Largest tire on a D44 and Ford 9" suggestions

[LittleBigFoot]

Whats the biggest tire, that you think could be used, on a D44 and a Ford 9 inch?

And by that I mean the biggest tire that could be used with out thrashing the axle every time I wheel...

Thanks,
Adam

[Toreadorranger]

37's

[LittleBigFoot]

37's are what I was hoping for. And because the emissions places around here cant test on anything higher then 37's.

[Natedog57]

I'd say it depends on what you are doing, but in Colorado and w/ the stock 4.0, I would agree w/ 36/37s

[LittleBigFoot]

I've got the 3.0, but later on down the road i'm plannin on swappin in a 302.

I'm hoping 4.88's will help, along with a doubler on the trail

[Jim Oaks]

Randy's says 35's. I'd say 37's would work. They list 38's for my D60's, but I want 42" Iroks.

[LittleBigFoot]

I'm thinkin 37's. The super swampers come down in price (from what I've seen) for the 37x14 on 16 rims. I think that's my sign.

How much different is it to install a D60 then a D44?

[holshotracer]

i rode in a 78 bronco and the owner was runnig 38s on his. hes running a mildly built 460 too. he's running yukon axles and he said that its been 7 year since he broke an axle.
heres a pic and vid of it
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/holshotracer/Spring%20Fling/Springfling003.jpg
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/holshotracer/Spring%20Fling/th_Springfling032.jpg (http://s97.photobucket.com/albums/l224/holshotracer/Spring%20Fling/?action=view&current=Springfling032.flv)

[LittleBigFoot]

that thing's a beast!

[holshotracer]

its been in the four wheeler mag real truck challage. he bent the front axle tube cuz he jumped it down the comp.

[LittleBigFoot]

damn!

So, another question? Leafs or Coils on a SAS? I'm looking for lift, agressive articulation, and for it to be pretty low budgeted...

Any suggestions?

[PaleBlue90]

dude why would you want 37's? swampers are pricey especially 37s. not to mention there a pain to take off and put on. i would just stick with the 33's but its just my 2cents....you kno im only running 31's on jeep rubi 16in wheels and thats plenty....but i might go to 33s later on down teh road

[redneckracerx]

my buddy is runnin a 302 np435 np205 dana 44 and 9" on 39.5 swampers and the only thing he's broke has been the rear spiders (which he fixed with a spool)
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c362/redneckracerx/IMG_3101.jpg?t=1189310161

an explorer is alot lighterthan a fullsize bronco. weight plays a big roll in axle life.

[LittleBigFoot]

Mike, I found some swampers for 220 a tire. Thats only about 50 bucks more per tire then what Discount Tires wants for a BFG dominator 33x12.5

I think 37's would be just fine, and I have plenty of muscley friends that owe me favors. Like a tire rotation with 37's. It'd be funny to watch.

And thats a hefty lookin truck.

With in the next year would any one be interested in buying a mis matched set of 33's? hahaha

[PaleBlue90]

well its all up to you, just to warn you ive heard swampers arent good for the street. i kno yours just like mine is spent half on the street and half playing. ive heard they wear funny and crap. idk how the goodyear MTR's i have on my ranger wear but they seem to do good.

[LittleBigFoot]

hmm. i guess this means i'll have to buy a motorcycle. problem solved! hahahaha

I'll look into some reviews. Tires wear funny on rangers anyways tho!

[LittleBigFoot]

Hey Mike,

How much lift did you acheive with those custom hangers you fabbed up?

[PARKINGLOT]

well its all up to you, just to warn you ive heard swampers arent good for the street.

Exactly. No offence, but that's second hand information. I'm sure someone on here that runs swampers will chime in. Thumper maybe? CRBNUNIT? Jim?

[BLOODBANE]

The tire wear problem will be different after the straight axle (TTB vs. SA). And it depends on which TSL you decide on. The Radials will wear better than Bias. As far as size for the 44 and 9" are you planning using the chromolly axles or just using stock? With stock axles I wouldn't go over a 36/37". With the 'mollys you can run a bigger tire (I have a HP 44 and 9" waiting to be built for my Ranger, and have been doing some research myself). Just my thoughts...........

[blue83ranger]

One of my friends has a '97 Heep wrangler with a 4.0, 5speed, 44 and a 9 inch and it has 38's with a spool in the rear and a cable locker in the front and the only thing he breaks is the lockouts and he breaks alot of them. He's considering going down to 37's. And he drives it on the road too but it handles like crap even with the sway bars hooked up. He bought it with all the mods done to it so we don't know if the axles themselves are stock or not but i did notice the 9 inch has metal welded to it long wise to make it stronger. And he drives it very hard.

[TRUNK_MONKEY]

sounds like you have the fever--big tires and big lifts are over rated.learn to run what you have
and that will make you a much better wheeler.you up the ante on the tires and up goes the axles and gears and tires and diffs and driveshaft and,and and and .and the before you know it,you cant even drive it all the time cause you have too much specialist junk for off road ability.you are getting caught up in the arms race and before ya know it you will have 10 thousand in your axles and tires.screw that!
good tires of the best right size for your needs,and a good winch will get you everywhere you might ever need or want to go.save you money for college,girls or bail!

[LittleBigFoot]

Well either way I'm going for a full set of new tires. My hand me down pro comps are worn like none other, and up front I'm running two new mis matched BFGs.

And I guess I do have the bug. This is a hobby I really enjoy and I guess I don't want to half-ass anything or limit myself. The Super Swamper Radials come down enough in price that I can stand to re-gear. truckaddons has them for about $220 for a 37X14R16. Discount tires wants 180 for a BFG T/A 33x12.5R16. So price isn't bad for what they are.

And I like to go muddin a lot. My 33's have left me stuck in a bog quite a few times.



