Pics of Bearing Failure

[MikeFleming]

Ouch!

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[brownsvo]

Wheel bearing? I had mine explode right outside of austin and limped it another 20 miles with it grinding and stuff.. fun times :)

[Raven855]

Did the spindle survive?

[Chalky]

WOW!!! That is one over heated bearing!!! I used to work in the bearing game for a living and that is a mess, EPIC fail!!!!!

[MikeFleming]

So Chris, in your professional opinion, why did it fail?

[Chalky]

Without the part number it's hard to know the application but I'm assuming it's a wheel bearing since its a tapered roller bearing. Assuming it not Chinese or Easter European, I would suggest that a lack of proper lubrication caused the failure or some form of foreign matter.

[MikeFleming]

It was the outer of two tapered bearings supporting the pinion shaft in the rear differential in the EVO. It self-destructed and broke the pinion shaft at freeway speeds Sunday. Part of the pinion shaft/gear is still in the diff and the other - complete with the d/s mounting flange - is still attached to the non unsupported center driveshaft.

There was a small - then very large - driveline vibration like loosing a wheel weight followed by what felt like a tyre or two self-destructed. And lots of loud bangs, thuds, and severe vibrations. Too bad I didn't get it all on video.

Looks to me like the front pinion shaft seal failed, then the bearing went after as it ran out of lube. The d/shaft spun around many thousands of times - at freeway speed - against the pavement moving underneath. So the fracture evidence is gone on that end of the pinion shaft. Fortunately the front sections of the d/shaft assy were still connected to the chassis.

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The floundering driveshaft end dented my titanium exhaust tubing. Grrr...

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[Meotchh]

Damn that thing is filthy! Is it covered under warranty:3stooges:

[MikeFleming]

Just now it's covered in differential guts and oil - photographic evidence of it's self-destruction. It was spotless just the Friday before (after being steam cleaned and stuff).

Yep, should be warrantied. However the nearest dealer is ~130 miles away. That sucks.

[Patrick]

Well that sucks the royal wazoo.

[Chalky]

Pinion bearing, know that one, although it didn't end that badly for me. Sorry to hear about this mate. Hopefully the dealer covers the cost of towing to their facility and also the replacement of your exhaust!!!! I'd be asking for nothing less. How many miles on that thing???

[Robertosvo]

Mike you need to figure out a driveshaft loop to help protect your exhaust

[Chalky]

Mike you need to figure out a driveshaft loop to help protect your exhaust

What he said!!!!!!

[SVORob]

Just pray they don't void the waranty due to the exhaust. FORD would

[Robertosvo]

Well to keep this topic SVO related these are pictures of the pinion bearing failure from my car last year317431753176

[MikeFleming]

Robert - that looks like it would made a warlbling noise? Whatever a warlbling is.

[Robertosvo]

I drove it approx. 3km home ( I know, metric, but it is how I was raised) and if you want to call it a warlbing noise.
did it ever make a warlbing sound
I put it on jackstands to check out the problem, it made a real funky sound when in the air!

[Raven855]

Here you go Mike. http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/sounds

And it plays your song! You can hear it in the above link

The Song a rapid jumble of rising and falling notes, usually ending in an accented, higher-pitched note. "If I sees you, I will seize you, and I'll squeeze you till you squirt!" Call a nasal "eeah."

but I don't really think that's what you meant

[Raven855]

Rob, your package leaves in the morning...........

[Patrick]

So Tony,
What exactly are you doing with Rob's package?

[blueboss]

So Tony,
What exactly are you doing with Rob's package?

And what the hell is a kilometer?

[MikeFleming]

And what the hell is a kilometer? A unit of distance measurement, a few inches longer than a yard stick times 1000. Or about 500 fathoms.