Take a pic of the steering knuckles. It looks like they may have been swapped out because the tie rod ends mount differently than what you show in the pics.
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.
Is this a pre '76 Dana 44?
- Thread starter Never Satisfied
- Start date
Never Satisfied
1/2 ton status
Are these considered inferior to later 44's?
Stomis
Professional Amateur
O ok they are external. Which is also weaker. I've got the ultimate answer for you here!
Buy the axle, offer $100. Take the knuckles have it milled for hi-steer. For the $50 get it out of the way now in case you ever do it later on.
Strip the outters off the 44. Put some new spicer ball joints in from bronco graveyard, they are super cheap. Put the dana 44 flattops on the axle and then use your 10b spindles and hubs.
Wahlah no buying nothing but balljoints and fresh wheel bearings!
Buy the axle, offer $100. Take the knuckles have it milled for hi-steer. For the $50 get it out of the way now in case you ever do it later on.
Strip the outters off the 44. Put some new spicer ball joints in from bronco graveyard, they are super cheap. Put the dana 44 flattops on the axle and then use your 10b spindles and hubs.
Wahlah no buying nothing but balljoints and fresh wheel bearings!
chevyuser74
1/2 ton status
never had an issue there, blew out the ujoint though
Neither have I, but I watched it happen to a member on here. I have also heard of it happening to others.
Martin
Never Satisfied
1/2 ton status
One of the main reasons, is to get the front to 8 lug. Right now, I'm 6 up front & 8 in back.
Only if you wheel hard and run larger tires.
I've also heard and seen pics but never cut one or saw one in person that the 3/4 ton tube thicknesses are 1/2" thick wall where the 1/2 ton D44's of say the same year are a thinner wall thickness.
Do not quote me on this. Until I find a junk D44 of both 1/2 and 3/4 ton to cut personally, I will not confirm what size the tube thicknesses are.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Ahhhh so. Check out rock auto they have the hub/rotor assembly for cheaper than buying an entire axle I believe.
I have 8lug external style hub stuff sitting in my shed btw... With warn or mile marker hubs too.
Never Satisfied
1/2 ton status
Autozone is the cheapest for the hub/rotor.....280 shipped for two. Then I gotta buy the backingplates and the new ones are 200 shipped. I asked in another thread, but I assume my 10-bolt calipers will work with this setup...but not sure.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
Huh yeah rock auto is $130 per. Guess they realized there was a big market for them....
YZEATER
1/2 ton status
Stomis
Professional Amateur
The answer to this would be the domino effect I believe. Its more of an issue with my parents watching my dump money into my truck and a combination of a bad choice of rear axle than anything else though.
My rear yoke blew when I first got the truck and I decided right there I wasnt spending any more money on the rear 10b. I had JUST had my new 36 tsls mounted on 6lug wheel....
Then I found what I thought at the time was a good deal on a 6 lug converted 14b 10.5 ring. So I put that in. When I realized I wanted a 60 front I was too far invested in a 6 lug rear axle to ditch the setup.
Theres no reason for me to lie about the price of them around here if thats what your getting at. Back 1.5 years ago I had 30,000 miles farm truck srw 1 tons sitting in the back of my dads truck that I bought for $500 that I was gonna put in. When I realized the cost to rebuild, lock, and do them right I sold them. I sold the d60 front for $500 after it being listed for $650 and the 14b for $100.
The thing with blinging the d44 out is it comes in smaller, less discrete boxes when it gets to my house
And I've begun loving my front ground clearance. I just noticed the other day I started peeling the edge of the cover off the 14b... Guess its time to shaved it even more.Btw if ya dont believe me ask runamok. Hes on the NJfourwheeler site that I used to look on. Thats where I watched two d60s go to scrap.
