d44 & 9" questions

[crawlin91]

Ive heard the dana 44 axle is a good sas conversion into a ranger. Id kinda like to do coils up front. I think I read there is a d44 axle that is an exact fit width wise.
What vehicle models and year could i find that under??
Ive also heard of narrowing axles though I dont know what it involves exactly.

would the bolt patterns match 5x5.5? is the d44 the same width as the 9"?
I
saw this ad and would like to know if its worth looking into? worth the price? and will it fit in a ranger relatively easy?
icon_confused:

I have a pair of axles out of a 70's Ford. The front is a High pinion dana 44. It is complete from locking hub to locking hub including discs, brake lines, tie rods, and drag link. I believe it has 4.10's but have not checked. The rear is a matching Ford 9 inch, complete drum to drum. I am asking $500 for the pair or $400 for the D44 and $200 for the 9 inch.

[1badexplorer]

axles that are same width as a ranger would be from a early ford bronco 66-77 if you want discs it would be from a 72-77. they would be dana 44 and 9" same width as each other. some have drum brakes on front so make sure what you are getting is what you want. I got a few sets I'll sale. $300 for drum brake front and 9" rear both complete. $400 for a disc front and 9" rear both complete. Also if you want a posi rear I got them also just add another $100 to the price for the pair. All axles have 3.50 gears. Thanks Nick

[crawlin91]

are the old f150 axles also the same d44 and 9"

[Shran]

Yes, most pre 1980 F150 axles will be D44 and 9". Look through the tech library, all the info you need will be there.

[86ford]

are the old f150 axles also the same d44 and 9"

the f150 axles are "full width". so they will be BIG. just look at adam's ranger next to yours. his is full width.

86

[crawlin91]

yeah im looking to make something that can take a beating. strictly for the trails. adams ride does sit nice and wide. I want to put them on another ranger
I found a bunch of good stuff in the tech library that I didnt know was in there.

[LittleBigFoot]

You can use a radius arm / coil system on a ranger by using the stock c wedges on the axle (some can't be cut off) and flipping the lower coil perch in. The lower coil perch has two holes drilled to bolt into the rad arms. The holes are offset and can be turned inward. 73-79 coil buckets can be welded or bolted on. That way you can run a longer coil etc.

I'll see if I can find the link to the build thread I found this on.

Wagoneer D44s are about the same width as the 8.8 but are set up for leafs. Grind off the wedges and you can buy coil shit from balistics and other fab shops that weld on.

I have a set of early ford long ass radius arms for the D44 if you decided to go the rad arm route. I'll let em go for beer.

[4x4junkie]

axles that are same width as a ranger would be from a early ford bronco 66-77 if you want discs it would be from a 72-77.

'72-'75 EB D44s are drum. Discs were only put on the '76-'77s. There's some chance you may find earlier ones that have been converted to disc though.

Yes, most pre 1980 F150 axles will be D44 and 9". Look through the tech library, all the info you need will be there.

Technically it's pre-'84 F-150 axles. The D44/9 can be found as late as '86 in some trucks too. 1980 was just the switchover year to TTB suspension.


yeah im looking to make something that can take a beating.

If you want something that can take more beating than your D35, D44s aren't the best choice.
The D44 may be somewhat stronger in some areas, but the common weak spot (u-joints) is exactly the same on both (not worth the work to swap IMO). EB D44s are actually weaker with their smaller u-joints.

A D44 swap is a good option if you just want the width however.

[Shran]

Technically it's pre-'84 F-150 axles. The D44/9 can be found as late as '86 in some trucks too. 1980 was just the switchover year to TTB suspension.

Yeah, my '86 F150 has a factory 9". I think one of my '85s did too, the other one had an 8.8. It's just a lot easier to find a pre-'80 F150 with everything you need unless you have access to a lot of parts trucks.

[BLOODBANE]

To fix the U-joint problem, you can run the Superjoints(I think thats what Randys R&P calls them) and help take a lot of the beating. I have priced out 'moly axles and these joints for the D44 and will run you around 700 for the set up. I think I will wait and find some 60's though(maybe save the D44&9" for my Explorer). You can only build them to be a strong as a stock 60. Now I understand not everyone can afford or even find 60's, but keep some of this in mind when building a trail truck that is gonna get abused......

