so, i have a 2012 JKU Rubicon on order with the 3.5" AEV lift and 35" BFG KM2s going on. i have an aFe Y pipe on order as well. i am not going to be able to wheel the jeep until summer thanks to job and a move half way across the country. i am debating on keeping the stock front drive shaft for the time being (what AEV recommended) or breaking down now and getting an aftermarket one. any recs on aftermarket shafts? i'm debating tom woods or coast and would prefer the lowest maintenance and least likely to fail. i am converting from a LR discovery where a blown front driveshaft also means a blown transfer case, and i don't want to deal with that in a new jeep. thanks in advance!

 

a lot of guys are running je reel driveshafts as well, just another brand to consider.

 

Terflex has driveshafts aswell. My suggestion is to run the stocker as long as you can .

 

i like that idea. i am doing a 1,000 mile drive the week after i lift the jeep and just don't want to have to worry about the driveshaft going out.

the front driveshaft went out on our discovery a couple months ago in downtown atlanta on a saturday afternoon while we we were on vacation. big pain in the arse. the wife doesn't want to be stranded again, and i don't want to be in the doghouse again.

also, do i need to have someone pretty familiar with these aftermarket shafts install it, or can my general jeep service guy do it on his spare time?

thanks again!

 

http://project-jk.com/jeep-jk-write-...ation-write-up

 

Coast drive shafts are great.

 

I have over 3,000 miles on my AEV 3.5" lifted unlimited. Still looking like new, I will ride it until the tcase-end seal goes. You are just as likely to encounter some other random problem on your 1,000 mile trip as you are to encounter a drive shaft issue.

 

I have the exact same setup you asked about minus the AFE pipe, and I'm getting ready to order it next week.
I plan on running the stock front shaft for as long as possible and dont see any reason to change at this point.
once i install the AFE pipe, the shaft will not contact anything else under normal situations on or off road unless you plan on beating your new Jeep

 

I have an AEV driveshaft coming for my 2008 Jeep, but on the 2012, you should be able to get by with the AFE Y-pipe and stock driveshaft on the AEV lift. There is no longer the interference with the transmission, so you just need to correct the exhaust.

 

depending on how tall of a lift you install, this is NOT an accurate statement. the angle of the engine to transfer case on the new 2012's sit at a much steeper angle and this causes the breakover angle of the front at the cv joint to be greater than before as well. even if you can clear your exhaust cross over, your cv boot will be in a constant state of pinch and will fail sooner than later just like we've seen time and time again on 2-door rear shafts.