We caught up with Artie from Artec.
They make the smartest designed axle armor for the jeep jk. We have their front and rear full armor kits installed on Black Betty.
No sleeves. You dont need them with the artec system.
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We caught up with Artie from Artec.
They make the smartest designed axle armor for the jeep jk. We have their front and rear full armor kits installed on Black Betty.
No sleeves. You dont need them with the artec system.
This really is the only game in town when it comes to axle armor,
the parts build a cage on the axles when you weld the truss on. Once you get it on there, the axle is pretty much bullet proof.
Looks cool too.
The best part is that dosent break the bank in comparison to the cost of a new axle.
Couldnt have said it better. And our trucks have them front and rear. Betty and Jesse's Girl
Here's the moab ejs Artec video
http://youtu.be/Bo0n2UbJQ4o
Here is some shots of our Artec Axle Armor
Attachment 241
Attachment 242
Attachment 243
Shot of the lincoln electric welder used in installation
Attachment 244
We should weld one of these kits to some pipe and do some crazy tests to see if we can bend it.
I doubt you could bend a tube at all with this armor on it. I just don't think it could be done safely!
I just ordered a set for myself after reading all good things. I don't think there is another kit anywhere that is as complete? This picture just gets me going every time I see it. I'll post some pics when I get my install done.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/1...25796451_z.jpg
Can you let us know what the install costs as well? Don't forget LCA skids as well.
Will do Pete. The front armor kit is a bit more involved than the rear truss kit and therefore it costs a bit more to put in, but not too much. I'm working with an off-road shop near me that does all kinds of custom fabrication and welding from basic to rock buggies. They said the welding would be no problem. I should know in a few days.
I'm not sure its 100% necessary, but they were concerned about internal heat with the e-locker and internal wiring with a rubicon's electromagnetic system to go from open to full spool on 12v only.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2831/1...20294d6f_z.jpg
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/1...835b1756_z.jpg
So the shop doing my install plans to be especially careful with and around the wiring.
Nate from RK welded our rear truss on in a matter of minutes. I swore my gears were soup he was done so fast.
When I asked if he melted the gears, he laughed at me.
If it was at someone other shop and not Rock Krawler, I would have made him open the differential and show me. LOL
At RK you know the guys know what they are doing.
Yeah, I bet they were good at it. Its not the gears so much as the wires in our E-lockers. I bet he'd done it enough to know it wouldn't have a negative effect. My Artecs just going in and painted black.
Attachment 366
Yeah, with the metalcloak gamechanger 3.5, pretty much everything is replaced under your JK. Its an ideal time to install artec's kits as its only a few more steps to pull the whole axle and get the welding done. I think the shop here had it right where they have a nice cart for the axles so you can work on the welding without having to bend over and kill your back.
Here are some shots of our rear truss that was installed at Rock Krawler
Attachment 414
Attachment 415
I had to modify my artec rear truss to work with the metalcloak gamechanger lifts Bolt on high clearance track bar bracket. Had to notch the artec and weld the bracket to the truss. This would be more helpful with pics...but I don't have access at the moment.
Do these trusses add a lot of weight?
Just a shot of my front Artec kit and Ballistic Fabrication Diff Cover, metalcloak gamechanger arms.
Attachment 440
I need to see this thing flex up close.
We are going to have to take her off road.....Keep a close eye on your keys.....
Im going to give snarf a run for his money.
At the end of this month, Im going back to Rock Krawler to do a 3 link front and rear. Then Im going to POR15 every surface under the truck.
Ill also be showing off a new artec bracket on the rear truss for the RK 3 link.
So are the "dimple dies" all BS?
I was reading that they can actually make the steel weaker.
Have we got a final on this?
Just realize that the POR15 effort is much more intense than the 3 link conversion. You should start a POR-15 thread. In my previous life/s as a Fiat enthusiast I'm all too familiar with the prep work essential to POR-15 function. It is extensive!
Looking forward to that three link.
This girl was POR-15'd inside and under.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7...74f586b2_z.jpg
People talk about sleeves and gussets, and trusses, And Im on board with all that... Except the sleeves.
Ive never understood sleeving the axle. The artec truss makes it so you dont need to sleeve. If you did want to beef the axle up itself, yukon makes a chromoly axle, that is guaranteed not to break. If you can break it, they send a new one.
Yukon again. You guys seem to love their stuff. Here's my question...
Has anyone actually broken a stock axle?
I've broken several axles in my CJs and they were no slouches. My JK Rubicon is the first "modern" jeep I've owned and I went with Artec to (hopefully) prevent the ass pain that is a broken axle.
What did it cost you in having the truss welded to the axle? I've been wanting to do this to my D30 but haven't heard on what the cost is roughly to have it mounted.
Well that's a huge difference. That at least gives me some idea of what I should expect in cost.
Yeah I also need to probably do some ball joints at the same time as well. I'm just worried about having it welded by someone that also knows to do small areas at a time to keep the axle and internals from getting too hot in any particular spot.