new way to break a birf

[timbercruiser]

So I got stuck in a snowdrift today. So to get out, I wrapped my tow strap and tree saver around the front tire to act as a winch. It almost worked until I heard the "pop" followed by no more spinning from that wheel. Whoops! However, I was able to drive the 20 miles back home with only a slight squeal coming from the hub.
The moral is don't use your front tire as a winch!!

 

[AKcruiserfreak]

Glad to know I'm not the only one!

TK

 

[Tools R Us]

So I got stuck in a snowdrift today. So to get out, I wrapped my tow strap and tree saver around the front tire to act as a winch. It almost worked until I heard the "pop" followed by no more spinning from that wheel. Whoops! However, I was able to drive the 20 miles back home with only a slight squeal coming from the hub.
The moral is don't use your front tire as a winch!!

It sounds like you stripped a drive flange. A broken birf usually will make more noise, a constant clicking, snapping noise as you drive, often felt in the steering wheel and can bind the steering.

To test remove the caps on the drive flanges, have a helper hold the brake, shift into gear and slightly accelerate the throttle. Look at the birf stub axles sticking out of the drive plates, if one is spinning, that's your problem. It could be just the flange, but most often the birf splines are also worn, so both are needed.

 

[timbercruiser]

I'm dropping it off at the shop tomorrow. It's a good shop where my friend works and he knows his stuff (even if he is a J**P guy!)

 

[CJF]

I'm dropping it off at the shop tomorrow.

Uh...

Are you planning on driving it there??

I'm no expert on this, but I'm thinking that if the problem's anything other than a stripped drive flange, you could cause additional ($$$) damage by driving it any more than you already have.

Curtis

 

[Doc]

Too much torque by puting the wrap that far from the axle. If you could have wrapped it closer to the axle center line you may have been fine.

Although, I can't imagine how you would have done that without some kind of special wheel attachment thingy.....

 

[timbercruiser]

Uh...

Are you planning on driving it there??

I'm no expert on this, but I'm thinking that if the problem's anything other than a stripped drive flange, you could cause additional ($$$) damage by driving it any more than you already have.

Curtis

I already drove about 20 miles with (hopefully) no ill effect. I thought I was going to walk home!!

 

[Beowulf]

I already drove about 20 miles with (hopefully) no ill effect.

If you drove 20 miles then you do not have a busted birfield. It would be making quite a racket. Is this on your '93?

-B-

 

[timbercruiser]

If you drove 20 miles then you do not have a busted birfield. It would be making quite a racket. Is this on your '93?

-B-

Yes. On a related note, if I buy used axle parts (drive flange?), are the 91-92 parts the same as the 93-97 parts?

 

[Beowulf]

No. You need to buy the part that goes with your year model. I think 91-92 are the same as 93-94 but I'm not sure. I know 95-97 are different from other years.

The drive flange is cheap so don't buy used or you'll be right back in the same place. You might have snapped an axle but I don't think you broke a birf.

-B-

 

[IdahoDoug]

I don't think you broke a birf, either. Will be curious how this shakes out. On the good side, the truck should be able to handle this procedure unless you were revving the piss out of it and snapping the strap tight somehow which I can't see. The axle/birf are strong enough for massive amounts of torque on only one wheel which is what can happen with a fully locked vehicle. So, whatever failed would have failed on only mild wheeling and perhaps a good thing it did not go on a trail...

DougM

 

[timbercruiser]

No hi revving action, just kept pushing the gas until "pop". The strap had fallen off the tire and wrapped around the axle.