FOund a difference in D44's

[Emmettology 101]

FOund a difference in D44\'s

Ok, I have never seen a difference in d44's until last night.
My blazer has a D44 in it from a 3/4 ton 77 Chevy with 8lugs that was converted to 6 lug. Now, y friend has a 71 3/4 Chevy with a stock 44 up front with 8 lug .

I broke an axle a few months back and he gave me one of his spares which was from a 69 3/4 ton and it used the same u-joint as my 44 and my 10 bolt - a 297...
Well he borke an axle the other day and needed a spare inner shaft so I took over my spare inner shaft from my 10 bolt.(I know they are supposed to be different but I have swapped these in an out on 3 different ocasions with no problems)
Well my 10 shaft fit in his carrier with no play and so he was going to use my inner shaft with his outer shaft. We both had borken u-joints in our shafts so we went back to Auto Zone to claim on our lifetime warranty joints.
Well when they brought them out they were different sizes(we didn't notice that hen we took them there)
The 10 bolt shaft had the 297 and his 71 had a smaller u-joint(sorry forgot the part number, maybe a 0187 or something)
But the shaft he gave me from the 69 had the same 297 as the 10 bolt shaft.

So there is a u-joint difference in some 44's and even the Auto Zone computer showed two different cap sizes.

So to all I told that there were no differences, I apologize!

Mike
1982 GMC Jimmy - <font color=green>Emmett</font color=green>
http://emmett.coloradok5.com

 

[ken]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

Yes, all Dana 44s prior to 1973 (thus 1972 and older) used the 260 sized u-joints, which are the same as a Dana 30. Even 3/4 tons!!! Yes, I have an original '72 3/4 ton front Dana 44 with 260 u-joints. That '69 with 297s was probably converted at some time.

ken

 

[bablazer73]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

also, I found that 73 older d44 have a smaller inner wheel bearing diameter. the spindle surface is the difference.

your right. I don't understand the jeep thing!

 

[ken]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

The smaller spindle goes up till mid-year 1976 on 1/2 tons.

ken

 

[blazer72]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

67 to 70 use one spindel and hub. 70 and 72 use therre own spindel and hub. 73 to 91 , both 10 bolt and 44 use the same spindel, but the inner bearing gets bigger in 80 so the hub in changed then.
As for the axel being the same between the 10 bolt and 44 , the 10 bolt shold have 28 spine shafts and the 44 always used a 30 spline. 67 to 72 had 1/2 ton and 3/4 axels but both used the smaller u-joint 73 to 76 1/2 and 3/4 ton each had there own axels but both use the larger u-joint. 77 to 91 all used the 3/4 ton type axels from 73 to 76.
There are only 2 stub axels one for each u-joint. Yes there are sevral GM part number for each just like there are 6 part numbers for the 1/2 ton disc rottor but all are the same part.

I understand the jeep thing I drive a BLAZER!!

Ken

 

[Executioner]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

Looks like your close to the Facts, but not there just yet.
What do you mean by the word "same"?

 

[blazer72]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

dont know which time i used the word same you mean. in the case of the last time all blazer with the 6 bolt ft, disc used the same part. 88 and up trucks use a difrent one.

I understand the jeep thing I drive a BLAZER!!

Ken

 

[realsquash]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

I hate to beat this horse, but a friend just procured a Dana 44 that has the larger u-joints, larger wheel bearings, and "external mount" lockouts. I've read in both fourwheeler and perterson's (both pete's now) that this is called a dana 44HD. I will be inspecting the unit tommorow night more thoroughly.

Squash
http://www.trailrunners4x4.org/users/realsquash

 

[ken]

Re: FOund a difference in D44\'s

If that Dana 44 3/4 ton has the external mount hubs AND large u-joints, then it is a 1973-mid year 1977. The smaller spindle only applies to the 1/2 tons. Also, pre '73 8 lug external mount hubs use small 260 series u joints.

ken