Sucks this happened for sure but..
Rule #1
If you buy something from Northridge4x4 please give us a call directly before contacting the MFG. Honestly calling the MFG should be your last resort only if the Vendor does not help you.
Please email me directly with your name , address and pictures and I will get this warrantied for you .
David@northridge4x4.com
Thanks
David
The only shame to all this is that replacement shafts won't fix the problem. They're just gonna twist again or worse. I have to wonder how many times they'll replace them.
Does a good quality chromoly shaft have built in twist like this? I would look at that and toss it if it were mine I think
Wow, one wheeling trip and toast, really sucks rcv won't make this right.
So, are you saying that Northridge won't be able to help you out after all??
So, are you saying that Northridge won't be able to help you out after all??
To be honest, I am just whining and hoping something will magically change.... I am not sure what my next step is.
I am currently reading through my old metallurgy book to see if I can prove they have failed.
The splines have gone through plastic deformation. They have failed. Full stop.
Hopefully your problems get resolved!
ANY and ALL shafts can and will twist at the splines IF you play hard enough and IF something else doesn't break first. Typically, you only see something like this on rear shafts as they see a lot more stress but EVERYONE I KNOW would see this as something that has failed and needs to be replaced. The problem isn't so much that these RCV's twisted at the splines, it's that they charge a HUGE premium for their shafts, sell people on the idea that they're worth it by telling them they have a so called lifetime warranty and then try to suggest that there's nothing wrong the shafts once they do twist and won't replace them UNTIL they actually break. Of course, by then you will most likely have jacked up other parts of your axle and NONE OF THAT is something they will cover. :rolleyes2:
I know RCV won't be getting any of my money! The price is not worth the payoff, or their warranty.
Sorry for my delayed response(s).
There is a bit more back story that will prevent Northridge from being able to bail us out. To be honest, (and while I think it is awesome they stepped up) I still feel the responsible party is the MFG.
The facts are:
I have a set of RCV D30 shafts that have around 5k miles and one wheeling trip on them.
Both CVs feel rough and need rebuilt and the splines are twisted.
RCV has a "LIMITED NO QUESTIONS ASKED" warranty. It seems the "limited" means there WILL be questions that results in warranty denial.
The damage was done while running 35" Goodyear Duratracs which are a non aggressive and fairly light tire. My wife was driving and is not a throttle jockey. Sure, we were on a challenging trail, but this was hardly what I would call abuse. BTW: this Jeep has cheap 1310 u joints on the driveshaft, so those believing they have a "fuse" are mistaken.
When you talk to RCV about the issue they will tell you twisting is normal and okay. Yet, they will try to up sell you a higher strength material shafts and sink yet more money into a crappy D30. They will also tell you CV issues are considered "wear" and are not covered. No consideration of up keep (which was good) or mileage (low) will be given.
The only "assistance" we were offered was a free CV rebuild IF we buy the "stronger" shafts and ship them to them or (if we chose to run the twisted splines) we could get 50% of the second rebuild kit.
No matter how you shake a stick at it, these are hardly the "last shafts we will ever need" and I'm saddened at their lack of integrity.