[1badexplorer]

Originally Posted by 4x4junkie '72-'75 EB D44s are drum. Discs were only put on the '76-'77s. There's some chance you may find earlier ones that have been converted to disc though. Discs were an option on trucks from 72-75 My dad has parted out over two dozen of these trucks so we have many parts laying around. 72-75 trucks have a normal style cross over steering setup and have a different pitch on the tierod ends where it goes into the knuckle than a 76-77 style axle. The 76-77 axles a have a wishbone style tierod that does not preform well if the truck is lifted. I have had disc fronts from 72-75 broncos that were not converted some of the trucks I've parted have had under 50K miles and came from the original owner. I will admit discs are much harder to find in those years than the 76-77 style that was standard with discs. But most of all atleast in here in the NE part of the country EB are very hard to find parts for at all. Most of them rusted out 20 years ago and have long been junked.

[4x4junkie]

The bicentennial year brought several key improvements to Ford's sport utility, most notably the addition of long overdue power assisted front disc brakes. The rear brakes were upgraded to 11 x 2.25" drums. The steering box ratio was shortened to 3.8 turns lock-to-lock. The dreaded Y steering linkage was also introduced in 1976 along with a front anti-sway bar. A Special Decor Group comprised of a flat black-finished grille, tape stripe, bright windshield molding, and side window frames and wheel covers was introduced mid-year. 15,256 Broncos rolled off the line in 1976.
http://www.bronco.com/cms/early_bronco_history


1976

• Disk brakes were introduced on the front axle, with the option of making them power.

• The rear brakes were upgraded to a larger drum size.

• The Ranger Package was introduced.

• The steering column design was changed.

• The power steering box was given a quicker turning radius, 3.8 turns lock to lock.

• There were 15,300 Wagons produced.
http://wikicars.org/en/Ford_Bronco

[Evan]

Ive heard the dana 44 axle is a good sas conversion into a ranger.


No, because it's not any better than a Dana 35. It's not any stronger, and will only flex slightly better.

A Dana 60 would be a good SAS conversion into a Ranger. :icon_welder:

[1badexplorer]

yea but all dana 60 fronts are 8lug. They are also all full width. Lastly a 60front weighs well over double a 44 front, like roughly 500lbs. All of this is great if you are planning on only wheeling the truck or your state has no laws about fender flairs and tires etc. I run nothing but 60s in anything I wheel hard. If you plan is to street drive it a EB dana44 is the best swap if you don't want to get to involved.

[crawlin91]

will these work without too much of a hassle?
I found a set of axles out of a 78 or 79 bronco setup for rad arms and coils (would this year have stronger axles/ujoints?)
Ford 9", 3.56 gears, drum brakes, complete. I also have a High-Pinion Dana 44 with 3.56 gears, disc brakes, complete. The HP Dana 44 has reverse-cut gears
Im thinking about picking these bad boys up,

I either will narrow the dana 44 and run adaptors for the 8.8 or go full width eventually.

[crawlin91]

$300 worth it?
http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk144/crawlin91/3md3o33l111b1f212b8cs1e390da3f1ee11.jpg

[Shran]

I'd try and talk them down. Also find out if the 9" is 28 or 31 spline.

Personally I'd go full width and use the 9" and the 44. The 9" is nice because you can get a high pinion 3rd member and with chromoly shafts be pretty damn bulletproof, and run a lot bigger tire than you could with the 8.8.

[crawlin91]

The 9" is a 31 spline. What has to be done as far as coil buckets/shock mounts etc, for a full width dana 44 axle?

[4x4junkie]

Use the F-150 coil buckets and space them off the frame 1-2" per side. You may also be able to split some of the difference by offsetting the lower coil mounts on the axle where they attach to the radius arms as well.
Moving the c-wedges inward is not an option on a '78-'79 axle though.

[crawlin91]

Moving the c-wedges inward is not an option on a '78-'79 axle though.

Does this mean the 78-79 d44 axle would not be the best option for a full width swap? I would have to mount the rad arms way outside of the frame if not correct? Moving them closer to the tire and possibly creating a rubbing issue?

[1badexplorer]

I'd leave the arms tight against the frame and just angle them in the bushings. And depending on what size tire you run and the wheel off set they won't rub anyway. I put the wedges on my 60 front, and used stock radius arms in my explorer and my 44 ground hawgs would not rub at all, however my new 44 boggers rub on the arm when I'm turned the whole way.

