Looking for some input

BIIprospector · Apr 23, 2008

Hi, i am doing a SAS on my ranger. i bought a dana 44 from a 74 Bronco and a matching 9". this axle has drum brakes so i bought a full width dana 44 out of a 79 bronco in perfect shape with radius arms, and disk brakes to do the conversion. i have all the pieces to do the swap. i was set on the narrower axle but today the idea poped into my head while i was starring at my truck that the full width axle might be a better idea. i was planning on putting this truck on the road but i am not sure if the extra (6 inches i believe) will be a huge problem. is there and performance gains of the full width axle?

sorry for the lenghty post, thanks, Nick.

metalmacguyver · Apr 23, 2008

It will vastly increase stability. Some cops will want you to run massive fender flares though. Easy enough to make them removable.

BTW, thats not a very long post.

Sasquatch_Ryda · Apr 23, 2008

Just to give you an Idea, here is my buddy's 87 BII on fullwidth 79 f150 d44 and 9" with 36" TSL's. He's got about a 6" rubber flare (conveyor belting) to cover the tires as he drives it on the street to get to the trails.

chico4554 · Apr 23, 2008

the fw axle is stronger as well. I has a high pinion design compared to the 74 low pinion design. It also has larger u-joints in the axle ears. Since the fw axle seems to be in good shape, just go ahead and use it. It will save a lot of time because you wont have to swap everything over to the smaller axle. I plan on going full width eventually with a 44 most likley. I just wont do it for a while cause ill have to get new steering and matching gears.

4x4junkie · Apr 24, 2008

+4

I have regrets about narrowing the D44 on mine, wasn't even worth the hassle, go fullwidth.

BIIprospector · Apr 25, 2008

thanks for the advice guys. i had already put the disks and larger u-joints on the narrow axle, plus made steering for it so for time purposes i am going to put the narrower axle in and i will build coil mounts for the full width axle and steering, basicly get a set of full width axles ready to bolt on, and when i do i will put the narrow pair in my DD Bronco II

Looking for some input

BIIprospector

15+ Year Member

metalmacguyver

Yeah, I built that.

Sasquatch_Ryda

TRS Staff - Retired

chico4554

15+ Year Member

4x4junkie

Forum Staff Member

BIIprospector

15+ Year Member

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