RCV vs Standard interchangeble?

[4xforfun]

77 ford bronco with the standard disk brakes. Front end issues....again. I have broken a number of 4340 axles/CTM joints in the past. Last time I had a big issue is when one let go and slingshotted through the front end and took out my Detroit locker also. I think I did it again. Front end is locked up like s spool. Thinking about upgrading from the 4340/CTM setup to RCV setup.

Question. if I switch can I still use my old setup as spares? I have a full set of inner/outer/ctm's for each side now as spares plus the set in the axles. Just wondering if I should sell the old stuff and buy spare RCV stuff.

Thanks,
Tod

 

[Yeller]

If you’re breaking stuff regularly I’d keep the existing for spares. Yes they can be directly installed. Only difference is the lockout/drive flange it the parts are a direct swap. RCV’s are good stuff and solve most peoples breakage, but there’s some it doesn’t.

Last time I broke a 44 axle, I broke or twisted all 4, killed the Detroit and ring and pinion….. was breaking at least one axle every trip…. went to a 60, changed the ujoints about 6 years ago and went to 4130 shafts, was still running stock spicer 35 spline stuff, changed the. Because the ujoint rattled in the hole from being let’s call it tested and when it was built that was all that was available. Other than servicing the wheel bearings that’s all that has been done to it in 22 years. Has paid for its self 100 times over.

 

[bmc69]

My old trail rig..a '69 with a 408, broke everything RCV sent for the 44 in that rig. 39.5 IROKS and 500 ft-lb torque engine... At some point you just have to give it up and go with built 60s. As I learned the hard and $$$ way.

 

[Yeller]

My old trail rig..a '69 with a 408, broke everything RCV sent for the 44 in that rig. 39.5 IROKS and 500 ft-lb torque engine... At some point you just have to give it up and go with built 60s. As I learned the hard and $$$ way.

Nice to know I’m in good company I did that with 38’s and proto type axles from a prominent axle supplier, was long ago

 

[jamesroney]

My old trail rig..a '69 with a 408, broke everything RCV sent for the 44 in that rig. 39.5 IROKS and 500 ft-lb torque engine... At some point you just have to give it up and go with built 60s. As I learned the hard and $$$ way.

I did the same thing with a tired 5.0 pushing 200 ft-lbs and 35's. It's all about steering angle and traction. If you have a lot of both...bad things happen. I've never broken my 60.

But for the OP. The RCV's are in all ways superior to the Bronco D44. But you need to keep in mind that the outer stubs on the RCV set is 30 spline. Your factory replacement Chromo's will be 19 spline. So the locking hub is not compatible.

I need a set of chromo's for my D44. If you decide to sell, send me a PM.

 

[67EB_in_619]

To make trail spares easier, carry a spare hub (complete) too. The RCV outer spline is different and you have to modify the hub. Or you can carry a slug.
FWIW, I have 37s, a 393w stroker and a can-do attitude and I was breaking something every trip until I put in these RCVs... I did have one issue where the rollpin sheared and the spherical walked out and round the splines... felt/acted like it broke. I called RCV when I got back, they asked me to email them a picture, and I had a replacement 2 days later.
We will always break $h!t... so the service of the company matters too.

I dont think you will be upset with that upgrade.

 

[nvrstuk]

You can go RCV's but if you're reularly busting CTM's and who knows what quality 4340 shafts then like eveyone hear has mentioned- go D60. Way $ ahead. I put it off almost 20 yrs thinking the D60 was a heavy pig. Check all my weights out in my build thread as the built 60 with a great break setup is not that much more that a 44, I weighed it all.

Other thing I have to ask is this: are you turning when you are blowing the axle ears/CTM's?

I think if you go with the RCV's then you will find the next weak point of the D44. Gears and inner and outter axles.


I ran CTM's and Superior brand axles for a long time but I was always extremely careful whenever I was backing up, turning or had a chance of bouncing the front.

I don't worry about a thing anymore up front with RCV's in my D60. Worth every penny and then sell your D44 stuff to recoup most of your cost. Every mall crawler out there wants a D44 = TOP DOLLAR.

