Front Axle Shaft Twisted - Keep going or replace?

[C.T.]

Hello all, new member here.

Bought my first Deuce a while back, and I finally got around to work on it. One of the problems I have with it is that the front axle driveshaft freewheels. Upon disassembly, I found that one of the half shafts was completely sheared off and the other one is twisted somewhat. My question to you is this- can it keep going or should it be replaced too? The first 2 pictures are of the twisted one, and the last one is of what's left of the sheared off one. I asked someone elsewhere, and they mentioned that there is a possibility of micro fractures in the material which would weaken it,and that makes sense. I would like an opinion from you. Thank you!

The twisted one


The sheared off one

 

[matt444]

Replace it now it will break eventually and probably at a bad time.

 

[M37M35]

Replace it now it will break eventually and probably at a bad time.

My thoughts as well.

 

[country]

these are relatively inexpensive

i would replace



M35-661 | M35 Series Passenger Side 38" Inch Front Axle Shaft Ball Joint Style
Passenger Side 38" Front Axle Shaft Ball Joint Style for M35, M35A1, M35A2, M35A3, M36, M36A1, M36A2, M36A3,M275, M109, M109A1, M109A3, M109A4 2 ½ Ton Trucks
NSN #:
Price: $199.00


M35-660 | M35 Series Driver Side 45" Inch Front Axle Shaft Ball Joint Style
Drivers Side 45" Inch Front Axle Shaft Ball Joint Style for M35, M35A1, M35A2, M35A3, M36, M36A1, M36A2, M36A3,M275, M109, M109A1, M109A3, M109A4 2 ½ Ton Trucks
NSN #:
Price: $199.00

 

[Welder1]

The twist shows it has already stressed to the yield point so it needs replacing.

 

[frank8003]

Hello all, new member here.

Bought my first Deuce a while back, and I finally got around to work on it. One of the problems I have with it is that the front axle driveshaft freewheels. Upon disassembly, I found that one of the half shafts was completely sheared off and the other one is twisted somewhat. My question to you is this- can it keep going or should it be replaced too? The first 2 pictures are of the twisted one, and the last one is of what's left of the sheared off one. I asked someone elsewhere, and they mentioned that there is a possibility of micro fractures in the material which would weaken it,and that makes sense. I would like an opinion from you. Thank you!

The twisted one
View attachment 847899
View attachment 847900
The sheared off one
View attachment 847901

How in the world did GI do that!?

 

[Mullaney]

How in the world did GI do that!?

.
I would say a youngster trying to mud bog a Deuce. Got a little stuck, then rev's her up and dumped the clutch. Then while the was bouncing around they sheared off one axle and twisted the other.

 

[oboyjohn]

I agree with Mullaney, someone dumped the clutch while stuck in mud or was trying to throttle out of sand and the front end started to hop.

 

[M35fan]

I would definitely replace it. Also, I notice from your profile that you're in GA. Welcome to the forum, from AL! Good luck with your repair.

 

[davidb56]

look at the drive flange splines too for wear. also called a hub sometimes.

 

[frank8003]

Me thinks Somebody should teach Somebodies how to drive a Deuce!
Like, how to NOT get stuck, and if Somebody does get stuck then how to get out.
Always use all the tools You have.

 

[microjeep]

First Welcome to the site, also theres a rally "get togrther" coming up in Georgia next month. I have posted up a link to it and to the buy/sell thead, if you can make it over post up anything you need on there someone is bound to have it. Country has also posted up the needed parts and those guys are 1st class to deal with.

Official 2021 Georgia Military Vehicle Rally information thread

Hey everybody. This is Clint. Please accept my apologies for how long this has taken. Mac and I visited more than a dozen sites and due to the distances involved, every one of those was an all day affair. So both of us had to take an entire day off work, drive out there, look it over, and then...

www.steelsoldiers.com

Official 2021 Georgia Military Vehicle Rally swap meet thread

Ok, folks, this is the thread for the 21GMVR. You post up what you'd like to sell, and what you're looking for and if you're open to trades. I'll get this started I have for sale: nothing I'm looking for: NOS Scepter fuel cans NOS drivers side multifuel M44A2 (M35A2) fender G177 tires...

www.steelsoldiers.com

 

[C.T.]

Thanks for the replies everyone. On the axle shafts, mine has the U-joint style so I'll need to look a bit more and see if I can find them. On what caused it to break, I definitely think that a full throttle clutch dump had something to do with it.

On the rally, I don't think that I'll be able to make it since it since it is only in a few weeks and I still have a considerable amount of work to do to the truck before it's ready to drive. Even if I got it ready, I wouldn't feel very comfortable driving it all the way to the opposite corner of the state quite yet, since I think this one has been dormant for some time and there is a possibility of other problems showing up when I get it back going, but I'll definitely take a look into a future meet up.

 

[Mullaney]

Thanks for the replies everyone. On the axle shafts, mine has the U-joint style so I'll need to look a bit more and see if I can find them. On what caused it to break, I definitely think that a full throttle clutch dump had something to do with it.

On the rally, I don't think that I'll be able to make it since it since it is only in a few weeks and I still have a considerable amount of work to do to the truck before it's ready to drive. Even if I got it ready, I wouldn't feel very comfortable driving it all the way to the opposite corner of the state quite yet, since I think this one has been dormant for some time and there is a possibility of other problems showing up when I get it back going, but I'll definitely take a look into a future meet up.

.
Don't hesitate to get in your regular passenger vehicle - and come on down! You will meet people and there might be parts that you need too. No shipping that way. If you ordered the shafts from @country they might be able to bring them to the rally for you. Even if you can't spend but a few hours, just walking around and looking, pointing and gawking might expand your horizons.

I agree. You don't need to try and drive your new-to-you-truck to the rally. Heck, it might take a couple of weeks to get a tag and insurance - and you shouldn't spend that money until you are ready to go driving!

 

[microjeep]

As Bob Barker would say "COME ON DOWN" yeah it's great to be able to bring a MV but not in any way required. I would guess there will be a dozen or so deuces to check out and everyone is happy to answer questions. Also there's the swap meet full of stuff you didn't even know you needed.