How do you break an axle?
1. Carrying or towing much more much weight than manufacturer recommends; more than the axle can handle safely
2. Neglecting routine maintenance-- This includes shafts, gears, bearings and other parts of an axle. Your vehicle will experience metal (not mental) fatigue. One of the main reasons for metal fatigue is rusted parts.
3. Driving in hazardous conditions -- road conditions and driving through rough terrain puts weight on the axle and restricts the vehicle’s ability to rotate or turn.
This video shows you what the inside of a CV Shaft/axle looks like. I found it to be very interesting. It is about 9 minutes long. ** Be sure to watch the last part of the video for some tips on when to replace the shaft/axle.