[RumpRangerSTX]

get axles out of a chevy d 44 for inner and ford full size d44sas for outer short fit the long eb d44 have the long side cut and respined alot cheaper

[crawlin91]

ok so I think full width is the way to go. what kind of steering mods need to be done and what is the best setup?
I am reading more about high steer option. I would like to keep the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern. What fords came with high steer knuckles?

[86ford]

i know i sound like a dick but get a year or 2 of seat time in wheeling before you go "mall crawler". i thrash the piss out of my d35 and 8.8 and yet to have mechanical failure. my only failure was from my own stupidity (forced my radiator that did not belong in my vehicle into my fan). everyone wants to build a big capable rig. do some damn wheeling!

86

[Shran]

This is what to look at for high steer.

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/flatop_knucles.html

[crawlin91]

quote-i know i sound like a dick but get a year or 2 of seat time in wheeling before you go "mall crawler". i thrash the piss out of my d35 and 8.8 and yet to have mechanical failure. my only failure was from my own stupidity (forced my radiator that did not belong in my vehicle into my fan). everyone wants to build a big capable rig. do some damn wheeling!

86


I do wheel this bitch and not at the *#$ing mall and will continue to do so for at least another year or so and I know they(8.8 d35) are plenty durable...but I also know they have limitations and weak points-just like anything else. Im also fabbing up some extended radius arms as to hopefully get more flex out of it. I might just end up ruining a set of stock rad arms...I dont care its a learning process! This is something I would simply like to learn more about and hopefully grab some junkyard jewels for cheap that I can refurbish myself as I collect parts in the mean time. An SAS isnt done over night and in the mean time Im simply researching more about the different setups and how its done.
91

[86ford]

I do wheel this bitch and not at the *#$ing mall and will continue to do so for at least another year or so and I know they(8.8 d35) are plenty durable...but I also know they have limitations and weak points-just like anything else. Im also fabbing up some extended radius arms as to hopefully get more flex out of it. I might just end up ruining a set of stock rad arms...I dont care its a learning process! This is something I would simply like to learn more about and hopefully grab some junkyard jewels for cheap that I can refurbish myself as I collect parts in the mean time. An SAS isnt done over night and in the mean time Im simply researching more about the different setups and how its done.
91

ooook

i dont understand why people insist on "building" there rigs when they dont even wheel hard enough to break what they have now. it sounds like a waste of money. everyone i know who wheels HARD only upgrades because they keep breaking what they are running now.

all i am saying is ask yourself the next few questions before you go wasting/spending money to ugrade

1. do i regularly break shafts in my current setup?

2 have a pushed my current axles to there maximum potential? (lockers, gearing, tire size etc)

3 do i really wheel enough to justify spending the money?

4 am i doing this because its cool or because i actually NEED it to run the trails i do?

think i am dick all you want, but i am trying to help YOU.


86

[crawlin91]

you do what you do and I'll do what I do

[86ford]

you do what you do and I'll do what I do

fair enough. next time you talk to adam ask him if i am crazy or wrong.

86

[crawlin91]

:thefinger:i never said you were either. the reason I started this thread was that I know many on here have done it and could help offer advice. advice on what parts to look for and on which trucks which with a little/alot of fab work will keep things as cheap as possible. im not into building the coolest most expensive rig nor can I. But I would like to make my truck more capable down the road and would have as much fun building it as I would wheeling it. when the right time comes I will reap the benefits of full width axles...untill then Ill be on the trail testing the limits of my current setup:headbang:

[86ford]

sounds good.

now that i poked you into at least possibly re-thinking it i will tell you what i know.

the coil springs are nice to have on all 4 corners and if you are going to spend the time and money slowly building a SAS to bolt in i highly recommend coils because a proper 3 or 4 link system will out flex leaf springs but it is MUCH more complicated to learn. the full size for 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern on the d44 can easily be matched up with either a fullsize 8.8 31 spline axle OR a 9 inch. i personally would go with the full size 8.8 because they are more plentiful and arguably just as strong as a 9inch.

i personally would get a later explorer 31 spline axle and get a super 88 kit for it because they have the option of 5 on 4.5 or 5 on 5.5 bolt patterns. for the front i would cut down a 78-79 f150 d44 to match in width. narrow vehicles have there place, they are less stable but steer much easier.

86