RCV's or Chromolly shafts??

Speeding · Jan 19, 2013

The RCV Rockwell bell is about 5.5" and the boot adds another 1/4" or so.

TBItoy · Jan 19, 2013

Re: Re: Re: RCV's or Chromolly shafts??

Speeding said:
The RCV Rockwell bell is about 5.5" and the boot adds another 1/4" or so.

I'd say it will fit then. Just have to put the boot in the axle C first.

That's cool.

Speeding · Jan 19, 2013

I think a great solution for a lot of people will be the Rockwell bell with 40 spline inner and stub. If the big bell does indeed fit inside the 450 knuckles that would be awesome but I'm skeptical because of the balljoints

crawlin85cj · Jan 19, 2013

Ball joints and the anemic size of the C ran me off. I don't think the 450 knuckle will take the abuse my right Nike will shell out.

TBItoy · Jan 19, 2013

Speeding said:
I think a great solution for a lot of people will be the Rockwell bell with 40 spline inner and stub. If the big bell does indeed fit inside the 450 knuckles that would be awesome but I'm skeptical because of the balljoints

Yeah I think that would be a sweet setup, especially since you could use junkyard cut off outers with no high $ custom parts.

I think the size (height) of the knuckle will take a lot of stress off the balljoints (compared to the 99-04 style).

I don't know (or have paid attention) to that many people running ball joint style D60 outers, be it 92-98 style, 99-04 style, or 05+

But, the few people that do don't seem to have any problems with them (especially compared to old stock Kingpin stuff). Hell I've seen stock 79 Ford king pin knuckles and C's break on mild rigs.

The Ol Orange Smith buggy had a ball joint front axle, never seen a problem from it even when Ethan ripped the axle out or jumped it all the time.

crawlin85cj said:
Ball joints and the anemic size of the C ran me off. I don't think the 450 knuckle will take the abuse my right Nike will shell out.

I guess compared to a rockwell or custom built monster truck type setup, it's small. But the C is pretty dang big on these. Especially the F450/F550 pic I posted, it's a foot tall and the forging is almost 2" thick on the bottom (load bearing).

I'll agree that stock type balljoint knuckles will never be a hot setup for extreme 'bouncers, but for the rest of us mere mortals I think it'd be bomb proof :dunno:

traveler · Jan 19, 2013

the balljoints are not as bad as the unit bearing hubs they dont last in a daily driver :****:

TBItoy · Jan 19, 2013

traveler said:
the balljoints are not as bad as the unit bearing hubs they dont last in a daily driver :****:

definietly on the 99-04 axles. They are not up to the task of a 7000lb truck, especially if it sees any rough roads or had bigger than stock wheels/tires.

I think people are having a lot better luck from the 05+ axles

Speeding · Jan 19, 2013

TBItoy said:
Yeah I think that would be a sweet setup, especially since you could use junkyard cut off outers with no high $ custom parts.

I think the size (height) of the knuckle will take a lot of stress off the balljoints (compared to the 99-04 style).

I don't know (or have paid attention) to that many people running ball joint style D60 outers, be it 92-98 style, 99-04 style, or 05+

But, the few people that do don't seem to have any problems with them (especially compared to old stock Kingpin stuff). Hell I've seen stock 79 Ford king pin knuckles and C's break on mild rigs.

The Ol Orange Smith buggy had a ball joint front axle, never seen a problem from it even when Ethan ripped the axle out or jumped it all the time.

I guess compared to a rockwell or custom built monster truck type setup, it's small. But the C is pretty dang big on these. Especially the F450/F550 pic I posted, it's a foot tall and the forging is almost 2" thick on the bottom (load bearing).

I'll agree that stock type balljoint knuckles will never be a hot setup for extreme 'bouncers, but for the rest of us mere mortals I think it'd be bomb proof

If you search Coles videos from a couple years back you can see ole orange losing a knuckle on cable with Wes driving.

I think Woodlee's new knuckles he's working on are going to be the ticket.

TBItoy · Jan 20, 2013

Speeding said:
If you search Coles videos from a couple years back you can see ole orange losing a knuckle on cable with Wes driving.

I think Woodlee's new knuckles he's working on are going to be the ticket.

Not saying that the balljoints are super awesome or anything...

BUT there are also videos of Timmie breaking the wheels off of Rockwells, Solid Kingpin Cs/Knuckles, etc...

Also a video of Wes breaking a 60 in HALF. :dblthumb:

No doubt, Woodlee's new knuckles will be THE SETUP for some super 'bouncer action :woot:

I'm just thinking out loud (or on the internets) for cheep bastard like me that wanna put together some junkyard axles and spend their big chunk of $ on shafts, rather than custom aftermarket Knuckles, Cs, Brakes, housings, etc.

Kinda like the axles I'm using my 4ws trail buggy build, 14b front, 70 rear w/ old style Super Duty outers. I'm gonna have both axles setup with chromo shafts & u joints, steering, brakes, etc Complete for less than $3000 for both axles. Of course I'm only runnin a 39.5" TSL and a stock v8.... Definietly not expecting to have any problems. BUT if I do, I figure it'll be rear shafts, then I'll put some RCVs in the rear axle.

BradWester · Jan 20, 2013

Any pics of the CUSTOM WOODLEE knuckles?

kmcminn · Jan 20, 2013

BradWester said:
Any pics of the CUSTOM WOODLEE knuckles?

Look on his latest build thread in the tech and fab section.

crawlin85cj · Jan 20, 2013

Don't know if this will get me in trouble but here it is...

TURNEROFFROAD · Feb 14, 2013

If you still need the measurement of the new RCV 47 spline big stuff let me know. I have 4 of them sitting right here at the shop for my buggy

They are the BOMB, sure feel comfortable about BEATING ON THEM

TBItoy · Feb 14, 2013

TURNEROFFROAD said:
If you still need the measurement of the new RCV 47 spline big stuff let me know. I have 4 of them sitting right here at the shop for my buggy

They are the BOMB, sure feel comfortable about BEATING ON THEM

Yes please :dblthumb:

diameter of bell?

length of bell?

are they one piece (stub and bell) or a double spline stub?

TURNEROFFROAD · Feb 14, 2013

TBItoy said:
Yes please

diameter of bell?

length of bell?

are they one piece (stub and bell) or a double spline stub?

Yes they are one piece and ill measure one and post pix and specs

BUG-E J · Feb 15, 2013

crawlin85cj said:
Don't know if this will get me in trouble but here it is...

good god man thats flashemifyougotem

TURNEROFFROAD · Feb 15, 2013

Sorry. Better late than never

TBItoy · Feb 15, 2013

Re: Re: RCV's or Chromolly shafts??

Awesome, thanks!

Looks like they will definitely fit in 05+ Super Duty knuckles.

Of course it would require "custom" machining on the stub, as the Super Duty stub is really short.