy to carry juice bottles are much cleaner to take to recycle instead of the drain pan!
I think Ron is gonna be on jack stands for a month at least
The next step is to get into the 3rd member and hope the locker is ok as well as the Ring and Pinion, not to mention the axle shafts. Those could be bent too...
01-13-2010, 04:40 PM
#18
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Rear Driver Axle shaft (the one that got hit)
Rear Driver Axle shaft (the one that got hit) It's missing Ball Bearings
Now how does one check that an axle shaft is straight? So hard to tell...
Axle seal was toast.
Rear Driver Axle shaft (the one that got hit) It's missing Ball Bearings
Now how does one check that an axle shaft is straight? So hard to tell...
Axle seal was toast.
01-15-2010, 03:26 PM
#19
Contributing Member
Thread Starter
Progress!!
Oh getting those links off was a BEAR!
Had to use 3 pry bars to get em off without damaging the zirk on the lowers!
Axle is out, oil cleaned up... ready to start putting the other one in! (Gotta go to K&K for scrap steel tomorrow)
Looks funny under there without that axle
I need new wrenching carharts. These are just barely hanging on! Oh and I need a beer...
Oh getting those links off was a BEAR!
Had to use 3 pry bars to get em off without damaging the zirk on the lowers!
Axle is out, oil cleaned up... ready to start putting the other one in! (Gotta go to K&K for scrap steel tomorrow)
Looks funny under there without that axle
I need new wrenching carharts. These are just barely hanging on! Oh and I need a beer...
