Stupid U-Joints - Nothing between disaster and normal but a little Clip

[silverfox]

Sooooo

Fortunately for me it only ended up in some stressful trail side repairs by some very competent trail side mechanics.  I little tap with a hammer, a semi fitting spare c clip and a battery powered welder (Thanks again Eric) for a couple of tack welds and it was good as new.

Well ok not new but you wouldn't know it by how it drove and rode.


The reason it wasnt a disaster was the low speed, lockers were disengaged and we were on snow so when the joint fell about and grabbed on the top of the wheel bearing bolt the tire simply locked up and started sliding.............add in lockers or some traction to spin the wheel and we are talking at least a snapped axle shaft if not worse.

I was thinking chromoly but that still uses the u joint (although full circumfance clip rather than the JK half clip system (trail rated my arse) )  so someone mentioned these.

RCV Performance D44 Front Axle shaft CV replacements.



I think for peace of mind and never having to worry about a damn front U Joint this is the way I am going to go.

I have read quite a bit and it seems this are very highly regarded (even compared to dana 60s although that seems a stretch) so what if anything am I missing here.  Seems like a super simple install for something that will be night and day better than the stock 44.

[hps4evr]

first, call your dealer and see if they will replace the ujoint/axleshaft. ive seen this happen a couple times before on stock jeeps. the dealer may not like that you welded it though, im just warning you. if they do nothing then those rcv shafts are supposed to be the cats arse, great for smooth steering when in 4wd!

[AstraX]

Lol.

Gotta love the bullet points on their website.

HIGHEST STRENGTH AXLES OUT THERE!
Why CV Joints?
*Constant Velocity = Better traction
*Minimal maintenance
*No yoke ears to break
*Packed full of grease
*No C-Clips
*Chicks dig em’
There are numerous FAQ's regarding this product, see product page

So much for not spending any more money on the rig eh?   

[silverfox]

first, call your dealer and see if they will replace the ujoint/axleshaft. ive seen this happen a couple times before on stock jeeps. the dealer may not like that you welded it though, im just warning you. if they do nothing then those rcv shafts are supposed to be the cats arse, great for smooth steering when in 4wd!

To be honest I don't give a crap if they will replace them..............the whole concept seems flawed to me.  To think that at any given time the c clip can just work itself out and the U joint falls apart??  I know that breakage is a part of wheeling but that seems a little much.  I have read maybe a hundred or so different cases of people who have had everything from broken shoulders to snapped Axles to all kinds of damage from spinning metal wreckage.......not to mention the potential for a serious accident if you were flying down the highway.  For my peace of mind and the more I research I am thinking that the RCV's are a great option and that the stock 44's will become trail spares.

If the install is as simple as it looks it is an almost can't go wrong upgrade in my opinion.  I agree with you though the dealer would be less than happy to see the welded U joint in there.  

So the question isn't so much what are my options I am more concerned about what I might be missing in going with this upgrade?  The company seems to have a very good reputation on many of the forums.  I have only seen one instance were there was in issue (the joint started clicking) and the RCV guys replaced it immediately for the guy at no cost to him. (the whole set not just the shaft CV combo in question).  Strength wise there is an article on jpmagazine were they tested the RCV compared to the stock dana44 and this is the quote.

"So how strong are these RCV axles and joints? On an axle-snapping jig with the joints turned to 40 degrees, the stock JK U-jointed shaft spit out the U-joint and broke an ear at 3,872 lb-ft. By comparison, the RCV joint never failed, but a shaft finally snapped at 7,604 lb-ft. That's chompin' at the heels of 35-spline Dana 60 territory! For updated applications, info, and animated drawings of how the joints work, go to the RCV website."

It may not be cheap but it seems like a perfect option.

[Rubi03 jef]

i looked into those shafts and yes there very nice and no joints but when u do break in the trail theres a good chance youll be rolling out with out that wheel getting power because u and anyone else will have parts

U joints are still your best bet and best for your buck .

[silverfox]

i looked into those shafts and yes there very nice and no joints but when u do break in the trail theres a good chance youll be rolling out with out that wheel getting power because u and anyone else will have parts

U joints are still your best bet and best for your buck .

Except I will have spare stock dana44 shafts, while not pleasant I am assuming an on trail axle shaft swap is not impossible

[Waytec]

Pluses and negatives on both ends. I carry extra u-joints with me. last the clip and cap ac couple years ago and just tapped a new one in put a new clip in. Back on the road.

[Rubi03 jef]

Except I will have spare stock dana44 shafts, while not pleasant I am assuming an on trail axle shaft swap is not impossible

but you would have to carry one outer shaft and both inners to be sure that you can get out plus a ujoint

where if you had just ujoint shafts u can carry 1 outer and a ujoint and you can get out no problem

changing a shaft in the trails is just as easy as changing it at home takes 5 minutes done
i distroyed my stock rubi shaft last winter
and it ripped the outer shaft into pieces . so i just removed my inner shaft and left the outer shaft in place to hold my hub together drove our in 2 wheel drive

now im running chromoly shafts and i dont have  a worry in the world   well besides ujoint but thats ok i carry 2 spares

[w squared]

Actually, Jeff, in order to get a full set of spares equivalent to what Shawn would be carrying with the RCV's, he'd have to carry the same with conventional shafts.

Yes, I know that the U-joints should give out before the shafts...but you know what Murphy says.

[Rubi03 jef]

ya theres always a chance that something else breaks

i guess it goes down to 6 of 1 half dozzen of the other

[Bnine]

The RCV's are a very good option, but you have to keep your eyes on them when regarding the mud. As durable as they are, no "Birfild" type connection really does well in mud. The no questions warrenty make it a lot easier to recommend taking the chance on them though

The ujoint started to fail because of stretch. At some point in time, you most likely caught some traction that stressed/stretched those stock shafts.

Stock shafts are sufficient for stock jeeps. So before you get upset with jeep, remember that when you added bigger tires you asked the stock components to handle more then they were designed for.

Im glad you were able to catch it before it reall let go.

Chromolly shafts with full circle joints, or the RCV's will both provide the additional strength you need to keep up with your new configuration.

Good luck

[homeguy]

Sooooo

Fortunately for me it only ended up in some stressful trail side repairs by some very competent trail side mechanics.  I little tap with a hammer, a semi fitting spare c clip and a battery powered welder (Thanks again Eric) for a couple of tack welds and it was good as new.

Well ok not new but you wouldn't know it by how it drove and rode.

The reason it wasnt a disaster was the low speed, lockers were disengaged and we were on snow so when the joint fell about and grabbed on the top of the wheel bearing bolt the tire simply locked up and started sliding.............add in lockers or some traction to spin the wheel and we are talking at least a snapped axle shaft if not worse.

I was thinking chromoly but that still uses the u joint (although full circumfance clip rather than the JK half clip system (trail rated my arse) )  so someone mentioned these.

RCV Performance D44 Front Axle shaft CV replacements.



I think for peace of mind and never having to worry about a damn front U Joint this is the way I am going to go.

I have read quite a bit and it seems this are very highly regarded (even compared to dana 60s although that seems a stretch) so what if anything am I missing here.  Seems like a super simple install for something that will be night and day better than the stock 44.

I've nothing but great things about the RCV axels and how strong they are.

[Bone206]

did you end up doing it? Keep us posted.

[XJHERO]

yeah just move the weak point to the ring and pinion 

[silverfox]

did you end up doing it? Keep us posted.

They are on order, should be in next Friday