Quick answer

The RBX Ryft AR14B rear axle is a centered-axle upgrade for the Axial Ryft, and it fits only if you already run an Axial Locker or a Vanquish Products Locker. Buy it if you want a stronger, more scale-looking rear end and you're prepared to supply your own hexes and ring gear. Skip it if you're not sure which locker is in your Ryft, because the housing won't accept anything else.

What the AR14B actually replaces on a Ryft

This is a centered rear axle assembly for the Axial Ryft, not a universal part. The housing is aluminum, the rear axle shafts are chromoly, and it ships with one-piece bearing retainers and a removable diff cover. That combination matters on a Ryft because the rear end takes the worst of the trail impacts, and a removable cover lets you inspect the diff without pulling the whole axle out of the truck.

The scale truss is part of the housing design, so you're not bolting on a separate brace. If your current setup relies on an aftermarket truss that wraps the stock housing, that part comes off and stays off.

  • Aluminum housing with a centered pumpkin, matching the Ryft's centered rear driveline
  • Chromoly rear axle shafts included, so you don't need to source them separately
  • One-piece bearing retainers replace the multi-piece stock arrangement
  • Removable diff cover for inspection without a full teardown

The locker rule that decides everything

The AR14B is manufactured to fit an Axial Locker or a Vanquish Products Locker. That is a hard compatibility boundary, not a suggestion. If your Ryft has a spool or a locker from another brand, this housing is the wrong purchase regardless of how good the rest of the spec looks.

Before ordering, open your current rear axle and confirm what's inside. If you can't identify it, that's your signal to pause. The cost of guessing wrong here is a return plus another teardown, and the axle won't be usable in the meantime.

  • Confirm Axial Locker or Vanquish Products Locker before buying
  • An unidentified locker is a stop sign, not a maybe
  • The housing does not include a locker, so plan for the one you already have

What's in the box and what isn't

The package includes the axle housing, two centered rear axle shafts, two bearing retainers, a diff cover, hardware, and instructions. Hexes and the ring gear are not included. That's normal for a housing-level upgrade, but it changes your total cost and your build timeline if you assumed a complete drop-in assembly.

If you're also refreshing the front end or the steering, budget the same shopping trip. A rear-only upgrade on a truck with worn front C-hubs will just move the weak point forward.

  • Included: housing, 2 centered rear axle shafts, 2 bearing retainers, diff cover, hardware, instructions
  • Not included: hexes and ring gear
  • Plan your gear ratio and locker selection before the axle arrives

Where the Currie D44 fits into the decision

If you're shopping rear axles and also run a VS4-10, the Currie VS4-10 D44 rear axle is the parallel option. It's a licensed Currie Enterprises D44-style housing with a centered pumpkin and one-piece bearing retainers, and it uses Vanquish Products AR44 gear sets and spools. Recommended use is with VS4-10 kits including Origin, Pro, Ultra, and Phoenix, plus the VS4-10 Chassis Kit.

The two axles solve the same problem for two different trucks. The AR14B is Ryft-specific and locker-dependent; the D44 is VS4-10-specific and gear-set-dependent. Don't cross-shop them for the same build.

  • AR14B: Axial Ryft, requires Axial or Vanquish locker
  • Currie D44: VS4-10 based vehicles, uses AR44 gear sets and spools
  • Both use one-piece bearing retainers and a centered pumpkin

Decision rules for the AR14B

  • Rule 1: Locker identity comes first: The AR14B fits an Axial Locker or a Vanquish Products Locker only. Open your rear axle and confirm before you order. No confirmed locker, no purchase.
  • Rule 2: Budget for the missing parts: Hexes and ring gear are not in the box. Add them to your total cost and your build schedule before checkout. The sticker price is not the build price.
  • Rule 3: Match the axle to the platform: AR14B is for the Axial Ryft. If you run a VS4-10, the Currie D44 is the axle built for that chassis. Wrong platform, wrong axle, every time.
  • Rule 4: Upgrade the front in the same pass: A stronger rear end exposes worn front hubs and steering hardware. If the front is tired, address it now rather than after the next trail day. Fix the weak link before it moves forward.

Product facts

  • RBX Ryft AR14B Rear Axle - Black Anodized: RBX AR14B Rear Aluminum Axle for Axial Ryft with a centered axle design, chromoly rear axle shafts, scale truss, removable diff cover, and one-piece bearing retainers; manufactured to fit an Axial Locker or Vanquish Products Locker. This is the single most important fitment fact. If your Ryft doesn't already run one of those two lockers, this axle is not the right buy, no matter how the rest of your build looks.
  • Currie VS4-10 D44 Rear Axle Black Anodized: Currie VS4-10 D44 rear axle with a centered pumpkin and one-piece bearing retainers, using Vanquish Products AR44 gear sets and spools; recommended for VS4-10 kits including Origin, Pro, Ultra, and Phoenix, and the VS4-10 Chassis Kit. If your build is a VS4-10 rather than a Ryft, this is the axle that matches your truck. Choosing the AR14B for a VS4-10 build is a fitment dead end.
  • Wraith Scale C-Hubs Black Anodized: Vanquish Products aluminum scale C-hubs for the Axial Wraith with a clamping design, adding a bumpstop at 48 degrees when paired with Vanquish scale chubs and knuckles, and working with standard Axial stock and Vanquish Wraith knuckles. If you're already upgrading the rear end, the front steering and hub hardware is the next place slop shows up. Note this is a Wraith part, not a Ryft part, so verify your platform before adding it to the cart.

Who should buy the RBX Ryft AR14B

Best for

  • Axial Ryft owners who have confirmed an Axial Locker or Vanquish Products Locker in the rear axle
  • Builders who want chromoly rear shafts and a removable diff cover for easier trail maintenance
  • Drivers replacing a bent or worn stock rear housing and want a scale truss built in

Not for

  • Anyone who can't identify the locker currently in their Ryft
  • VS4-10 owners, who should look at the Currie VS4-10 D44 rear axle instead
  • Buyers expecting a complete drop-in assembly with hexes and ring gear included