Stock A/T ‘14 SS keeps breaking axles

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by CamaroCracka

GoPro is a good idea. Something is up with the inner, but odd that the other inner is unaffected.

Right. I figured the passenger would have broken by now atleast once out of the 4-5 from the driver but I’ll have to check stuff out when we have it up on the lift. I may pull the subframe and just check out all the bushings all the way around. I do notice the driveshaft has a fair amount of slop at the diff. I’m not sure how much is normal or if it would cause only the driver axle harm.

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by fz4k98

With the damage you mention and that it is repetitive, it sounds like the inner joint is under stress most likely from an alignment issue. I would check the alignment of the diff to outer axle hub. The other item is possibly length of the axle. If its too long it would stress the joint.
Is there cross car play on the axle?

I’ll check it out tonight. Should I be checking this on the ground or with the rear jacked up (the cross car play) Should it have any play? As far as alignment should I just be measuring points on each side to see if they’re roughly the same? I’ll be googling as well.

[Jrowland95]

I’d assume if the car is on the ground in park the axles are gonna have tension on them and even if there was any play it isn’t going to allow me to move them by hand. If I do check it on the ground I should be able to throw the e break on and put the car in neutral or throw blocks behind the front wheels and put it in neutral.

[fz4k98]

The axles should have some movement sliding side to side as there is a slip joint which allows the axles to grow and shrink in length as the suspension moves up and down.

[Jrowland95]

Not the best video ever, the GoPro didn’t like the light outside the car. But you can kinda see what everything is doing. I’m going to try and record facing the diff on the way home and see what that looks like. Also gonna try to record later in the evening to see if the video quality gets better. Might have to strap a light under there too.

https://youtu.be/gqpbJwSIz9A?si=TVayOawYuw8YmJXy

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by fz4k98

The axles should have some movement sliding side to side as there is a slip joint which allows the axles to grow and shrink in length as the suspension moves up and down.

Got ya. I’ll check it out when I’m under there strapping the GoPro for round 2.

Check out the YouTube link I posted on my other comment and let me know if anything aside from sway bar links stand out to you.

[fz4k98]

This video is showing the outer joint. I thought you mentioned the break is at inner joint? If so, a video showing how the inner joint acts during driving may help.

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by fz4k98

This video is showing the outer joint. I thought you mentioned the break is at inner joint? If so, a video showing how the inner joint acts during driving may help.

Yeah I’m videoing the inner joint now I’ll have the vid up in about an hour

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by fz4k98

This video is showing the outer joint. I thought you mentioned the break is at inner joint? If so, a video showing how the inner joint acts during driving may help.

Here’s the inner join while driving in the city.

https://youtu.be/9L_6kZpMSqI?si=IpATP-ppAhiU1iwe

[Jrowland95]

The zip tie is for the GoPro not for the suspension! ��

[fz4k98]

I watched the video and the differential appears to be moving around like the bushings are worn. That shouldn't be causing it on it's own unless it is moving alot which can affect alignment.

The other item to check is the amount of up/down freeplay of the axle in the differential. My aftermarket axles are being rebuilt currently because of excess up/down freeplay causing vibration.

A video at slow speed and stop/start or reverse to drive repeatedly
may show something. In your video it appears to be wobbling at slow speed but faster speed hides this wobbling.

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by fz4k98

I watched the video and the differential appears to be moving around like the bushings are worn. That shouldn't be causing it on it's own unless it is moving alot which can affect alignment.

The other item to check is the amount of up/down freeplay of the axle in the differential. My aftermarket axles are being rebuilt currently because of excess up/down freeplay causing vibration.

A video at slow speed and stop/start or reverse to drive repeatedly
may show something. In your video it appears to be wobbling at slow speed but faster speed hides this wobbling.

I agree it appears to be wobbling. As far as if I just grab the axle and try to move it, it’s stiff but it does look like it’s moving around. Do you think that would cause all the new axles to break in 2-3 months each? We’re going to pull the diff apart when we pull the trans this weekend and see what it looks like in there.

[Joe.G]

Are all of the axles that broke part store replacements? How long did OE last?
Did does move a bit but they are rubber bushings and do have play, I would check the one on the cover closely.
Its hard to tell because it may just be the video but the axle does seem to be running with quite an angle most of the time.
When you say play in diff do you mean when you grab the Driveshaft the amount of free play when rotating back and forth?
The sway bar will move some but it does appear to be moving a lot, id tighten down the nut a little or replace bushings.

[Jrowland95]

Originally Posted by Joe.G

Are all of the axles that broke part store replacements? How long did OE last?
Did does move a bit but they are rubber bushings and do have play, I would check the one on the cover closely.
Its hard to tell because it may just be the video but the axle does seem to be running with quite an angle most of the time.
When you say play in diff do you mean when you grab the Driveshaft the amount of free play when rotating back and forth?
The sway bar will move some but it does appear to be moving a lot, id tighten down the nut a little or replace bushings.

They all have been part store replacements. The original lasted 120-140k miles I don’t remember exactly.
As far as play in the dif, when the car is in park and on a jack I can spin either wheel 1/8 or so then before the driveshaft tightens and stops the turn. Or when I put it in park in the drive way the car will roll back 6-8” before the transmission stops it from rolling. I’m sure some movement is normal but I’m not sure how much is normal. I can also hear the drive shaft/rear end “catch” when I go from park to drive or drive to reverse accompanied by a hefty clunk. And I’m sure some of it is normal to a degree but I had a 2013 (the silver one in my profile picture) and it didn’t make much driveline noise at all. And this car never really did either until 110k or so and everything started to progressively get looser and looser. I always assumed it was trans but it’s almost like all of it is getting sloppy at the same time and it all feels like other issues lol.