I'm still in the process of finding axles. Most likly they'll be from a 76-77 bronco. So, stock... I'm thinkin I'll be safe with the 37's if I don't wheel like an asshole.

So that's where I'm at right about now.

[Toreadorranger]

the Eb axles are the weakest of the d44/9" combo. The front axle is drums with small Ujoints. and the rear axle is only 28 spline, not the 31 like most 9" axles. I have a custom built EB 9" (currie HD housing, 31 spline alloy shafts) in my truck, but nothing in it is really EB anymore, its just built to the same size (width) as the EB 9".

[LittleBigFoot]

I'm not goin for the early bronco (if thats what EB means in this case. I said 76 and 77, not 66-77) the '76s and '77s used disks from what I've seen/read. And I'm leaning towards a D44 out of a wagoneer cause I'm planning on leafs.

[TRUNK_MONKEY]

the 31 spline 8.8 rear you have is awesome as is. i wouldnt change unless it is for bolt pattern issues.

[Jim Oaks]

My older Ranger has the 33" swampers in the front and boggers in the back. I stopped driving it to the trail because the asphalt eats them up. If it goes, it goes by trailer. A friend had the same set up and they didn't last that long driving it around on the road.

I'm just going to add here to check tire dimensions closely. If you were to look at Iroks you would see a 36" and 37" tire. The 36 is around $218 and the 37 is around $269. Say $50 more. However....the 36x13.5x15 is 36.8 OD and 14.5 width whereas the 37x14x15 is 36.5 OD and 14.71 width.

[4x4junkie]

I'm not goin for the early bronco (if thats what EB means in this case. I said 76 and 77, not 66-77) the '76s and '77s used disks from what I've seen/read. And I'm leaning towards a D44 out of a wagoneer cause I'm planning on leafs.

'76 and '77 are "early" broncos. Although those two years were disc brake, they still have small u-joints and the rear is 28 spline.

'78 is when the Bronco went fullsize with bigger joints and 31 spline rear.

Aftermarket shafts that use the bigger joints are readily available for the EB D44 housings though (and 31 spl shafts for the EB 9).

[Toreadorranger]

the 31 spline 8.8 rear you have is awesome as is. i wouldnt change unless it is for bolt pattern issues.

unless he swaped a explorer axle in hes got a 28 spline axle.

[LittleBigFoot]

http://www.truckaddons.com/Catalog/subpages/superswamer_IROK.htm

Here's where I'm looking. And yes, I know that it's 80 bucks shipping for a set of 4.

[brendank]

Many will say 36-37, but I personally wouldn't go more than a 35x12.5 on a stock D44.

Well, actually, I would, but I'd bet on walking home an awful lot. :no2:

[TRUNK_MONKEY]

unless he swaped a explorer axle in hes got a 28 spline axle.
if the diff is changed for detroit etc go 31 spline. in any case i think the 8.8 is a better deal since there are so many options for the 9 in that were weaker,finding the best 9--heck he may well have the best option already on board.i doubt the axle tube difference is worth worrying over in a lightweight ranger anyway.
but if he scores a expl axle cheep,damn she is a bolt--go for it!

[LittleBigFoot]

hmmmm...

Ok, what wagooneer D44 axles are worth while?

[Toreadorranger]

80 to 83 then 86 on. 84 and 85 have a CAD vaccum system IIRC.

[LittleBigFoot]

Thanks Toreadorranger. I just found a complete 1980 5.9L V8 wagoneer for 500 bucks. I'm tempted....

[LittleBigFoot]

I was over on pirate4x4 and I read that the '86 waggys had 4.88's front and rear stock. Is there any truth to this? Was it a factory option, or standard? Anyone know if they keep the ratio through the later years?

[PaleBlue90]

Thanks Toreadorranger. I just found a complete 1980 5.9L V8 wagoneer for 500 bucks. I'm tempted....

im not 100% but i think waggys had a AMC 20 in the rear, you could always use both axles and just step up to some strong axles. i know kits are around for both axles. i think that would be a good idea. :yahoo: not to mention you could sell whats left of that waggy to make some cash back.

[86ford]

i havent posted in this thread ever but i read through it and noticed you claim to of had your ranger leave you stuck in bogs before. get both your front and rear locked and junk that open diff in the rear for a lunch box locker at least and lock the front up and see what you think then.

[Pt_Ranger_V8]

run 36's locked, and I doubt you would ever have any issues...

just make sure they're actually 36" tires :icon_thumby:

[86ford]

on the intial qestion. i have a friend who runs a d44 with 39's or 40's with a desiel pushing and a 435np behind it and dosent break to many axles. I think its fair to say he is the toughest on a vehicle i have ever seen a person be, his moto is "you arent stuck till your broke". i have seen him in action and he sticks by it. the u-joints or motors usually give before the d44 and related parts. this is the same guy that decided his last 400m had a knock so he would hold the pedal to the floor and shure enough out came pistons from the side of the block.

[Natedog57]

Pretty sure the waggys never has 4.88s - usually come with 2.xx or 3.xx ratios. They had both AMC 20s and later Dana 44s, the 8.8/31 is stronger than both.

I think there are some discrepencies on when the CAD systems came out (I thought it was ~83/84), just look for a line (other than the breather vent) going into the diff/tube which would signify the CAD.

Any axle here in the Pick/Pull is worth $100 - hub to hub (no steering) but that is not what its worth in Colorado

[Toreadorranger]

I was over on pirate4x4 and I read that the '86 waggys had 4.88's front and rear stock. Is there any truth to this? Was it a factory option, or standard? Anyone know if they keep the ratio through the later years?

my 86 waggy axle had 2.92's or something like that.

[TRUNK_MONKEY]

my 86 waggy axle had 2.92's or something like that.

maybe 373's too