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Just for giggles, if you can tell, what brand was the old roto that you removed? Normally a GKN will stress crack with age and not really get "soft". Just curious to see what was in there.
The pic is what the markings on a GKN would look like.
It actually was a GKN. It's stress cracked but its also very soft compared to the new one. But perhaps the new cheap one is just overly stiff which might explain the high failure rate
Another option is to replace the rotoflex with a metal pinion flange that bolts to a driveshaft via a flange yoke. Great Basin Rovers sells this rotoflex conversion. I've been using this set up for 7+ years.
I have a cheap one, on for several months. It still seems okay, however, I will probably order a GKN and keep the cheap one as an emergency backup, until another GKN arrives.
I am a regular buyer and supporter of cheap parts.
I don't remember the specifics because it's been a while, but as I recall my cheapo rotoflex lasted less than a year. I was prepping for a long road trip when I happened to notice it was cracked and falling apart, which led to me hitting the dealership and actually getting a pretty decent price for the OEM rotoflex that is still in there today, probly three years later.
That is one part where I would certainly buy OEM, and if I already had the cheapo part I'd install it but watch it very closely.
What are the symptoms of a rotoflex that needs to be replaced? I do a visual inspection of the one on my truck when I grease the shafts at every oil change and there's no visible deterioration. Are there any clues when driving?
Another option is to replace the rotoflex with a metal pinion flange that bolts to a driveshaft via a flange yoke. Great Basin Rovers sells this rotoflex conversion. I've been using this set up for 7+ years.
This is what I ended up doing, but I got the inexpensive version from Lucky 8.
You might get lucky. The last cheap-o rotoflex I bought a few years ago lasted less than 6 months on a stock suspension truck. That was a lesson I only had to learn once..... GKN Rotoflex or NOTHING! There really is a big difference in quality. Good Luck!
X1 .......... cheapo's last a fraction of the time of the GKN Rotoflex.
What are the symptoms of a rotoflex that needs to be replaced? I do a visual inspection of the one on my truck when I grease the shafts at every oil change and there's no visible deterioration. Are there any clues when driving?
From my past experiences you have to remove the rotoflex completely and twist it to see how bad it is. you'll see cracks, voids or total break down in the material to show how bad it is.
I remember reading somewhere there are 3 types of rotoflex couplings for the Disco.
I take back ever saying the cheapy rotoflexes were decent! Mine completely ripped today, that’s my 2 one replaced and I bought the 70 dollar ones from AB. 140 later and a 30 dollar spare to make it 170 dollars spent total with still the issue. Ordered my rear driveshaft conversion today. 230 from Lucky8. I think my lift has a lot to do do with it.
