NEWS PARTS JEEP & 4x4 ATV & UTV

I've got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

770 Views 16 Replies 2 Participants Last post by **DONOTDELETE**, Nov 9, 1999

G

Discussion Starter · Nov 8, 1999

I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I bought the RE tailcone eliminator kit for my NP231 transfer case about 4 months ago. I just installed it this weekend. Several guys on this BBS told me to have Tom Wood's build my new driveshaft. I faxed my order specs to Tom Wood's shop last night and a person there faxed me back. They said they will specifically NOT build a driveshaft for use with the RE SYE kit. Then they listed 101 reasons why it's a crap kit. To put it mildly, I'm one pist off Jeeper at this point. I know this kit costs less than the others on the market and I tried researching all of them before I bought this one. Some guy at Rubicon express told me their kit does just the same as the JB and Currie. He said the only difference was those two companies include a new stronger tailshaft and charge a few hundred $ extra for it. Other than that, RE feels the existing tailshaft is strong enough. Well, according to Tom Wood's shop, the RE kit only allows for a shaft that is 3" longer than the previous one while the JB or Currie kit allow for a shaft that is 5.5" longer. I specifically asked the Rubicon guy about this and he said ALL kits on the market (regardless of their name) allow for a new shaft that is very close to 3.5" longer than the stock one. Was he lying? Or am I a sucker? Anyway, enough of their marketing BS. What do I do now? This completely ruins everything and now I have to worry about breaking an output shaft on my transfer case every time I go offroad. It more or less sucks when you have to worry about breaking something all the time while offroad.
Does anybody else have this kit installed on their NP231? How has it worked? Where did you get your driveline built?
Please ease the pain.

-Dorian
www.4Low.com

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

G

Discussion Starter · #2 · Nov 8, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I have an RE SYE. Haven't had any problems with it other than some leakage through the splines, and the seal popped out due to me not using locktite on the bolt that holds the flange on. Some RTV fixed the leakage, and locktie fixed the seal popping thing. The plus to the RE kit is that you don't have to split the case to install it. I dunno, maybe I got hosed - I don't see why Tom Woods would lie. Try Six States distributors for your driveshaft. I think the url is http://www.sixstates.com.

Marc
Contagious Racing

G

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 8, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I believe that Tom Woods works for six states so calling them really wouldn't do any good..not positive on that but last time I contacted him he was working at 6 states. You could call around to some other places that make 4x driveshafts. Check in the back of the Jeep mags, there is a couple of them in there. I know this doesn't help your problem..just trying to give you some options.

absolutjeep

G

Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 8, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

Actually Tom hasn't worked at Six States for a while now. As for the SYE kit, I've seen a couple of them up close and was less than impressed. I plan on going with the AA kit, unless I see one I like better.

_____________________
John
95.5 YJ with "stuff"
http://SonsofThunder4x4.com

G

Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 8, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

OK then, is it too late for me to get another manufacturer's kit and install it? Is this possible once the RE kit has been installed?
Or am I a big piece of S.O.L.?

-Dorian
www.4Low.com

G

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 8, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I think so, since they replace the tailshaft, and that is the only part that is permanently modified with the RE kit. Don't see why not.

Marc
Contagious Racing

040

· #7 · Nov 8, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

If you're not running some super torque monster with massive tires in the rocks or mud with a lead foot, I'd just stick with what you have and get a driveshaft from Six States, Gloeco, or a local driveline shop (open up the yellow pages). I know there's a few fairly hardcore guys on Jeep-L running the RE kit with no problems, I think Larry Soo (www.off-road.com/~lhsoo) may even be one of them.

G

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

The problem is this: my local driveline shops (4 that I called) all want over $400 to build a new CV driveline. The prices ranged from $425 to just over $500. And they didn't want to spend much time on the phone with me because I didn't know exactly what I need and they weren't too willing to help me figure it out. Several people on this BBS said Tom Wood's charged them $305. That's quite a savings AND he ships for free AND I wouldn't have to pay sales tax. So you can understand why I was wanting to buy from him. Not to sound like a penny pinchin' miser, but I could apply the savings I'd get at Tom Wood's shop for other things. (ie: women!).
Thanks for everyone's advice anyways.

-Dorian
www.4Low.com

048

· #9 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I don't know if you'd be interested in this, but there's a driveshaft shop here in San Jose, CA that plain ROCKS. The owner is a guy named Steve that bends over backwards to make sure you're happy. I paid around 300 for a CV shaft about a year ago from him, and all of my friends had thier shafts built by him. Let me know if you're interested in talking to him and I'll get you a phone #.

Evan
http://contagious-racing.8m.com

G

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

Damn straight I'm interested. I'd like the ph # please.
By the way, do you know if he has anything against making a shaft for use with the RE SYE kit? I'll be sure that it never gets mentioned in conversation with him if this is the case.

-Dorian
www.4Low.com

G

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

BTW, You can get a shaft from RE if you're interested. I beleive it is about $280.

Marc
Contagious Racing

048

· #12 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

The number is (408)995-6000. Ask for Steve. Just be straight up with him, and he'll be straight up with you, he's a real good guy.

Evan
http://contagious-racing.8m.com

G

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I checked here in Indianapolis and a new CV shaft runs about $225 and if you choose to get a rebuilt CV assy. then it is around $175. Look in the Excite.com yellow pages under driveshafts and the city Indianapolis. ALl of them I called were the same.
Aaron

040

· #14 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

Same up here in Chicagoland...$225-250

048

· #15 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

Just FYI... The shaft I had built was for a full size truck. That may explain the higher price.

Evan
http://contagious-racing.8m.com

G

Discussion Starter · #16 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

The Currie kit isn't much better than the RE since it still uses the stock shaft - but modified to allow a fixed yoke. I have the AA SYE & was VERY impressed with the extra beef - you see I'd broken my original shaft & really wanted to make sure it didn't happen again as they are bloody expensive by the time they're shipped to Aust.

The AA & JB kits appear VERY similar & I won't concider any others. I got my AA SYE from Rusty's Offroad for $290usd. Now if you allow that Currie was buying up stock shafts for $100, will that means for $190usd you could score an extra 50% beef.

As for driveshafts, the cheapest CV shaft I could get was about $1200aud (780usd) - so I just got a plain splined uni-jointed shaft. It works a treat and was less than a third of the cost. Plus uni-joints are cheap to replace - CV arenot.

Anyways if you haven't fitted the RE kit, I'd be hunting for a refund.

Cheers
Wooders

Cheers
Wooders

See less See more

G

Discussion Starter · #17 · Nov 9, 1999

Re: I\'ve got a REAL BIG Rubicon Express problem. Please advise.

I have the RE SYE just like yours, and so far it has been holding up fine. I have had it about 15 months. I have a 4.0 motor, 4.10 gears, run 33s. I think you might have a problem with more horsepower, gearing, etc.

While I don't have any problems with the SYE, I bought it knowing that it was a temporary solution until I can afford an atlas, so all I really wanted at the time was the cheapest solution that would work for a while.

I DID have major problems with various aspects of my RE experience, and probably would not order from there again now that I know what it is like. I can tell you more if you are interested, but one bit of advice I have for you is to NOT buy the drive shaft from RE - they sent me one that was the wrong length for their own SYE and 4 inch lift!

Chad

1 - 17 of 17 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.