Rear axle tube bent in collision, how to bend back?

No matter what you do it will never be right and you are guaranteed the seals will leak and keep leaking. Best thing to do is get a good but used on at the bone yard you will be better off.

Coasty

I have never heard of a successful 'fix' for a bent axle housing. I have heard of the tubes being removed and new ones put in with again limited success.

You won't be able to bend it 'back', it is really thick walled tubing.

I would recommend a used unit or if insurance or the 'hitter' is paying, a new one.

Mike

Guaranteed? It didn't leak after the collision, and it isn't leaking now.

I agree with everyone else -- replace it.

If you're in Texas, I happen to know someone with a D35 w/4.88s for sale. Me! ;-)

- Eric

These guys are in principle right, but you could get lucky. Is this thing driveable? If you get somebody to follow you, is it obviously going down the road sideways? Does it wear tires funny? (This one could take a while to figure out.) Does it swerve in the wrong direction when you stomp on the brakes? I don't think you can straighten this without running the risk of causing more damage, but you might be able to live with it. I would get a new brake backing plate though.

Earle

I haven't had it back together with a straight axle.

I did drive it after the collision after replacing the suspension arms, when it had about 1/2 inch of runout on the wheel rotation (bent axle), and about 1/2 inch of toe-in misalignment besides (bent axle tube). The tire was audibly squirming but you didn't feel it shimmy except at walking speed. On wet pavement or going around turns or both, you could feel the traction slipping.

I'm just hoping for rough driveability with a new axle and an approximately straightened axle tube and backing plate. The guy that hit my son's car on I-95 was a drunk, apparently illegal immigrant who took off running when the FHP showed up. The perp's lowlife insurance company that should be paying for this has stalled for months, so we need time to sue them to pay for the proper repairs, but in the meantime we want to get this 10-year-old TJ back to something ugly a college kid can still drive to class.

Not sure about the laws where you are, but can you attach the vehicle that hit you and sell it to recover damages?

I've met very few insurance companies that will get to the lawyer phase. The last one that dicked me around wound up paying nearly four times what it would have cost them had they simply paid up on time.

Check your insurance laws, in several states you can go after the loss of resale value caused by the accident. The insurance company term is "diminished value" arguably less on an older vehicle though.

Did they get the perp for hit and run?

If you win a judgment in court, you can take any assets of the judgment debtor you like. The problem is winning vs an insurer who specializes in insuring the uninsurable.

Carlos Rodriguez? Lemme know if you know where he is. Still a fugitive.

The FHP isn't going to start a manhunt over some property damage.

This corner of Florida reminds me of NY/NJ lately. You're supposed to just buy your own insurance to cover criminal acts like this. The state is not going to enforce justice.

No states care about property crimes anymore. This country has become a haven for career criminals. It's easier and cheaper to be a career criminal than it is to work for your living.

Carl

Agreed! They don't even want to know about your property crime anymore, and they won't even bother to take a report unless you need it for YOUR insurance company.

Worse, they don't give a rip about 'minor' criminal matters anymore either. A former mayor from a town near me never showed in court for matters related to criminal corruption charges, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Cops publically admitted they weren't going to go pick him up because he's not a dangerous felon. Nice attitude. Crime pays, period.

If the property crime is enough, they will care. An FBI agent told me that they would be interested for "say $150,000" in a fraud case while your local officials may get involved for somewhat less. Not for a wrecked TJ though, not unless there is personal injury.

Earle

Yep, if it isn't straight it'll eventually start to trash seals, bearings and affect brakes too. If you can get a good donor, that'll replace it up right. Otherwise, I'd definitely take it to a pro who'll probably swap the whole tube and ensure it's perfectly straight. I'd look for a donor and be sure you've got a good diff. Probably shouldn't be difficult to find the D35 after the rep they've earned on Bill's website:) Drink

Yep, that damn Teddy Kennedy and his amnesty plan that was co-sponsored by three Republicans: Sen. John McCain, Reps. Jim Kolbe and Jeff Flake

-- msosborn at msosborn dot com

We voted out of power the guys that were supporting an unpopular war. We are about to find out, if anyone in Washington is really listening. It's been almost a week, and I haven't heard any plans for organized retreat, demobilization, building new VA hospitals (which we will surely need!) or any of the logical correlates of voting against a war. Bush is still talking about winning the damn thing, last time I checked.

I was happy to see Rumsfeld resign, but it would have been better if it were Cheney.

I expect that all we are really going to get out of this exercise, is a prescription drug benefit for seniors that we really cannot afford, and lots of new taxes.

Back to Jeeps!

Earle

Demoncrats have had several years to formulate a plan and the only one they have mentioned on the floor of congress was a former Marine Officer who said the US should run away like little girls.....

That new congresslady from mid Ohio, who was just re-elected, called him a coward to his face and said Marines from Ohio don't run away.