PR44, but while I'm at it, I should...
03-01-2015 | 07:36 PM
#11
JK Junkie
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,256
Likes: 1
From: Madison, New Jersey
Stock axle was sleeved and gussetted. From what I can tell the knuckle was loose which caused the ujoint to blow which caused both inner and outter driver axles to blow which caused the ball joints to twist themselves out. With that and the crashing of the C onto the rock, the distance between ball joints is changed on the C. Now the new ball joints will not stay pressed in given the change in distance. I haven't found a solution to change the C. The rest of the housing is fine.
I saw this as an opportunity to upgrade. I could buy the PR44 and put my rubi locker in to save money. Then my rubi locker goes out and I'm stuck getting another Rubi locker. Bah!! Why not spend a bit more and get the ARB is where I'm leaning.
I like that the Reid knuckles will give more clearance and have the dual stop (hence my loose bolt on stock knuckle). I figure the drag link will certainly help with my 3" lift geometry. I hadn't found anything bad on the CurrentLynk steering so I'm interseted to hear more if anyone has experience. I like the "1 spare part fits them all" of that system.
I saw this as an opportunity to upgrade. I could buy the PR44 and put my rubi locker in to save money. Then my rubi locker goes out and I'm stuck getting another Rubi locker. Bah!! Why not spend a bit more and get the ARB is where I'm leaning.
I like that the Reid knuckles will give more clearance and have the dual stop (hence my loose bolt on stock knuckle). I figure the drag link will certainly help with my 3" lift geometry. I hadn't found anything bad on the CurrentLynk steering so I'm interseted to hear more if anyone has experience. I like the "1 spare part fits them all" of that system.
03-01-2015 | 08:27 PM
#12
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 661
Likes: 1
From: -
If you already bent a sleeved and gusseted Rubi 44, then I don't see any point in buying another stock Rubi 44 and "beefing it up". A PR44 is going to be way beefier than any beefed up Rubi 44. Start with a PR Unlimited 44 that has 1/2" wall thickness tubes and increased castor, add the RCVs, add the Reid knuckles, and you're good. I don't think the ARB is going to be all that much more reliable than the Rubi locker. At least I've never been impressed with reliability with the ARBs I've had in the past. Good luck whatever you decide to go with.
03-01-2015 | 08:32 PM
#13
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
If you already bent a sleeved and gusseted Rubi 44, then I don't see any point in buying another stock Rubi 44 and "beefing it up". A PR44 is going to be way beefier than any beefed up Rubi 44. Start with a PR Unlimited 44 that has 1/2" wall thickness tubes and increased castor, add the RCVs, add the Reid knuckles, and you're good. I don't think the ARB is going to be all that much more reliable than the Rubi locker. At least I've never been impressed with reliability with the ARBs I've had in the past. Good luck whatever you decide to go with.
From what it sounds is a bj may have had play or failed wich in turn bent the c. when a bj goes on the rocks yours cs can have a bad day pretty quick. Were they stock bjs? From what we have so far its not necessarily justifying he needs a d60 or even stronger axle. I know brute4ce isnt on here, but i know he found a replacement c somewhere.
03-02-2015 | 09:13 AM
#14
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
i dont see how that makes it "way beefier" than a built up 44...
From what it sounds is a bj may have had play or failed wich in turn bent the c. when a bj goes on the rocks yours cs can have a bad day pretty quick. Were they stock bjs? From what we have so far its not necessarily justifying he needs a d60 or even stronger axle. I know brute4ce isnt on here, but i know he found a replacement c somewhere.
From what it sounds is a bj may have had play or failed wich in turn bent the c. when a bj goes on the rocks yours cs can have a bad day pretty quick. Were they stock bjs? From what we have so far its not necessarily justifying he needs a d60 or even stronger axle. I know brute4ce isnt on here, but i know he found a replacement c somewhere.
