When I hit the Mercades, my drivers side axle snapped off at the flange. With the way that impacted, and at the speed I was going, It should not have snapped off like it did. Could it have already been cracked and was just waiting for an impact to break it? Could it have snapped off next time I hit the trails?

 

doesnt matter i think. i snapped my shaft too when i got hit.......boy that sounds wrong...

 

HAHAHAHA!

so it was just the awkward bending motion that made it break off?

 

HAHAHA

 

I hate when my shaft snaps.

 

that is not uncommon. i have had an axle shaft snap at the flange as well... they arent designed to take that type of a side striking impact. im not surprised it broke.

 

are you old enough to have that experience yet? lol

 

I tore my driverside CV shaft into 2 pieces when that scooter hit me... though the boot made it look like it was still one piece...

 

If you have access to the truck, you can take a look at the fracture surface of the shaft. If there was a crack there before your accident, you will see different wear marks between that existing fracture surface and the final fracture surface. The existing fracture surface (area where the crack was) will have wear marks that look like a bunch of "C"s and it will be relatively smooth. The final fracture (at the time of the accident) will have a different surface, it will be rough and jagged. I worked for a few years in a metallurgical lab with this stuff, it was an interesting job.