Axle sleeve install recommendations
JK Super Freak
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 1
From: Tucson, AZ
I wondered that too, but then I thought, heck, if I do the inners and outers, I'm assuming you have to remove the seals and replace them after you do the inners anyway, so I'd be good there. Still not REALLY sure about doing both, but the price is not but around $90 different to get the RSE kit with both, so... Also I was looking, the EVO inners say they strengthen the axle like 33% or 31, not sure, but the RSE outers say 55%, but I'm thinking they MAY be talking about their full kit, with inner and outers. Either way you stack it, 55% strength increase is significant, with only a quarter inch of clearance loss at the axle tubes themselves, and just think how much more rocks you could pound the axles with....LOL, the outers act as a skid plate for the axle tubes while strengthening it too.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: N.E. Georgia
RSE's complete kit comes with inner sleeves and outers, along with their gussets, but you're right, EVO's gussets look much stronger. I THINK I saw one guy mention, I thought on this thread somewhere, that he had to choose to either clearance the RSE outers, or the EVO gussets, and seems he chose to clearance the gusset to fit the outer sleeve once it was installed, and then welded it up. I'm assuming that's why RSE's gusset is smaller, so as to not interfere with their outer sleeve. So yeah, you could use RSE outers and EVO gussets, with some clearancing/cutting or grinding on one of them.
JK Newbie
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: Somewherein, Ohio
I know this is an older thread, but didn't want to start a new one -- the info is still valid.
I am having an old friend (who owns a custom transmission shop) to a re-gear on my '11 Rubi. So I asked him to pull the axle completely off after he guts it. I have a local fabricator that is going to install the Evo sleeves, gussets and RSE exo tubes. I'll be putting it back together with crhro-mo shafts, good ball joints and a new Tom Woods custom drive shaft.
I'm thinking this should make a decent axle at a much lower price then a Pro Rock.
I am having an old friend (who owns a custom transmission shop) to a re-gear on my '11 Rubi. So I asked him to pull the axle completely off after he guts it. I have a local fabricator that is going to install the Evo sleeves, gussets and RSE exo tubes. I'll be putting it back together with crhro-mo shafts, good ball joints and a new Tom Woods custom drive shaft.
I'm thinking this should make a decent axle at a much lower price then a Pro Rock.
JK Jedi Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 11,463
Likes: 165
From: Austin <--> Colorado Springs
You might also figure in the costs of upgrading all of the brackets, and cutting and turning the C's, to get a better idea of a 'direct' comparison to a $2000 PR44 housing.
JK Super Freak
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 1
From: Olean NY
for me it was worth beefing up my 30. When I regeared my installer did sleeves and gussets install for 200 bucks. So for 400 total parts and labor I had off road evo sleeves and gussets, not bad.