Found: Wanted after Normandy 2014: front axle for a Ford F30 LAAT

[Andy Mitchell]

Unfortunately I had something of a catastrophic failure on my F30 in Normandy, the front right hand wheel station sheared off just after the flange and threw me into a ditch. Thanks to everybody who helped in the recovery.

Once she's back home I will be able to work out what the failure was, but things point to CV joint disintegrating.

The new problem is that she is supposed to be going on the XXX Corps run in September ! Maurice Donkers reckons he has the parts to replace, but if anyone in the UK has a front axle for a Ford F30 Laat ( small size ball joints same as 15 cwt) please let me know, it would be a real shame to not take her to Arnhem !

And Hanno, it was a pleasure to meet you at last !

Thanks again everyone,

Andy

[Frank v R]

I feel for you , something like that happened to me there 10 years ago , it's the kind of thing that can really take the wind out of your sails, I too was given a lot of help from people I did not know including the French Army , I was lucky , I was able to get back on the road after 2 days of hard work, I'm still grateful to all that helped ,

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Andy,

It was a pleasure meeting you too - and thanks for dropping off the collets.

Those pics you showed were quite frightening! Glad you got out without a scratch. Will keep an eye open for you, but I'm sure there's someone in the UK with a spare axle or two.

Would be interested to learn why the axle snapped. Maybe there is a maintenance lesson or two in it for the rest of us?

Hanno

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi Hanno,

Once I have her back home I will work out the problem and yes it may be down to maintenance, but I think that the CV Joint has disintegrated. We will see !

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi Folks, I just thought I would update ref my F30 prolem in Normandy.
Now that W & P is over I have had the chance to strip the axle down and it turns out that the axle casing was CRACKED between the ball joint and the diff.
You can see on close inspection that it had been cracked for for probably years judging by the rust marks.
Totally invisible under the paint etc.
One of those things I suppose with a 70 + year old truck and no real history.
It will be back in action soon and in Holland in September for XXX Corps.