Yes, a Salisbury axle can break!

[michaelgroves]

Came across this story-in-pictures accidentally, and found it interesting. (Apologies if it's already been posted here!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hannes_v_rensburg/sets/72157602859193960/

 

[Michael Slade]

Woah, tough break. I need more of an explanation to know who's fault this is. :Wow1:

For now all I get to do is feel sorry that they had to go through that at all.

 

[overlander]

Nasty. Looks like the LHS axle tube came out of the casing, which is pretty uncommon. It also appears that his field fix was too reinsert the tube back into the case, and realign it up (which he used chain and bottle axe to do) to get back on the road.

I'm guessing that when the tube popped out, that also subsequently broke the axle half shaft, requiring replacement. (he probably had a spare with all that kit).

At least the weather was good and he was in an open flat area. Years of washboard probably loosened that tube up. Might be a good spot to have fully welded on as a preventative!

I have a rear salisbury so this was a good heads up.

 

[Josh]

From caption of first photo:
"Rear axle broke at 90km/h after hitting a massive pothole. "

I guess any axle would break if the speed was high enough and the pothole big enough. Something will anyway.

They were plenty loaded too. Spare on roof, and back door, as well as quite a few jerry cans on the roof and who knows what else. What's the factory recommended limit for a Defender roof? Something like 75lbs including the rack itself? Is that right? I know it's VERY low and routinely exceeded(go Series).

Glad they were able to get going within four days! From other picture folders it looks like they went on to have a pretty fun trip.

 

[Antichrist]

Nasty. Looks like the LHS axle tube came out of the casing, which is pretty uncommon. It also appears that his field fix was too reinsert the tube back into the case, and realign it up (which he used chain and bottle axe to do) to get back on the road.

According to the caption, he's straightening a bent axle he sourced from a wreck.

 

[James86004]

What's the factory recommended limit for a Defender roof? Something like 75lbs including the rack itself? Is that right? I know it's VERY low and routinely exceeded

I thought it was 150 lbs, and that is was more related to the rollover angle than anything.

The payload of a 110 is about 2000 lbs, which is pretty generous given its dimensions. I am sure many people still exceed it.

I bet that failure is from a bad weld or some other manufacturing deficiency. Or the guy could be routinely hitting large potholes at 80 or 90 km/h. Would you classify it as a 2 or 3 σ event?