U-Joints break at 75 mph...

I was going to post this up awhile ago, but Ive been busy training in GA. It happened around March driving from UT to NM. It was raining, I was on a two-lane road going about 65, and sped up to pass a semi, got up to about 75 ish and BOOM. 3 consecutive pops in one big ass pop. based on damage i am assuming 1st pop was front u joint, 2nd was the drive line smashing/ kinking in my exhaust and denting floor board sheet metal, and 3rd was the rear u joint when it became completely detached from my truck. I then ran it over. it was epic. In my rear view mirror i could see cars swerving to dodge my drive line that was skidding and bouncing across the road at 75 mph. I stopped and then went and dug it out of the mud on the side of the road, put it in 4x4, and drove back to the previous town to have my buddy tow me home. The dent in the exhaust pipe was pretty substantial almost kinking it closed, as well as the floorboard portion. I thank god that it flung off up and to the right, versus the left. I am pretty sure if it were to have hit the gas tank, i would have been a rolling ball of fire.

getting it fixed was a god awful hassle with toyota, seeing that it is an after market drive line. however i did buy my truck lifted with that driveline from the dealer, so after 4 weeks of battling with warranty, they fixed it all, no charge.

Since then I drove from UT to NM to Ft. Benning, GA. no issues

 

Looks like your rear block lift and not adjusting the angle broke it.

 

thats crazy, your definately lucky. Good thing you had 4x4

 

the dealership had replaced the u-joints about 6k miles prior to this event. there was no vibration or extra play as indication of angle issues.

 

Jeez that musta been a fright...

So this was a one-piece drive shaft? I understand that's a long reach in a double cab so I'd be really leary of it and make absolutely certain it's done by a reputable shop. Sounds like the dealership... or OO if not modded by the dealership... didn't.

 

yup one-piece through dealership, 4wheel parts, local drive shaft shop