Drama - recompiled from CoTTORA.... http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=147788

***********
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

***********


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!

 

i think i cried a little bit reading this... Ron is my runner's Hero... :'(

 

im no fabrication expert but wouldnt the links be a lot stronger if they were gusseted across the bend? something like this.

 

Yes, but that would defeat the purpose of bending them to clear the crossmember.

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!"

 

oh geez

Maybe you guys need to fab an exo for that Civic


glad it was only minor damage, and no one was hurt

 

That forklift driver sure has a small head.

 

LMAO i was thinkin the same thing Bleeder.

Really sucks TC, but accidents happen lol

 

LMFAO Stuwy, that's hilarious

 

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.

 

 

someone else was said to have a tiny head in a particular movie







RIP Chris Farely...

 

LMAO. The driver is bending over and troy is standing behind him, so it is troy's small head on Tony's body. Total optical illusion though!

 

They're running the competition in the shop!!!

It's usually the opposite. Toyota helping out the nissan.

 

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.

 

Richard does this coat make me look fat? No,your face does.

 

lmao

"Fat guy in a little coat"

 

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...

 

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.

 

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...

 

You're working too hard Molly, go get a beer. I think I'll go get one now too.