 

[snipes243]

So do exactly that. I carry a spare set of cromo axles and 19 spline hub. I have found that I break the 30 spline warn hubs more than anything. The warm premium 30 spline design isn’t the best. The spiral clip holding the inner hub on change the brake, allowing the hub to disengage. And other nice thing is when you break the RCV they will send you a new one for free.

 

[SteveL]

So do exactly that. I carry a spare set of cromo axles and 19 spline hub. I have found that I break the 30 spline warn hubs more than anything. The warm premium 30 spline design isn’t the best. The spiral clip holding the inner hub on change the brake, allowing the hub to disengage. And other nice thing is when you break the RCV they will send you a new one for free.

I thought I saw you can order the rcv's with 19 spline outers. Would that be a better set-up ?

 

[Yeller]

So do exactly that. I carry a spare set of cromo axles and 19 spline hub. I have found that I break the 30 spline warn hubs more than anything. The warm premium 30 spline design isn’t the best. The spiral clip holding the inner hub on change the brake, allowing the hub to disengage. And other nice thing is when you break the RCV they will send you a new one for free.

I thought I saw you can order the rcv's with 19 spline outers. Would that be a better set-up ?

Ditch the warn hubs, they are weak and failure prone. The 30 spline are superior in strength.

This Solves the weak hub issue without going to a drive flange. The Yukon hubs are very robust.

Keep in mind the next fuse in the system becomes the ring and pinion. Everyone I know that was breaking chomo shafts regularly and went to RCV’s and drive flanges began breaking ring and pinions in D44’s. After spending cubic dollars trying to “bullet proof” a D44 they either resigned and bought a buggy or built a d60 or 609. They will all all tell you they should have done that in the beginning and have since saved money.

 

[jamesroney]

Ditch the warn hubs, they are weak and failure prone. The 30 spline are superior in strength.

This Solves the weak hub issue without going to a drive flange. The Yukon hubs are very robust.

Keep in mind the next fuse in the system becomes the ring and pinion. Everyone I know that was breaking chomo shafts regularly and went to RCV’s and drive flanges began breaking ring and pinions in D44’s. After spending cubic dollars trying to “bullet proof” a D44 they either resigned and bought a buggy or built a d60 or 609. They will all all tell you they should have done that in the beginning and have since saved money.

Lots of wisdom in @Yeller post above. But he left out a little bit of the story.

Breaking 5-260x joints? Upgrade to 5-760x joints. But you will want chromo shafts for that.
Are your chromo shafts breaking your 760 joints? Upgrade to CTM's.
Are your CTM's breaking your Chromo ears? Upgrade to RCV's
Are your RCV's breaking your warn hubs? Upgrade to Yukon Super hubs.
Are your super hubs breaking your ring and pinion? Upgrade to a high pinion.
Is your high pinion shredding your ring gear? Upgrade to a Dana 50 pinion.
Still shredding ring gears? Upgrade to a M226 gear set and housing.
Congratulations. You just spent way over $10,000 to build a Jeep JL front axle.
Or you could have bought a junkyard F350 front axle...

It is worth noting that the Yukon Super hubs are the Identical design to the Spicer Hub Lok design found in a 1964+ Ford F100, and every 66-79 Ford Bronco. But its a great way to get that hub design in a 30 spline.

 

[nvrstuk]

James is right, that's the progression-well said. lol

 

[Yeller]

Thanks @jamesroney! You are correct, great progression of how many of us have gone over the years, but I think you are a little light on the total LOL. Not going to do a math test though, I'll lose...... Bought ice cream for my wife's 50th birthday party this past weekend, I bought a lot, expecting 60 folks, well somehow my 1/2 pint per person, to have excess and everyone have as much as they want.... needed 30 pints.... brought home 84 pints, math fail on a grand scale that didn't cause anyone to die other than a potential desert coma So out of the 47 folks that arrived many of them got a door prize of a 3pt container of ice cream to take home....