I was driving my 02 edge down the highway, it had snowed the day before, but the road was clear. I was going about 55, slowed to around 45 when I went over some RR tracks. I dont have any weights in the back of my truck, and when I went over it was very bumpy and on the other side of the tracks, there was a bunch of snowy/slushy crap from other cars that fell off when they went over the tracks. So I go over, and it fishtails both ways, cant correct it enough, and I got backwards down in the ditch... my truck stops in the water run off area, and I get out, and my Drivers Rear wheel Broke Off (see Pics.)

What im wondering is: Should my wheel really have broken off that easily, or not really? The wheel did hit against frozen ground when truck slid in. The area where the wheel is was about 8-10inchs down, its all dirt/grass, not cement. I have a warranty on the truck (aftermarket), so I was wondering if it should have broken that easily or not. Thanks!

So heres the pics...

 

So your axle shaft broke? Seems like it should take more than that, did y ou really hit that hard? Are the studs/drum/axle end still attached to the wheel?

 

Wow, thats messed up.......hope your ok and such

 

that would be a pretty good impact on the wheel in an area where it isn't designed for high stress......

 

I could see it breaking. you really have no clue how hard the tire itself hit.

Sorry about your trouble. I just tossed an axle shaft too...

 

I think its just an axle shaft, but the shop said that if it bent it further in, the enitre axle/dif might need replaced. They have not actually looked at it yet, that was just his worse case he gave me. When I hit I dont think I was going more thatn 35. I was going almost straight backwards and I was standing on the brakes the whole time sliding backwards, so I know it slowed down... some...

I was fine, no probs. mostly mad because I didnt even have a chance to TRY to get out if 4wd lol.

The shop will call me today and let me know...

O The Wheel is attached to the hub/lugs.

 

you should have floored it forward. sorry to hear that happen but im sure since you still have the aftermarket warranty it shouldn't be a problem to get it fixed

 

...well, not "floored it forward", but, certainly, in gear and not "standing on the brakes the whole time".

If you're sliding, you need to regain traction, and that won't happen if you prevent the wheels from turning (stand on the brakes), or spin the wheels too fast. A good defensive driving course will teach you how to maneuver out of various slides, fishtails, etc. (and, the technique is different in front-wheel-drive vs. rear-wheel-drive vehicles)

 

I'd be worried about the squareness of the axle housing......glad your okay though.

 

now would be the time to upgrade to an Explorer 8.8 axle.....

 

^^Very true!

 

Impressive accident.. that meaning, I've never seen that happen before, and no one was injured in it. No body damage is a godo thing, lets hope you can figure out that wheel issue! it might also be a good thing to invest in some good winter traction tires instead of those rain slick ones you got there

 

If you hit the rim espcially instead of the tire I can see that happening. The shock force without the tire to cushion could break something.

But even then, that doesn't mean you had a marginal axle. That can happen. If so, then likely your axle tube is unbent since the fault in the axle broke first.

 

did i hear sas? lol

 

They are street tires, but they do pretty good in the snow to be honest. I havent had much problems with them, if they start to spin, I put it in 4wd and I have 0 problems in snow.

I didnt lock up the brakes on the fishtail. I corrected for it, when it happend. It was when I was going Backwards that I stood on the brake. I thought I should have gassed it going backwards, but it all happened in like 3-4 secs anyways so, not alot of time to make a game plan =)

I was going about 55, and slowed to about 45-50 before I went over the tracks. My estimated speed going abckwards to impact was around 35-40.


The shop said the axle/diff need replaced. They said the axle it partially bent, but mostly the Diff was "torqued" and will need replaced. 1200-1300 estimated. They said the warranty place probably wont cover it because it was due to a "accident".


This bites lol

 

fight it i would

 

no what you need to do is go find an 8.8 from a ranger and swap it in. 200-300 and you will be set. I am not sure where you could look but there are several junkyards around here.

 

when i first got my truck before i touched nething on it i got ran off the road and the studs on my axle that hold the wheel on had 4 of 5 break off and i fought it and got it fixed free of charge. but what kind of warranty does he have?

 

or an Explorer axle for $200-$300 and another, lets say, $100 to have all the rework done to the axle and then it will be a good swap because of the 31 spline axles, and disc brakes...

 

yes but if he needs it on the rad in a hurry it would be better to get a ranger axle.

its all wrong timming really. i had one for sale 2 months ago

 

yeah no warranty coverage... umm... whats the difference with the explorer axle/diff VS the Edge axle/diff?

 

Damn, crazy pics for sure. I never seen that happen before.

I'm sure that'll be a few bucks to fix too. As for the warranty coverage, they won't cover that. Warranty helps to cover manufacturers defects or problems resulting from manufacturers issues. Loosing control of your vehicle and taking the ditch isn't a manufacturers problem. But if for some reason your warranty covers that, let me know who you go through. LOL