WTF?? I kind of wonder if maybe you have something going on that you're not aware of. Seems more than just bad luck. I dunno.
I do.
Three of the four of my breaks is explainable.
This one is a stock axle and u joint. My rear locker is not working. To help overcome that, I was using quite a bit of brake pedal to help get some more torque to the right rear to climb the rock. I was slowly spinning three tires, and adding brake. It had just started to climb when it snapped. I was turned nearly full lock to the right as well, so the u joint was at it's weakest point.
If my locker in the rear was working and the axle/u joint only had to hold up to the resistance of the tire on the rock, it probably would have lived. Adding the extra resistance of the brakes was just too much.
The one on the New Years run, the c clips came off and I lost a cap. Again, on a factory axle.
I have broken two Chromoly shafts as well. The first I was high centered, and spinning pretty hard to try to get out. Full lock to the right, it rotated right and the tire caught a ledge. Totally my fault.
The one I didn't think should have broke was on the Rubicon trip. I was spinning, very slow, and working the steering to get the left front to climb, and as soon as it started to climb, it snapped. It was a Spicer, non greaseable, in a Ten Factory Chromoly axle, with full circle clips but it still didn't hold up. Picture attached.
One ear was bent just enough to not be able to get a replacement u joint to fit. There was no sign of prior damage, it was a 100% fresh break.
That one was a surprise, as I have put it in worse places, and seen many of the friends here I wheel with in just as tight of a spot with no problem.
My ultimate solution is to upgrade to Dana 60 axles, but until I can swing that, I need to decide what to do, because I have enough practice now at changing out axles on the trail.