Twisted drive shaft

2002 CHEVROLET 2500
280,000 MILES • 6.6L • V8 • TURBO • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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JIMMY CRUTCHFIELD
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I was on the highway and all of a sudden heard a loud noise. After inspecting, my driveshaft had twisted and broke carrier bearing and pulled from transfer case. Truck would roll freely still as I was on a hill and in park truck would roll back. Let me add driveshaft and carrier bearing were brand new. My mechanic said the rear end locked up but my truck still rolled freely. What do you think could have caused this to happen? Truck is stock and was not doing anything excessive when happened.
Nov 27, 2020 at 6:01 PM
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KASEKENNY
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I suspect the bearings locked up and caused the rear end to lock up and the drive shaft is the weakest part so it broke. As for still free rolling, I bet the gears or axles broke as well so the tires can still spin but even if you put a new drive shaft in it, you will not have any movement as the rear end has failed.

If the rear end was just rebuilt, I would take it back as they most likely did not set the backlash, pinion preload, or pinion depth correct. I would be asking they correct this if you paid them to rebuild it.

I attached a picture of the rear end. More then likely umber 7, 9, or 12 is the issue. Let me know what questions you have. Thanks
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Nov 27, 2020 at 7:28 PM
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JIMMY CRUTCHFIELD
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Thank you for your input. That makes more since now about wheels still spinning. I was doing 75 or so when it happened. Rear end was rebuilt. The drive shaft and center bearing was brand new.
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Nov 27, 2020 at 7:33 PM
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KASEKENNY
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Yep. Seen that before. This is caused by the truck moving and the rear end suddenly stops but the inertia of the truck is too much and it just snaps the weakest part which is the drive shaft. So I fully expect that the rear end was not set up correctly and it locked up but the truck going 75 caused this damage rather then just stopping.
Nov 28, 2020 at 5:21 PM