Jim

Thanks for photos.

I personally would not expect a Ford or Yugo tube axle to rust through to the point of failure on a 9 yr old vehicle. Usually frame components will long outlast any body, except for occasional sway control bar breakage. Our daily car is a '98 & my daily pickup is a '98.

I guess if I had taken the van to the dealer (Ford, I assume?) for a "driving vibration" complaint recently I might be a little less happy w/the garage's decision on what was wrong. I'm guessing they didn't put it on a hoist & look? But, you're doing business with them, not me. I understand those "sticky" situations.

Do you think water got in the tube & froze thereby splitting the tube? Or-wouldn't that be possible.

I guess I'd go to the junkyard & get an axle then go to a frame/body shop for install. That's a "here" thing though. Then, maybe sell it "as-is" once fixed. I'd consider it as safe when completed as if you had wrecked it & then repaired & placed back into service. If you want to sleep at night, make sure it's done by a reputable shop.

Again, I'm glad it happened in the driveway. Have you told your wife that you need to get her a creeper for weekly "pre-drive" inspections from now on? Would that go over well at your house? Finally-thanks for sharing her experience.