RCV axles vs u-joint axles?

[JeepingNet]

I was on the fence about RCV but my decision was made after asking a bunch of RCV owners on the trail last winter if they liked them. They all liked that they hadn't broken a u-joint but they all said the maintenance was horrible and half them click no matter what they did.

I then had a Tj with RCV's behind me and it clicked so bad that it made my decision pretty easy.

 

[jjvw]

I was on the fence about RCV but my decision was made after asking a bunch of RCV owners on the trail last winter if they liked them. They all liked that they hadn't broken a u-joint but they all said the maintenance was horrible and half them click no matter what they did.

I then had a Tj with RCV's behind me and it clicked so bad that it made my decision pretty easy.

The clicking and the difficult rebuild process of RCVs is what pushed me to the big RGA USA made shafts.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

To me RCV joints fix a problem I don't (and few others) have with u-joints. If I was to do it again I still wouldn't go with RCV. I'd go with Spicer 5-760x, Spicer 5-1350 with RGA's axle shafts, or CTM u-joints as are on my TJ now.

 

[Wildman]

I guess I'll find out if I regret installing RCV axles once I'm running again. The folks I know who run them like them and haven't complained about them. But I think some of it might be the type of axle also. All the folks I know who are running them have old school Dana 44's or Dana 60's with hubs so they aren't spinning all the time.
With the old school Dana 44 I don't have the option of running 5-1350 joints and I wanted something stronger than the 5-760x joints. Yep I know about CTM's or Super Joints & I have Longfield joints in my shafts that I'll keep as spares. If I find out I don't like the RCV's I an always switch back.

 

[AMS417]

have you looked at the pumpkin offset of the 60 yet i think its about 2" more driver side and could pose issues with up travel. i considered this axle too but would want the driver side tube longer and the passenger side shorter. and the 05 is like 3 inches wider than the 14B you can get it all even when the pigs shifted.

and while it's mentioned the old 60 (2004 down) are reputed to be 69.3" while the 05 are 72" and it's the older axle with the 10.5" offset the newer 05^ axle may have more or less, i cant find definite info on it's offset.

if you have 1 can you give it, the pinion center offset from axle center, and what's the top of the diff from center axle tube measure, plz.

Seems to be the go to salvage yard housing for TJ, LJ, YJ, XJ, JK, JL and everything else swap around here. 05+ Super Duty Dana 60 axles have better turn radius, bigger brakes, balljoints, and unit bearings then older axles.

Will try to get some measurements. Picked up both the Dana 60 and 14B for $750 complete for the pair.

Edit* Measured 24" from WMS to pinion on the short side 48" on the long approx.
Approx 7" from tube to top of diff housing.

Running 3 link I don't see any up travel issues. Going to stretch front some too, at least that's the plan. Using twisted pitman arm.

 

[Blackjack]

Interesting. This is the first time I've heard someone comment on this. Guess I'll find out.

You also get to find out RCV is not a lot of help when you bring up the issue with them.

 

[Wildman]

You also get to find out RCV is not a lot of help when you bring up the issue with them.

That's too bad. It sucks when I vendor won't stand behind their products.

 

[mrblaine]

You also get to find out RCV is not a lot of help when you bring up the issue with them.

That is hit and miss. Apparently they play by some rules that we don't have access to. I know lots of folks who are pissed that the clicking and popping isn't a warranty issue. I had a rig that the stub popped out of the end piece a small amount but enough to strip the splines on the stub. I called and explained the problem so they would know what the owner needed. They got us the part sent out Next Day under warranty. Unfortunately they sent the bigger bell and not the F-450 specific one so I had to grind out the lip in the knuckle to install it and then glue the seal in since he had a trip to make.