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Roto Flex Carnage, again
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 4:29 pm
by jeepingpw
Found out that Roto Flexes are a bad design.
Had 5 spares, now down to 1.
Scroll down for the latest one.
Last time dropped off a ledge, right rear tire spun as it hit the ground & minus one Roto Flex.
Made it home, but egg shaped Roto creates a bad vibration.
Think I will get another drive shaft to carry as a spare as center bushing is a pain to replace.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/ ... ly1002.jpg
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 6:55 pm
by LandyAndy
Why not just ditch the rotoflex all together & fit a Tom Woods drive shaft & pinion. Would save time & effort replacing buggered couplings & might save you a long walk out one day.... just my 2c :wink:
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 1:20 am
by PaulC
Or a drive shaft from a 98, like mine they dropped the roto for good old u-joints.
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:19 am
by John
Or lighten up on the go pedal.
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 7:52 am
by jeepingpw
If I went with a pre-95 RRC or as stated a '98 (what model of LR?) drive shaft would they be the right length?
If not, I would hope they would be longer & get it shortened.
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:08 pm
by LandyAndy
I have a QT D2 rear high-angle drive shaft going spare. Swapped it out on mine for a Tom Woods double cardon as it vibrated a bit. Was prob due to me running 3" of lift. If you can get a rear pinon flange kit then you can have it for a a couple of 6 packs :wink:
Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 5:02 pm
by PaulC
Sorry 98 Discovery.
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 8:50 am
by DaveB
While I won't argue the benefits of having a real universal joint in the rear, I have some observations on rotoflex couplings from my experience... basically my 2ยข worth :)
OEM versions seem to be made of better tougher stuff than aftermarket versions.
In my experience, even with heavy off-roading an OEM rotoflex should last around 150,000 KM.
You have a 50/50 chance of getting it in backwards, and if you do it won't last 2 weeks to the grocery store... There are tiny, almost non-eixistent arrows molded into the outer wall of the rotoflex that are supposed to point to the flange side of where they're attached.
Other than that, you can rip it apart even when installed correctly by exerting high amounts of torque in reverse, for example if you'r backing up and one wheel spins, then locks up, but the torn rotoflex probably saved you an axle or diff teeth... :toothy10:
cheers, Dave
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2011 5:30 pm
by jeepingpw
And yet another roto flex shot!
Took a good look at it this time & know why they don't last.
I have a u-joint drive shaft, but haven't found the pinion kit to convert.
Drive shaft angle to pinion is bad!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/ ... sco001.jpg
Roto Flex is already at a combined wierd angle
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v493/ ... sco006.jpg
Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:17 am
by DaveB
With that much of a different angle I'd be looking carefully to see if theres something else bent or worn out in your rear axle. The axle is designed to maintain the proper pinion angle through the wide range of articulation that off-loading puts it through, so something doesn't seem right here. I think you'd be having a pretty significant jamming issue with a u-joint too.
Dave
