COMPLETED: Random Snow run = carnage.

[fishsticks]

I generally do something that takes me off pavement every weekend. I don't post up about all of them because 1. I'm lazy and 2. There are 2-3 regular places that I go...and pics from them would get repetitive.

Yesterday proved more interesting though.

Ran up near Larch Mtn to go play in the snow and do my Good Samaritan work for the week - Packing out some trash and helping out the unprepared person who gets themselves stuck up there (happens at least every other week). Normally I'll bring a buddy but my normal wheelin partner was sick and another guy I called still had his gas tank on the ground. So I decided to go alone with my roommate and son. (cue dramatic music).

Snow was gone from the main access roads so we took off up a trail that gained elevation pretty fast. The snow got deep pretty quickly but we made it up to the top landing. We're in a cloud in this pic.



I figured since we were up here I'd get up a little farther and take a badass poser pic for ORTB. Well, 35s+high CV angle+hard left turn+me heavy on the gas = this (taken once we got to safety):



Did somebody order some CV hamburger?

Yay! 3 wheel drive! After getting turned around we discovered that it did indeed take all 4 wheels turning to get through the trail we came up. My buddy managed to scramble up a small ridge where there were several well rooted stumps. 3 long winch pulls later we were back on solid enough ground that locked 2WD could get us out. I tried helping out with the right front during the first pull and subsequently lost power to that wheel as well. I think I may have broken something in my splined disconnect.

Part of the trail that we weren't actually stuck on.



Once on reasonably firm ground, we got a couple scenery shots for our troubles.










We made it back down the mountain to a gravel pit that's used for shooting and as a staging area. Got out and turned on the new OBA setup (I need to post about this). Then pulled the front diff fill plug. No marks on the ring gear and no metal in the gear oil... whew. Pulled the rifles out of the truck and fired a couple mags worth through each while filling the tires. Spooled up the winch line that was in my roof basket and drove home without any additional drama.

Nearly 100K miles from my original CV shafts, and this one only broke after seeing 35s and me being a jackass on the gas pedal. I'd say I got my moneys worth. The TB got us home as it always does, even broken.

[bartonmd]

Nice!

Glad you made it home OK!

[Trail X]

Yowsa, I believe this is the first documented blowup of a CV joint due to off-roading.

Looking forward to seeing your OBA.

[The Roadie]

I think I've heard of only one other. Also high torque in use. Was your front locker engaged? I think I've read advice to not lock up the front while the wheels are turned.

[fishsticks]

I think I've heard of only one other. Also high torque in use. Was your front locker engaged? I think I've read advice to not lock up the front while the wheels are turned.

The front locker engages whenever there is power applied to the propshaft. Think of it as the exact reverse of a G80. Wheels are always locked together except when the outside wheel needs to spin faster for a turn. The slower spinning wheel always gets the power. With the amount of snow on the ground they were most assuredly locked together in the turn.

I was in 4HI, 2nd gear on the trans, probably at 3500+ RPM trying to build/keep momentum in the snow. My 35s are ATs and they don't excavate as well at my MTs did. I also have the strut assembly lengthened with washers on the mount. I imagine full extension + sharp left + 100K miles of wear was just too much.


At least it wasn't the diff.

[fishsticks]

Thinking back, I had a random noise on the left side during a hill climb a few weeks ago that I could never account for.

You can hear it at 00:13 in this video.



I wonder if that was the beginning of the end...

[dirty anton]

i was wondering what that was too because i didn't see you hit anything

[Blackout]

Brutal, man. Glad you made it back down alright.

[HARDTRAILZ]

At least the truck got you home. Some those noises are hard to figure out when you cant repeat them off the trail. Could have been worse.