I believe that I have a broken driver side rear axle.

After driving 5 hour into the mountains (It should have been a 3 hour drive), snow on the roads, idiots in the cars. Why is it that jacked up 2wd full size pickups with big tires think that they don't need chains?? And an 18 wheeler delivering to Stater Bros without chains ended up in the ditch on the side. This is after passing the CHP "Chains Required" checkpoint. Then there was the tanker that tipped over blocking the road. Anyway, we finally get to the trail with about 1 foot of fresh snow on the ground, we air down and a couple of turn up the road, on a tight uphill hairpins turn, I stopped going. I engage the ARB and I still don't go. I look out the window and the driver's side rear is not spinning. With the conditions, that was the end of my wheeling.

Fortunately, I have several friends that have weekend homes in Big Bear City and I was able to leave the Amigo at a friends house.

I will be tracking down a spare axle housing this week and heading back up as soon as the snow melts. I'm really not sure what is broken but I suspect the axle but having an entire housing should give me all the parts that I might need.

Not to many of us have broken Isuzu 12 bolts axles. I am now a member of an elite club that I really didn't want to be a member of.

Steve

PS Snow level was down to 3000 feet, the road summit was 8400+.

That's an unlikely break, but it had to happen to someone. Glad to hear that you are OK.

Steve, I'm headed down to your neck of the woods on Tuesday and can pull a good axle from the 'Spare Amigo' to bring with. I also have a core axle that I burned up the bearings on that you'd be welcome to have, but it needs some TLC most likely.

Randii

Thanks but there is probably no good reason to pull the axle from you Amigo. In fact Dallas is looking for a new housing, that's why I will be shopping for a whole axle housing instead of just an axle.

Cool -- I may give ya a holler if I have time (it may be one of those wham-bam-thankya-ma'am fly-drive-boat visits). Dunno yet, but I'd sure like to hear the rest of the story... knowing your well-skilled and -controlled driving style, I have a hard time fathoming this breakage! Post up pics when you have 'em!

Randii

Well that's an adventure I probably will endure at some point, having made the decision not to be a trailer queen. My main backup at this point is my AAA card...and the benevolence of whoever I am wheeling with.

Maybe you'll luck out and there is just condensation in the ARB line that froze and prevented it from engaging. Plan for the worst, hope for the best <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In 2wd high range, it doesn't go. Engage the ARB and I get drive to the passenger side, so probably not the ARB. I don't believe that an ARB can engage just one side.

Welcome to the club. How many of us are there in this elite club?

I concur. Good luck with the fix <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

2 that I know of. I am sure there are a few more out there somewhere.