H3 Snapped Right Half Shaft Again!

[SickStringC]

For those of you that were part of the fun at Wipeout Hill this April when I seemed to be doing most everything right, but *BOOM* my half shaft snapped like a twig - I have confirmed the conclusion of some that the part was an inferior aftermarket CV axle assembly. I was convinced I was giving her too much gas / driving with less finesse than needed to make it up (after watching the previous attempt be successful with far more tire spin). This weekend, while not pushing it nearly as hard, I snapped another on the same side. Fortunately I have an honest mechanic that admitted that the part they sourced isn't as good as OEM and it would be fine if all I did was drive to the grocery store and back, but it's not made to stand up to what I do to it (even though they sold it to me knowing what I was going to do to it - which they fortunately also remember and are acknowledging was a poor recommendation). At first I got the "Your SUV isn't supposed to be doing the things you're doing to it" story, but I pointed out that they recommended the part as a replacement for a 'failing' (was starting to pop occasionally) original axle that I wheeled on for 63k mi before being replace with their NAPA part. One month after installation in Moab, I snapped that one. They replaced it under warranty for free. This past Saturday, I snapped the second replacement on a less steep climb, front wheels perfectly straight and no tire spin. My left front is still the original axle and it's still fine after 76kmi of use with scattered wheeling. They checked my front diff mounts, the steering rack, the tie rod and anything else that could be failing or bent to potentially contribute to a repeated failure of the part they're using. There is nothing wrong except another snapped half shaft. Conclusion: I've broken two NAPA axles with what I now realize was not unreasonable driving or climbing in less than 13k mi (over the span of only three wheeling trips, that's two snapped CVs). I'm covered - my mechanic is refunding the original NAPA axle, I already ordered an EMPI replacement and the mechanic is going to install it for free (I'm very impressed with their willingness to be reasonable). The moral of this post is ... don't accept anything less than GM (if you wheel heavily without lockers - even EMPI are weaker). You will regret it and likely end up broken at some point wondering 'what did I do wrong?' to which the answer will be 'You did nothing wrong, you had a weak half shaft'.

 

[jakesz28]

Sorry to hear this, but atleast they are working with you to keep you out wheeling. Makes me worry about my spare.

 

[4speedfunk]

Pics? Did the shaft actually snap? (or just the CV-joint).

Look on the bright side...running junk half-shafts keeps your differential intact!

 

[SickStringC]

Pics? Did the shaft actually snap? (or just the CV-joint).

Look on the bright side...running junk half-shafts keeps your differential intact!

Sent from my mind via telepathy.

 

[06 H3]

Thanks for the heads up. I won't run the shaft you ran.

Sorry to here you broke one though

 

[rsc]

Thanks for the heads up on those parts. It sounds like the store wants to keep you as a customer and go the extra mile.

 

[SkinGripz]

JB Weld...


"If at first you dont succeed, come back with a big damn stick". -My Dad
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[3Hummers]

Still on our original half shafts at 91000 miles

 

[SickStringC]

I just finished fixing myself. Mechanic wasn't going to get to it till next week and I'm getting the boat out tomorrow. My left is still original at 103,000 mi. The right was swapped with the napa part because it was 'making noise' when 'scoped'. It never actually 'failed'. The GM part is very pricey, though.


Sent from my mind via telepathy.

 

[alrock]

Was the part Napa branded or was it another brand, like Cardone?

 

[06 H3]

I'm curious of that too...cardone might be what I run and am curious

 

[954paulo]

i replaced mine with some autozone shafts. life time warranty. cant beat that

 

[SickStringC]

The shop claims they sourced the EMPI axle from Napa. When I get on Napa's website, I can't find the part, but I saw the actual invoice from the original replacement from my auto mechanic and the part number he sourced is the same as the EMPI. I'm honestly not sure what to think other than keep my trail spare handy and be sure to have my newly purchased Milwaukee Cordless Impact and appropriate impact sockets and be ready to swap when you hear a snap. All I know is I used to not have this issue with the stock GM axle - either that or I have hit the limit of what my rig is capable of.

 

[06 H3]

All I know is I used to not have this issue with the stock GM axle - either that or I have hit the limit of what my rig is capable of.

Add a rear locker it will cause less stress on the front end...less spinning.

I was in your shoes without a locker and 4:1

 

[twinmill28]

i replaced mine with some autozone shafts. life time warranty. cant beat that

Yikes! I used to have that attitude until I realized that having a lifetime warranty from those guys just meant I was going to be repeatedly replacing that cheaply made part multiple times in my ownership of the vehicle.
I'm now much more willing (and much older!) to pay extra for a part that I know is well made even if the warranty is only for one or so years. I'd much rather put that part in once than a lifetime warranty part in multiple times.

 

[954paulo]

When it come to cv shafts and how easily they can break or rip a boot. Lifetime warranty wins. Plus with it only taking me 30minutes to swap each side out its not that bad


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[4speedfunk]

Periodic inspection and replacement of CV joints just comes with the territory. Its something we Hummer guys put up with (along with Nissan, Toyota, and almost everything else nowdays). I love the IFS road manners (and even the off-road manners) but, if you don't want the maintenance and/or breakage issues...then get a solid axle rig. I'm not saying SA rigs don't have their issues...THEY ALSO BREAK. I'm just saying the IFS requires much more attention to keep it in tip-top shape. Off-roading really puts the screws to an IFS and if something's not 100%...it will let you down. To add to the problem...quality IFS aftermarket parts just aren't there.

I still say the half-shafts are the least of your worries. The real problem sits right between them!

 

[alrock]

I'm on the fence regarding OEM vs. aftermarket half-shafts. My OEMs lasted 120,000 miles and I never broke one. Didn't have a rear locker for about the first 90,000 miles either. I'm running aftermarket now and while they've been wheeling, they haven't been well tested.

I think arguments are valid, at least with the data provided so far. I think as more owners get the aftermarket ones the quality arguments will become more clear either way.

I'm with Twinmill - I'd rather have one good part than unlimited crappy parts. And I disagree that half-shafts are necessarily going to explode, or at least frequently enough. We've had very few half-shaft explosions on the trail. And 4speed - I agree, but the OEM half-shafts are still a weaker "fuse" than the diff (in my opinion). If the fuse is too weak, for example if the aftermarket ones aren't durable, it's no fun going down the trail and having to replace that fuse every few trails and hold the group up for an hour in the meantime.

 

[SickStringC]

I'd rather have one good part than unlimited crappy parts. And I disagree that half-shafts are necessarily going to explode, or at least frequently enough. We've had very few half-shaft explosions on the trail. And 4speed - I agree, but the OEM half-shafts are still a weaker "fuse" than the diff (in my opinion). If the fuse is too weak, for example if the aftermarket ones aren't durable, it's no fun going down the trail and having to replace that fuse every few trails and hold the group up for an hour in the meantime.

:agree:

Before I started breaking these EMPI shafts every 4,000 miles or so after 90,000 miles of issue free wheeling as far as cv axles. I agree with Alex, but in the interest of remaining impartial from a data / information perspective - I did break the lower bushing / front diff mount at about 80,000 mi. One could argue that would have not happened had I been running the weaker axle, but rather than a diff mount that needed replacement, but didn't leave me stranded or necessitate an immediate repair I likely would have had a broken cv axle to fix on the trail instead. It seems it's a delicate balance / fine line between where the weak points exist based upon the variables in the equation that is the IFS drive-train. This also seems to be more limited to those of us that don't have lockers. I may be adding a rear air locker in the future ...