Took LandCruiserJunky's rear axles out on Wednesday to replace the axle seals and found this little gem just about to blow inside. We've all heard the stories about center pins that had to be beaten out of the carrier. I've had 3 that I've had to get out that way come thru the shop over the years. This is the first time I got to see one basically just before the damage.

the warning sign: when you can rock the tire back and forth with the cover just removed and you can see the oil squeezing out either side of the center pin because the hole in the carrier is going oblong. This is what is putting the stress on the pin that causes the bolt to shear. SOoooo, if you see that your carrier is, shall we say LESS THAN PERFECT, buy yourself some cheap insurance and put in a fresh bolt!

In the photo, at the top of the pin, midsection, just above where the shiny part ends, you can see the crack in the pin. By the time this truck came back from the 45 run, it would have been F-ed. Pheewwwh!

yup, that would have sucked big time!

hey , thats not a carb. part . How'd ya get Mark to work on that ?

hey , thats not a carb. part . How'd ya get Mark to work on that ?

Hey, now thats kinda funny! I actually smerked a bit!

Wow, good tech.. never seen one "about" to break... good eye Mark!

I've had one break, it sucked hard, broke the carier to get the cross shaft out and take the axle apart. Good catch

Mine was broke on my 75 40 when i got it, but I did not beat the pin out (although I was tempted). I got a tiny easyout with fine threads and drilled the pin. Came right out, easy-peasy. I replaced the pin and put in a lock-right and 35" tires..... I've barely looked at it in 7 or 8 years and about 20K hard miles.
PMK