Snapped drive shaft

@x1Heavy

 

Driveshaft or the U-Joints?

 

Not always driver error. It could of been much worst. Say at 60mph on 5. About the only thing you could help to avoid this and many other gremlins in trucking. PRETRIP your truck like it was a hot women. Don't get in a hurry & check everything like u joints regularly.

 

What gear were you in?

I did this once in a fully-loaded b-train (140,000 lbs). I was on a hill and started out in 2nd rather than low (18 speed... just a brain fart, not sure why I did it). The driveshaft just twisted right off.

 

Even happens on four wheelers too. I was driving my ex's S10 Xtreme doing about 65 down 80 through Pennsylvania at 3 in the morning U-joint snapped off driveshaft shot up into the gas tank blew a hole in it and then sparked it. We left a 200-yard trailer fire behind us on the road luckily for us a few truckers pulled over to render assistance

 

It may have already been failing and you are the unlucky one to have it let loose. If it actually fractured there would be evidence (rust) along the (original/pending)fracture and bright metal on the rest (new) of the fracture, as an example. Perhaps too aggressive on the clutch, or the the throttle, or both?

 

The other question. If he twisted the driveshaft, he really bombed.

How do you avoid it?

If empty, I start out in 2 direct. If i am loaded to 80grand, 1 direct. Heavier than that, granny it. Ease into the throttle. I try to avoid shocking the driveline as much as possible. The stronger the engine, the easier it is to do.

 

You didn't try shifting did you?