03-02-2015 | 09:37 AM
#15
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 114
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Interesting point. For less than the cost of a PR44, one could yank the stock tubes and go to 1/2" wall and then truss that. The DOM wouldn't cost much at all and retubing honestly isn't that hard. Then, buy D60 Cs and outers (cut them off a junk yard axle if you really want to save money). You just built the PR44/60 hybrid for way less. And then you can set the Cs to whatever angle you want.
The BJ's were Synergy and 6 months old on their first wheeling day when all this blew up. I've already replaced them and the axle shafts. Thanks to all the replies I may go with a PR44 unlimited and just swap out my Rubi stuff. Get the Reid knuckles and keep my new Ten Factory axles. Still thinking though...
03-02-2015 | 09:50 AM
#16
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
If im not mistaken no one makes an aftermarket c that fits stock tube size. Im thinking thats why he said to retube it. Most shops will not offer this as its a lot more "custom" and they probably have no experience doing so. May also have to machine the ends of the tubing to fit the housing. You could also try and find stocker d44 cs somewhere to salvage and put on yours. Also custom and not many shops will do this id bet. Depending on your ability to do it or fond a shop to do it as said you could make a hybrid thats just as good as a pr44/60 hybrid for significantly less... It would also allow "true" 35 spline axles shafts up front
03-02-2015 | 11:39 AM
#17
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 661
Likes: 1
From: -
i dont see how that makes it "way beefier" than a built up 44...
From what it sounds is a bj may have had play or failed wich in turn bent the c. when a bj goes on the rocks yours cs can have a bad day pretty quick. Were they stock bjs? From what we have so far its not necessarily justifying he needs a d60 or even stronger axle. I know brute4ce isnt on here, but i know he found a replacement c somewhere.
From what it sounds is a bj may have had play or failed wich in turn bent the c. when a bj goes on the rocks yours cs can have a bad day pretty quick. Were they stock bjs? From what we have so far its not necessarily justifying he needs a d60 or even stronger axle. I know brute4ce isnt on here, but i know he found a replacement c somewhere.
03-02-2015 | 11:53 AM
#18
JK Jedi
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 4,482
Likes: 2
From: Neenah, Wisconsin
Just look at a stock Dana 44 and a PR Unlimited 44 side by side, out of the vehicle, lying on the shop floor. Everything about the PR 44 is "way beefier" than a stock Rubi 44. Same goes for a Teraflex 44 housing. Adding sleeves and gussets still leaves the Rubi 44 lacking compared to the aftermarket housings. Has anyone really proven that the sleeves and gussets people add to the stock axles help? In this case they didn't; he already had a built up Rubi 44, and it failed. No point in doing the same thing again. I would be seriously considering a 60 if I were in his shoes.
Last edited by Maertz; 03-02-2015 at 12:22 PM.
03-02-2015 | 11:56 AM
#19
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
Just look at a stock Dana 44 and a PR Unlimited 44 side by side, out of the vehicle, lying on the shop floor. Everything about the PR 44 is "way beefier" than a stock Rubi 44. Same goes for a Teraflex 44 housing. Adding sleeves and gussets still leaves the Rubi 44 lacking compared to the aftermarket housings. Has anyone really proven that the sleeves and gussets people add to the stock axles help? In this case they didn't; he already had a built up Rubi 44, and it failed. No point in doing the same thing again. I would be seriously considering a 60 if I were in his shoes.
03-02-2015 | 11:57 AM
#20
JK Junkie
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 3,697
Likes: 2
From: Grosse Pointe, MI
As i said could have been a bj fail.. A built rubi axle next to a prorock will be just as good. Especially if the pro rock is jot trussed. Hell a sleeved and trussed d44 with gussets would be damn near identical. Hell could even add a jantz kit and have a stronger ring and pinion than a pro rock for less also. My guess is you'll have to go google jantz to see what im referring to. Id be looking to see if it was in fact a bj failure. Knuckles should not have play. All the axle damage may be related to one cause..