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HD 44 axel Shaft's???

Supreme70

Supreme70

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I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a difference between a HD Dana 44 and a Regular Dana 44. I have a chance to pick up some axels Shafts out of a 72 Chevy hd dana 44 and was wondering if it would fit my 77 Chevy Dana 44????:confused:
 
a '72 d44 might have been a closed knuckle axle. pretty sure they'll be different.
 
an axle where the u-joint is not exposed. you need axle shafts that have 28 spline inner shafts, and 19 spline outer shafts, and they also need to match the length of your current ones.

don't worry about the hd d44 crap. not enough of a diffence if at all.
 
The hd 44 is a open knuckle, was just wondering if the axel shafts are the same as a regular 44??? I tore up my pass side one;s and need replacements that wont break my wallet.
 
YZEATER said:
an axle where the u-joint is not exposed. you need axle shafts that have 28 spline inner shafts, and 19 spline outer shafts, and they also need to match the length of your current ones.

don't worry about the hd d44 crap. not enough of a diffence if at all.
Click to expand...


I am not 100% positive but I thought d44 inner splines were 30 and the 10 bolt axle had the 28 spline inner. Correct me if i am wrong. At least that is what 3 of my d44 axles had i stripped for shafts.
 
The inners are different on a 10 bolt and a 44, but im talking a 44 hd and a regular 44.
 
i'm pretty sure D44"HD" is a misnomer. from what i've noticed, people usually say the external hub D44's are the "HD" models.

that being said, a '72 chevy D44 will have external hubs, open knuckles, BUT the shafts will take smaller ujoints. they will fit your axle, but personally i'd find newer ones.
 
GM stopped using Close knuckle front axles after 1970. 71-up are open knuckle.

The Dana ((Heavy Duty))44 front axle was used from early 60's........till 1977 (some sources claim 1976 was the last year)....that is B.S.......check a 77 GM service manual....or chilton book......they all say 1977..........and apparently it was only early model 1977's that still came with the HD 44 front axle.

What makes it Heavy Duty...........the GVW rating for a GM HD 44 front axle is around 3800 lbs.......(a GM dana 60 front is 4500 lbs).....the GM 1/2 ton dana 44 is around 3300lbs..........so the HD 44 is stronger in some respects than the 1/2 ton d44..........really only the outer portions on a GM HD are heavy duty........Big Spicer hubs.....larger brake rotors.

Shafts are same for HD 44 and 1/2 ton d44.......30 spline inners.......and 19 spline outters. Unjoints.............I think early model did use a smaller U joint than later model Hd44s........but not positive........since I havent had to change any of mine yet. Hope this helps.
 
7387chevynut said:
GM stopped using Close knuckle front axles after 1970. 71-up are open knuckle.

The Dana ((Heavy Duty))44 front axle was used from early 60's........till 1977 (some sources claim 1976 was the last year)....that is B.S.......check a 77 GM service manual....or chilton book......they all say 1977..........and apparently it was only early model 1977's that still came with the HD 44 front axle.

What makes it Heavy Duty...........the GVW rating for a GM HD 44 front axle is around 3800 lbs.......(a GM dana 60 front is 4500 lbs).....the GM 1/2 ton dana 44 is around 3300lbs..........so the HD 44 is stronger in some respects than the 1/2 ton d44..........really only the outer portions on a GM HD are heavy duty........Big Spicer hubs.....larger brake rotors.

Shafts are same for HD 44 and 1/2 ton d44.......30 spline inners.......and 19 spline outters. Unjoints.............I think early model did use a smaller U joint than later model Hd44s........but not positive........since I havent had to change any of mine yet. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

That is correct and the shafts on 76 and earlier D44 wether HD or 6 lug were also slimmer and used a smal bearing spindle, even the HD :eek1:
I have a few of them here and will not use them on a newer D44.
SO between the smaller U joint and the smaller size shafts, I would not put them in my full size rig.
They will be fine on a DD or a smaller jeep.
Intrestingly enough what I had been doing is getting these axles and parting them and selling the spindles to jeep owners that want a D44 with 5 lug outers, they use these spindles and ford outers.
 
So the larger shafts for a Chevy D44 are a half-year deal only? My early '77 has the 44, while my mid-year '77 has a 10 bolt. I assume the large bearing spindles and hubs are just 10 bolt parts?
 
Not shafts, the spindles changed around 76. The 44 3/4 I have has large spindles. I havent decoded the BOM but they are definately large spindle. I think the u joints they are talking about were in the late 60's
 
atho said:
i'm pretty sure D44"HD" is a misnomer. from what i've noticed, people usually say the external hub D44's are the "HD" models.

that being said, a '72 chevy D44 will have external hubs, open knuckles, BUT the shafts will take smaller ujoints. they will fit your axle, but personally i'd find newer ones.
Click to expand...


this is what i was trying to say.
 
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