dana 44 strenght with upgraded shafts etc

[chevyguybc]

well recently i had to put ball joints in my front dana 44, to go camping.. now it needs a ring and pinion due to a rock to the diff cover, chipped a few teeth.. its currently 4:10s

dana 60s out here are 1000, then they need another 1500.

dana 44 chromo shafts and u joints would be 800... crossover another 300,

i would also up the gears to 4:88 for 400 front rear..

so i would be into it for 1700, now... would this take the abuse of 39.5 iroks? or should i just buck up, wait until next summer and get a dana 60, and stick with 36s until then?

 

[pauly383]

I wouldn't doubt you broke those . The last Chevy Dana 44 front was installed in the 70's

 

[tRustyK5]

$1700 and you'd still have a ball joint front end with a small carrier and a tiny pinion gear...

Personally I'd do the 60 and never have to worry about it again.

Rene

 

[bigblock72]

With 39s you'd be silly to put any money in a 44 and expect it to last long enough to get a return on your investment. Just save your money and buy a 60, you won't regret it, especially with the way you seem to use your equipment.

 

[6.2Blazer]

What exactly do you mean when you say "A Dana 60 costs $1000 and then needs another $1500"???? I bought a Dana 60, slapped in a Lock-right, fresh Spicer u-joints, new brakes and wheel bearings, and it's way less then $1500 and had held up way better than my old 10-bolt ever did.

If you were planning on doing gears and crossover on the existing D44, then those costs are a wash anyway.

 

[gmc4cw]

with 4.88 gears and 39.5 Iroks you will get use to the sound of broken parts in a dana 44 even with HD shafts. I went through a few Warn HD shafts before I gave up and Got a D60. I tried everything. I had hub fuses, HD shafts and HD u-joints. I blew my locker up and the short side inner shaft playing in a plowed up pile of snow in my driveway. that was the last straw. my wife finally saw the light and agreed that I needed a D60.

 

[chevyguybc]

thanks, just the posts I was looking for, i knew your past experiences would help me out..

1500 is for rebuild, gears, steering, and hydro..