hillbillymudrun

something in my front end went south today when i was driving to work i managed to get to work and the drivers side tire is leaning way over took my tire off and it looks like my half shaft broke causing everthing else to go too

has this happened to anyone else any info anyones got will be helpful i do not know much about front ends

Hillbilly Delux

ball joint maybe?

hillbillymudrun

I aint to knowledgeable on front ends but where is the ball joint

Andy505

It sounds to me like a ball joint gave out, I wouldn't think a broken axle shaft inside the axle tube could cause that kind of damage, even if the axle shaft caught on something tight enough to cause some damage, the only thing at would break would be a u-joint. Post some pics for a better analysis.

And if it was a ball joint, then the wheel would be leaning out or in, depending whether it was the upper or lower, if this is what happened, then it would have pulled the axle shaft out of the differential.

Andy505

jeez I write slow!

your balljoints hold your steering knuckle to the axle,

your steering knuckle is that big old thing that the tire is mounted to and your tie rod end connects to it as well, and it goes back and forth as you turn.

hillbillymudrun

will post pic in a couple min hopefully i can get a decent pic i had to put the tire back on because i lifted my truck with the forklift and the boss didnt like that

hillbillymudrun

i cant figure out how to post the pics or how to put them onto my profile

hillbillymudrun

ok i think i figured it out hope this works

Stormin_Norman

The ball joints are the round connectors that hold the the steering knuckle to the axle housing, one top, one bottom. The u-joint you see in the middle picture connects the two axel shafts together. From the picture the axle shafts look fine. The ball joints look intact, but it's hard to tell from the picture. I would check your wheel bearing, it connects your wheel to the steering knuckle. You will need to remove your wheel to see it.

hillbillymudrun

i know there are not very good pictures my buddy is going to tow it to my house tomorrow so i will be able to take the wheel off and get some better pics my boss yelled at me because i picked my truck up the fork lift and he didnt like that to much when i get it home tommorrow i will take so better pics

biododge1

it looks like the top ball joint is busted

XLR8R

That's a heck of a lot of camber!

hillbillymudrun

If the wheel bearing went out does anyone think it could cause this my truck is on its way to my house now i woke up this morning with 4 inches of snow on the ground so it is slow going to get it home

slim51015

Looks like the hub bearing went out.

hillbillymudrun

i finally got it home and took it apart but could not get the thing that has the lug studs on it because the nut is huge and i dont have one big enough the bearing axle bearing i think is totally gone i can move the hub all around and in and out i will take some pictures tomorrow when i get it off and can get a better look. Sorry that i do not know what all the parts are called i have never really torn into a front end before