Dropping a Drive Shaft in a 2010 Freightliner

typically shock loads is what breaks drive line parts. ie drive shafts axle shafts rear ends. u joints do wear out but iv seen the needle bearings completely gone out of a u joint and 1 inch of play it still hold together. a bad weld between the tube and the flange is also possible. from what i have seen though most common cause of drive line failure is due to a shock load. ie spinning a tire and hopping or spinning and then suddenly grabbing traction. kinda hard to say though what may have caused it without seeing the failure or knowing exactly what you were doing when it failed besides pulling a heavy container.

 

Lack of grease or as shops and warranty like to say driver abuse are the two most common reasons .. The odd time it's defective from the factory ... It should've had a bad vibration before it broke most likely

 

Also a worn carrier bearing, corrosion or dent/dings in the driveshaft can lead to twisting it.