I can't believe my drive shaft broke

[aaamillertime]

Just wanted to share with everyone my disbelief. I was driving sunday afternoon when I relized I had to turn around. I pulled in somebodys driveway, backed into the street, when I put my truck in drive, I heard this violent noise coming from underneath my truck. First thought was I just lost a u-joint. To my amazement my driveshaft was ripped in 3 pieces. Tail still connected to rearend. Front laying on the ground. And about a 1foot section from the middle laying on the ground where it twisted. U-JOINTS STILL INTACT. Anyone have a clue why this would happen. I'm still in disbelief.

[mbumgua]

Aluminium or steel driveshaft?

[sherman69]

Originally Posted by mbumgua

Aluminium or steel driveshaft?

Or Plastic???

[mbumgua]

No plastic driveshafts--But the aluminium ones sometimes are cased with a plastic or fiberglass sheath for noise reduction.

[aaamillertime]

Aluminum with fiberglass sheath. I can't find a replacement yet. Called a place that makes them. They are going to make me one out of steel

[GMMerlin]

Its hard to believe you were just "Out for a sunday drive" and the driveshaft split into 3 pieces.
It takes a tremendous amount of force or some previous physical damage to destroy a driveshaft.
Sorry no pity party from me...your story just doesnt add up.

[mbumgua]

The aluminium driveshafts are susceptable to corrosion and metal fatigue. Fiberglass cover can conceal damage or corrosion--steel is always better.

[Kevcules]

I've seen a drive shaft snap in two. The guy was in drive then stopped, put it in reverse , started to go and snap crakle pop. No hard acceleration or nothing. He never drove it hard.Definately metal fatigue on that steel shaft.
The one I have on my truck is aluminum with the plastic covering. The covering is cracked on both ends. The dealer told me to "tape with duct tape" as this covering is the "structural integrity of the drive shaft". Now I know why they call that tape ,100 mile an hour tape!!

[aaamillertime]

Originally Posted by GMMerlin

Its hard to believe you were just "Out for a sunday drive" and the driveshaft split into 3 pieces.
It takes a tremendous amount of force or some previous physical damage to destroy a driveshaft.
Sorry no pity party from me...your story just doesnt add up.

I really can appreciate your honesty about it not adding up, but first of all i'm not looking for any kind of a pity party.
On a regular bases I do drive my truck like a truck, Hauling misc materials, towing my boat several times a year, ect... I guess thats why i'm kind of in disbelief that this driveshaft broke how and when it did. No vibrations, No warning, no nothing! You would think the u- joints would give up first. But what can you do? $450.00 later everything will be back to normal.

[goinbig]

I've had them break in one place before, but never in 3!! It be interresting to find out how it all 3 spots broke at exactly the same time.