Broken Axel

[ryder]

I was on the M8 with my emergency tyre on it also blew out, so I tried to crawl off the moterway at about 10mph, when I came to a sudden stop, when I checked it the axel had snapped, and then an expencive trip home on the back of a breakdown truck.

http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb447/Ryder19541/

[Bill]

Never seen that before, sorry to see this fella.

[ryder]

It came as a big supprise to me as well

[Old Mac Rocco]

As above - never seen this before.
Glad you are OK. Cars can be replaced, humans irreplaceable.
Where on the M8 were you when it happened.
I'll be having a look at mine tomorrow.

[ryder]

I was about 1/4 mile from the Bishopbriggs turnoff

[Old Mac Rocco]

Just wondering when you were out as I was on it today at about 04:30 heading east towards Glasgow and about 08:00 heading west home.
While I was heading home I was passed by an A plate Audi Quattro in lovely condition but he wasn't hanging around.
Really sorry to hear about your mishap.
If there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

[ryder]

This happened last Friday. have now got another axel from the breakers yard, (no rust on it) so will be putting it on soon weather allowing, as I cant get it in the garage.Thanks for the offer, but all is going fine (except the weather)

[Risocco]

Jesus! I didn't think that was possible! Sad news but at least you guys are OK.

[duncancallum]

I can belive it, Its a worry of mine, ive taken to blowing oil up the ends regular. just to give it some protection.

PS my beam looks solid its me and my rust paranioa

[ryder]

I have bought a parafin spray gun for squirting stuff inside the axel, I may have thought you were paranoid at one time, but not any more, if that had snapped at speed on a conjested motorway I dread to think what could have happened

[Toohottotrot]

Ouch! Broke axel then had to pay for recovery?

AA or RAC Recovery is only around £40 a year through "Top Cashback" site. If anyone wants to try them I can send you a referal that earns me £5. I was with AA last year and switched to RAC this year. Takes about 2 month to get the cash back after paying in full....but it does work!

[MacColl]

Hello

I was amazed reading this the other week. Had the car sat for a while out in the elements on damp grass or some other factor? These rear beams are pretty solid looking.

Anyway this is the product I would/will use to spray up the open structure..
http://www.bilthamber.com/pro-introduct ... ynax%20S50

I'm doing a full rear beam swap at some point, got a spare to refurb. Good guide on here I discovered..
http://www.vwgolfmk1.org.uk/modules.php ... sc&start=0

[ryder]

Is your axel is in this state ? Time to get a replacement.


http://s1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb4 ... %20Mortem/

[The Autoad]

Hiya,

Very glad that you are ok and got out without injury to yourself or others.

The axle beam should really not fail like that and without wanting to sound too alarmist, the failure looks far too clean to have been down to corrosion. The pics are a bit fuzzy, but it looks like the beam has sheared in a neat 'cut', suggesting that somebody in the past may have slipped with an angle grinder? Maybe while taking an old exhaust off?

Mind you, it does look very cruddy. Have you whacked the other leg of the beam with a large hammer to assess if it is due to corrosion? What is the rest of the underside of your car like?

Anyway, glad you are ok

[ryder]

The axel snapped off around the edge of the antiroll bar mounting, which could have caused the problem, as water/salt would tend to hang around the lip of the mounting. It was very rusty and noticably thinner where it snapped, as compared to the replacement axel at the ends, and surprisingly very rusty inside the axel as well. As for the underside of the car it is in pretty good shape.