RC4WD Aluminum Axles - Review

[muddywaters]

Just place my order today for the F/R aluminum axles from RC4WD for my wraith. I'm in the process of getting all the upgrades first so that when i get the wraith it will be under the knife. Thank's Harley, and everybody else here for the info and advice to get me going in the right direction of building my first and new to this rock crawling gig. I can say i'm hooked and will be getting some more toy's in the near future.

[Chappy4o]

pics!!!!!

[muddywaters]

I will definetly post pic's as they come in. Can't wait to get the wraith and start working on it.

[kdrodworks316]

Well my mind is made up, between the broken axle thread and this review, I will be ordering up a set of these on payday! Thanks for all the good info and honest opinion.

[evan03]

Hoping to see the black version with some rock rash.

About to order the only ordering because the lockouts in my rear no longer hold bearings. So I my swell do the hole axle.

Love that VP diff cover looks Luke a 1:1 but I think of who makes it.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by Harley

I bought a pair of RC4WD aluminum Wraith axles last week and received them today. I ordered two front axles because my Wraith is setup with 4WS. The reason RC4WD specifies a front and rear housing is because these axles include either aluminum C’s (front) or straight axle adapters (rear). These pieces are included due to the fact that RC4WD modified the design to simplify machining of the axle. You can see that an Axial style C hub will not fit (this is a VP unit but is the same as stock). This is not a bad design at all, just worth noting. These axles also include aluminum bearing caps, another bonus!

After receiving the axles I inspected the finish. The machine work is what we have come to expect from RC4WD. These aren’t some crude version of what the stock axle looked like, such as what we see from Integy or Golden Horizon, these are very close copies of the stock Axial plastic housing. Many people may not even realize you are running an aftermarket aluminum case if you get the black version such as I did (that is until you see the scratches the rocks leave!).

I assembled one of the axles loosely shortly after receiving them. The axle went together easily and tolerances felt pretty good. I was missing one of the screws for the bearing caps and had one too many of the short screws used to hold the C’s on but that is minor. I had a VP diff cover on my desk so I used it to test fit, went right on just like you would expect. I will assemble an axle completely with bearings and gears soon.

First impressions of this axle, it’s a complete STEAL for the cost. I honestly can’t believe they are including so much for so little. If you subtract what aluminum C-hubs ($31) and bearing caps ($16) you are only paying $43 for the axle housing. Again, it’s a steal of a deal. I’ll buy these again in a heartbeat.

Very nice!

[ZippoMan]

I see they are on sale!! Time to sell them out now!! Harley knows how to bring on the sales!!

[evan03]

Well I did it. Kjinda look for the rest of the review

[Harley]

I ran these for a short time was all. I had ended up swapping them into another Wraith and putting the VP's under my Wraith at the time.

They held up fine, and didn't have any issues with them up until the day I sold the truck to Bulldog I believe (could be wrong).

The only thing I didn't like was the proprietary design of the axle housing ends that didn't allow the use of other available units.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by Harley

...The only thing I didn't like was the proprietary design of the axle housing ends that didn't allow the use of other available units.

That is the one thing that I don't like about them...why the heck didn't RC4WD just do the same splines as stock Axial???

[evan03]

The are always 79 on the rc4wd site

[ZippoMan]

Originally Posted by evan03

The are always 79 on the rc4wd site

They have 3 prices...it is funny.

Aluminum Front Axle Housing for Axial AR60 Axle (Wraith, Ridgecrest) (Black)

[ZippoMan]

Originally Posted by evan03

Well I did it. Kjinda look for the rest of the review

I know you did a review too. I didn't even pay attention to Harley's original post date!! DOH!!

[vicstag]

What's better VP or rc4wd axle

[Lentsnh2012]

Originally Posted by vicstag

What's better VP or rc4wd axle

Read the thread again... Harley compares the 2 very well.

Personally, I would support a "Made in the USA" company (VP).

[evan03]

I realize its a thread back from the dead

[Absurd]

I bought these when they first came out and only thing I disliked was not the chubs, the rc4wd heavy duty lockers I liked using at the time would not fit in these without cutting the housing and the diff cover so I put stock wraith ones in and put them under my subzero and haven't been used in almost a year now seeing this makes me want to pull them out again.

[evan03]

Poly Performance JEEP/TRUCK & BUGGY*::*Drivetrain & Differential*::*Differential Housing & Accessories*::*Crane D60 Diff Cover - 4X4 Off-Road Parts

Not that anyone cares but here's what the VP cover reminds me of.

[Natedog]

Originally Posted by evan03

I realize its a thread back from the dead

Doesn't matter, still good info and it's better to have it all in one thread.

[evan03]

I wanted to see one of these that's been thrashed on and in my opuon the review is still unfished..

Maybe I'll get one and put a years worth of abuse on it and bring this thread back again later on down the road