The left rear axle on 2 different cars with stock 4th gen components (save for 4:10's in one) have snapped off just behind the axle flange, flush with the axle housing.

I can take digital pictures of the 97 Z28 broken pieces, but have no way to get them up here.

Both axles were in good condition before the breakage, meaning that the bearing surfaces ont the axles still look good after the break, and the bearings in the housings good, oil quality good.

My son has had 2 Camaros. An 89RS we converted from the V6 to an L98 Corvette TPI, 6 speed, and a stock 96 differential with 3:42's (my old stock unit) He is a moderate driver, no real abuse, and no sticky tires.

And his present car, a 97 Z28 6 speed car, with 4:10 gears in a stock housing out of a 95 Z28. The LT1 is a bolt on motor with long tubes...

Now that this has happened twice I need to ask if anyone can explain to me why? Or if it has happened to anyone else?

When it happened to him in the 89 RS he was cruising at 70 mph on I95 and it put him in the concrete barrier, and totaled the RS.

The 97 Z was stolen from his house, and the thief wrecked the car. It was recoverd, and the left rear axle was snapped off just like the 89 RS????

So I guess my question is...Is this common with 4th gen Axles?

I damaged 3 sets of "gears" with my car. That is why I changed to the Ford 8.8 setup from extreme chassis.

I did a search and came up with nothing.

Thank you,

Keith

 

How was it determined that the axles were the cause of the wrecks and not a result? Just curious, as I have never seen a complaint like this before on any forum. A break in that area sounds like it would be caused by extreme side loading (or impact) of the wheel (like during an accident).
If normal abuse (and you know there are plenty of people that abuse their cars) would cause it, you would think there would be plenty of occurrances of this to be found. Maybe there are a bunch of people that have broken axles this way and just have not yet replied.

 

Ditto.... like Rob/Shoebox, I've been on multiple F-Body forums for at least 10 years, and this is the first time I've ever heard of an axle breaking in that manner. I've seen some snap from extreme abuse (5K clutch dumps with slicks), but they break up near the splines, at the narrowest point.

 

Thanks Fred and Rob,
I have to agree with both of you.

After taking a good look at the damaged wheel, and the way the break looks on the axle, it has to be impact damage.

I also can only assume the same with the 89 RS (happened a couple years back). My son was driving that one when it happened.
The tire must have gone down, then that may have put him into the concrete divider. The impact of the wheel to concrete must have snapped that one too.

Thank you for the input, as I know this is THE only place where so much F-body knowlege and experience is.

Thank you,
Keith