We have installed about (8) - New Rhino 2.0 Rear Axles on 2023 KRX4 in almost 4k mi. If you think that is normal, I have spoken with Can-am X3 overlanders getting 60k from rear axles and only changed them based on mileage. They are doing the same type of multi use driving we do, with higher speeds. Although less switch back turns.
Couple of our axles started clicking first day, most by day 3. We ride WV area with a street legal UTV on / off the pavement between trails. We currently have almost 4k mi. on KRX4 and have never broken any axles, on any UTV.
Rhino 2.0 axles outer CV join friction failures act like a lack of lubrication issue allowing friction to begin scaring between CV joints, leading to clicking. 1 axle CV was so bad NEW out of the box that it barely moved and almost locked up in the first couple hours of use. Quality control?
Not everyone experiences this CV failure because they don't drive as many highway miles with locked rear on switchbacks. But ALL of these UTV have locked rear, so why are we experiencing failures so quickly?
Why not change axle brands? How many diff. China axle Mfg. are there or are they all the same with diff. color boots, etc. selling for diff. prices based on marketing?
Rhino 2.0 axles are under $200 ea. vs OEM Kawasaki axles are over $850ea. Not sure what the solution is because we are operating withing OEM suspension travel spec. NOT long travel, which rules out needing double plunge axles. Plunging hub has never been a problem, only the outer CV on rear axles that are locked. Rhino 3.0 double plunge, isn't offered for KRX, only high performance UTV.
Why did we replace OEM axles? OEM boots: 1 slid off in 15" of mud while winching out and the other had a small 1" cut which led to axle clicking. We carried a Rhino 2.0 for spare. This is why we started using Rhino 2.0 axles, while waiting for OEM boots. If your going to carry a spare axle, $200 vs $850 is less to worry about growing legs. Funny, aftermarket marketing has convinced people that ALL OEM axles are weaker. The KRX OEM axles are fine, just way over priced.
I've removed boots from brand new Rhino 2.0 Axles straight out of the box, removed boot and they are full of Black CV grease. They aren't failing from grease leaks. Just a lack of lubrication, is my guess.
Because of SuperATV buying power, they can sell Rhino 2.0 axles for under $200 with free S & H, so it's an easy replacement option if needed. Again we are not breaking axles, so if we could resolve the CV clicking issue by replacing 100% of the factory grease and re band the boot. It's an option that may provide axles with a very long life. Off road use will always battle with torn boots that cause CV grease loss and result in CV clicking but that's not our reason for new axle failures.
We spoke with UTV biz owner that also races. He explained many Mfg. use very low end grease in most axles is why he started building his own. CV clicking is a lack of lubrication friction issue. So if the rest of axle is holding up. And we can solve the lack of lube issue creating the friction wear failure. It's an easy option vs paying hundreds more for a custom high end axle not sold in all areas.
Plus if the Rhino 2.0 axle breaks, it has a replacement warranty. No. . . replacing axles every day under warranty isn't the solution. But now you know why we have changed 8 axles vs switching brands. Warranty. . .
We have 500 miles on our first test set using different grease and so far they haven't made any noise. Perhaps we got lucky this time after 6 failures in a row. But you can see how I'm leaning towards the grease being the common denominator - solution.
Axle angle is at 15 degree. We aligned vehicle and set rear toe to zero, to prevent 100% pavement traction raising axle angle. Rear trans is locked and cannot be unlocked so pavement binds axles when turning. Same as trucks used to come with locked rear axles. All sport UTV have locked axles, including the Can-Am X3 referenced above. This problem became worse with K02 street tires but the overland UTV owners run all terrain type tires also. Yes, they offer more highway contact patch (traction) vs UTV mud type tires.
We are hoping the better grease will provide longer CV life.
Soft UTV off road tires only last 1500 mi. if driven on the HOT pavement. Plus the law in many states require DOT tires to be street legal. (It's all a catch 22)
Am hoping someone has direct experience with this vs opinions.
