Whoops

[Off Road Red]

Last night while driving down a backroad going way too fast I lost control of my truck, went sideways into the ditch and broke the drivers side rear axle shaft.  Ripped the whole back wheel and brake assembly right off of the truck.   Anyone have an idea of what this will cost me to fix?  How much is an axle shaft worth?  The tow truck driver(also a mechanic)  said that the axle housing looked fine, it was just the shaft, backing plate, brake line, and possibly the caliper.  Also, does anyone have diagram(like from a haynes manual) of the rear brake setup?

[Shaners]

Ouch!!!     That sucks man!!!  Good luck with your repairs...  

[MarkD]

I used to have to replace the axles in my 1979 CJ5 quite often.  Mark Williams used to have them for just under $200.  Ya never can tell about the General though,  It could be cheaper or much higher.

 

Good luck with the repairs!   BTW, make sure the other axle isn't bent.

[Black02Silverado]

Big ouch,

 

Make sure that the housing isn't messed up. Clean it up and inspectic it good when you replace the bearing and seal. I had to dish out $75 for a used one for my 65 Impala SS from car-parts.com, Good site, anyway I could have had new ones made for $175 each. On a tight budget here so I went the used route.

Good luck

[BDBWTE]

That sucks man...go ahead and replace the rear axle with a small 9.75 Corporate 14 bolt, or even better a 10.5 FF Corporate 14 bolt...good luck with your repairs

[MattDewalt]

Chances are, the housing is bent.  I work at a collision repair shop and 99% of the time the housings are bent even when they don't appear to be.  You'll find out when you're putting the axle in and it won't fit, when you get a 4 wheel alignment done, or when the seals start to leak a couple of months down the road because the opening is slightly out of round.  Do yourself a favor and put in a new housing or a complete used rear end.  This is how we fix all of them anymore.

[Sierra and Jimmy]

I echo Matt's comments.  Replacing the whole housing is the best way to go.  From my experiences, in a collision like this, if the axle is bent, the housing is bent/trash.  Insurance may fight you on the new housing, but probably not on the complete used unit.  I'm an insurance adjuster and what I would do is find the cheaper of the 2 options, including labor and go with that.  You'll still make out ok in the deal.

 

Also, make sure the shop checks out the frame, and its measurements.  You just never know.

 

Pete

[SnakeEyeSS]

ACK!!!

 

Bad things do happen in three:

 

My truck

Mervz's Vette

Your Truck

 

sorry to hear that, I know how you feel!!!

 

Hope there isn't a forth, be careful guys!

[Off Road Red]

Well i'm gettin her back tomorrow, after I pay the $1700 (Canadian dollars) bill.  I'll post a list of all the parts that had to be replaced tomorrow.