In the Last 3 months I have broken/tore/snapped the Right hand passengers side axle half shaft. I know at times I may drive aggressively especially if I'm late to work, but recently I have cooled off on the whole Michael Schumacher mentality. The OEM snapped 2 months ago, the replacement ones snapped even sooner about a week apart both replaced under warranty.

What I know. I have hit a very decent sized hole and or bump on the BQE at which point I noticed some wobble in my steering wheel and an insane increase to body roll when going at speed of 40-70mph over bumps, hills, or dips. I know this is a major increase because my car is setup for very stiff suspension and ride.

What I have, for firmness I have the BC BR coils set to 20 clicks in for the front, 18 clicks in for the rear, hotchkis is firmest in the front and medium level in the back, tanabe strut bar has never been readjusted since install 4 months ago. Michelin Ps4 Xl load 245/40/19 front and 285/35/19 rear.

What I don't understand, why does this keep happening. It's very frustrating and this is my only real problem with the car. The last month I have not been driving aggressively in anyway, if anything I'm driving very slow and low... I really don't want to raise her up since I love my flush look. Hope any one can give me some insight or a perspective I'm to dumb to see. Thanks in advance.

 

A) you have AWD?
B) you're breaking CV joints? Breaking the shaft takes work.
C) how are your control arm bushings?

 

A) Yes it is.
B) I believe it is the CV joints. I'm not purposely driving around trying to break it or see the durability it has before it breaks. The axle grease already popped from the join to my rims.
C) I can not say for sure, last time I checked the control arm bushings seemed fine.




What I failed to mention is I have SPC front camber Arm, and the SPC read camber kit. My rear camber is -2.6 left -2.8 right, and my front is -2.2 left and -1.7 right. Here's is the print out I was given.



Now keep in mind this setup has been absolutely fine for months until I hit the BQE hole/bump. I love spending money on the G but not if I constantly have to buy new CV joints or axles.

 

Are you tearing/splitting the rubber CV boot
--OR--
mechanically breaking the CV joint or shaft?

 

It looks like I am tearing/splitting the rubber CV boot, 3 separate times, 3 rips and 3 times axle grease just goes everywhere.

My boy and mechanic believes I may be too low in these NYC streets and that's what my be causing this. I'm thinking I'm way to firm up front and its just absorbing to much of the bumps up front. (if that even makes sense)

 

How much of an angle between shaft and spline in the hub at static height? It should be nearly zero.

 

I'm not 100% with the terminology, ill be able to take pictures later today with my wheel turned all the way right. I would assume the angle is at 0 or very close to it. My problem is that this was not an issues for months, and I was being very aggressive and driving the car hard within the first month, after that I calmed down and just cruised throughout until it tore the first time after a very hard protruding bump/hole.

 

Have you had the car on an alignment rack since the problem began?

 

@slarti yes, realigned two times for camber, never realigned before this issue.

This is whats happening currently




Scared to drive it at this point.

 

This was the before or the first time it happened.

 

This bothers me. That indicates maybe a control arm is cracked or a bushing mount has failed. Thoroughly check all the suspension mounting points.

 

I'll be taking her in tmmrw morning. I hope it isn't as costly as I'm anticipating it to be.

 

I'd pull the coil-over on the affected side and remove the spring to check that the damper is functioning correctly. It may have bottomed and damaged the shim stack.

 

did you figure out what caused the issue