PS: Notice I'm not disclosing the TEST grease used. You could ask SuperATV what type of CV grease the Rhino 2.0 axles use to determine what may be causing this lubrication problem. They won't tell me at the tech warranty level. Just CV grease
Thanks
Couple of our axles started clicking first day, most by day 3. We ride WV area with a street legal UTV on / off the pavement between trails. We currently have almost 4k mi. on KRX4 and have never broken any axles, on any UTV.
Rhino 2.0 axles outer CV join friction failures act like a lack of lubrication issue allowing friction to begin scaring between CV joints, leading to clicking. 1 axle CV was so bad NEW out of the box that it barely moved and almost locked up in the first couple hours of use. Quality control?
Not everyone experiences this CV failure because they don't drive as many highway miles with locked rear on switchbacks. But ALL of these UTV have locked rear, so why are we experiencing failures so quickly?
Why not change axle brands? How many diff. China axle Mfg. are there or are they all the same with diff. color boots, etc. selling for diff. prices based on marketing?
Rhino 2.0 axles are under $200 ea. vs OEM Kawasaki axles are over $850ea. Not sure what the solution is because we are operating withing OEM suspension travel spec. NOT long travel, which rules out needing double plunge axles. Plunging hub has never been a problem, only the outer CV on rear axles that are locked. Rhino 3.0 double plunge, isn't offered for KRX, only high performance UTV.
Why did we replace OEM axles? OEM boots: 1 slid off in 15" of mud while winching out and the other had a small 1" cut which led to axle clicking. We carried a Rhino 2.0 for spare. This is why we started using Rhino 2.0 axles, while waiting for OEM boots. If your going to carry a spare axle, $200 vs $850 is less to worry about growing legs. Funny, aftermarket marketing has convinced people that ALL OEM axles are weaker. The KRX OEM axles are fine, just way over priced.
I've removed boots from brand new Rhino 2.0 Axles straight out of the box, removed boot and they are full of Black CV grease. They aren't failing from grease leaks. Just a lack of lubrication, is my guess.
Because of SuperATV buying power, they can sell Rhino 2.0 axles for under $200 with free S & H, so it's an easy replacement option if needed. Again we are not breaking axles, so if we could resolve the CV clicking issue by replacing 100% of the factory grease and re band the boot. It's an option that may provide axles with a very long life. Off road use will always battle with torn boots that cause CV grease loss and result in CV clicking but that's not our reason for new axle failures.
We spoke with UTV biz owner that also races. He explained many Mfg. use very low end grease in most axles is why he started building his own. CV clicking is a lack of lubrication friction issue. So if the rest of axle is holding up. And we can solve the lack of lube issue creating the friction wear failure. It's an easy option vs paying hundreds more for a custom high end axle not sold in all areas.
Plus if the Rhino 2.0 axle breaks, it has a replacement warranty. No. . . replacing axles every day under warranty isn't the solution. But now you know why we have changed 8 axles vs switching brands. Warranty. . .
We have 500 miles on our first test set using different grease and so far they haven't made any noise. Perhaps we got lucky this time after 6 failures in a row. But you can see how I'm leaning towards the grease being the common denominator - solution.
Axle angle is at 15 degree. We aligned vehicle and set rear toe to zero, to prevent 100% pavement traction raising axle angle. Rear trans is locked and cannot be unlocked so pavement binds axles when turning. Same as trucks used to come with locked rear axles. All sport UTV have locked axles, including the Can-Am X3 referenced above. This problem became worse with K02 street tires but the overland UTV owners run all terrain type tires also. Yes, they offer more highway contact patch (traction) vs UTV mud type tires.
We are hoping the better grease will provide longer CV life.
Soft UTV off road tires only last 1500 mi. if driven on the HOT pavement. Plus the law in many states require DOT tires to be street legal. (It's all a catch 22)
Am hoping someone has direct experience with this vs opinions.
PS: Notice I'm not disclosing the TEST grease used. You could ask SuperATV what type of CV grease the Rhino 2.0 axles use to determine what may be causing this lubrication problem. They won't tell me at the tech warranty level. Just CV grease
Thanks
. No clicking whatsoever and they are holding up to my shenanigans so far. Running 35 Roxxzilla's on a 2020 2 seat. 
