Needing to upgrade my front drive shaft to accommodate 4+ lift. From many threads Adams, Coast, JE Reel, Tom Woods have most endorsement. I narrowed it to Woods or Coast 1310 until new local shop recommended Rubicon Express (has been installing them in NCal area for many years though he speaks highly of others too but prefers to buy local.

Any cons with RE? Not much info on their site or this forum. thx

http://www.rubiconexpress.com/Drivet...%2fERE1883-385

My JKRU is a daily driver and may never see the knarly like Ribicon trail- only mild stuff but want the right shafts the first time. Will prob replace rear too as a precaution.

 

Have RE shafts that came with their 4.5" lift...ruining them now for 116,000+ miles. Put new u joints in the rear shaft about 10,000 miles ago. Fronts still original, but I'll be changing them soon

 

Their are a few options on joints, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of difference in the actual shafts. Any of them can arrive damaged or out of balance, just the luck of the draw. I haven't seen any valid reasons to stay away from any of them. Compare price and warranty and get whatever you want.

Woods is popular because he is a great guy to work with, and has a ton of info on his site. Adams shafts were priced about $100 less than anyone elses for quite a while, so they built up a solid reputation.

 

Spicer just came out with a u-joint shaft that bolts to the stock yokes.

 

Any more info on this would be great! Link?

 

It was a new product item in ORA magazine

 

Google turned up nothing and I'm looking for a quality drive shaft that bolt to the factory flange. Could just go to 160 ft/lbs with a new flange but thought of some reason to keep the factory.

 

Way back when there was a lot of talk about the adapter plates used to mount to the factory flange sitting out too far, bringing steeper joint angles and maybe causing damage. Can't say that I have seen a single post about any negative effects of using driveshafts with the adapters. Coast has offered them for years, not sure who else does.

 

Theres already shafts out that use the stock flanges/yokes. Adams keeps the front diff side. Ive seen rear shafts with both ends .. Not sure of brand. Ive heard the angle argument, makes sense. Biggest issue i see is parts if one/both fail on the trail. chances are somebody has a yoke or one could be found local.

 

I have a tatton front shaft. It also bolted right to the factory diff yoke and I had to swap the T-Case yoke for a 1310 one that came with the shaft.