Axle Upgrades

[swtjames23]

So i've got a 93 4WD mostly stock with leveling coils and some 31x10.50s you know the basics. I'm gettin sick of blowing thru wheel bearings like nothin all the time but I can't figure out what i wanna do about it. I could put the D44 knuckles on my D35 (convenient because i've got a spare D35 ttb in my back yard), i could swap in a full size D44 TTB or solid axle, or i could go with an EB D44 and keep the truck the same width. Right now the truck is my daily driver so its gotta be somethin i can do in a weekend. I need some advice from ppl that have done these things already. What do these projects cost? what kinda time do they take? I'm leaning towards the D44 knuckle swap just cause i can do it off the truck and swap in the axle later. Please share your opinions! thanks

James

 

[mjonesjr]

search is your friend..

 

[bobbywalter]

where do you live?



depending on availability of parts, probably less then 200 bux

with the knuckle swap..

 

[swtjames23]

trust me jones i've been searching and researching for months about this. I need to here directly from some people that have done it, especially the knuckle swap which seems to be relatively uncommon.

 

[swtjames23]

I live in northern california, Eureka. It's hard to find stuff around here, we got one junk yard and not much in it. What years work on the knuckle swap?

 

[mjonesjr]

trust me jones i've been searching and researching for months about this. I need to here directly from some people that have done it, especially the knuckle swap which seems to be relatively uncommon.

have you used the search feature on this site? there are tons of axle swap threads floating out there with the exact information you are looking for...

but since you obviously have not searched this site, here is a how-to on swapping the Dana 44 knuckles onto the Dana 35 (from this sites tech library mind you):
http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/winter2007/44knuckleswap.htm

 

[mjonesjr]

I live in northern california, Eureka. It's hard to find stuff around here, we got one junk yard and not much in it. What years work on the knuckle swap?

Any Dana 44 knuckles off a '80-'96 F-150 will be for the swap. Read the how-to I posted above and it will tell you all the questions you have, all the way down to the u-joints...

 

[swtjames23]

I read that jones. Like 6 times. It doesn't say what the knuckles are from or what ream he used (possibly says 1 1/2"?). Also i've read other buildups that say the 44 alignment cam won't work because its too small...

 

[swtjames23]

Ok thanks for the years

 

[bobbywalter]

i been doing that since the 90's....there are other potential issues.

a cut off wheel to dress the split on the pinch bolt works out well if/when needed.

when you flip the tre with just the reamer sometimes you will need to straight bore and install an insert later on down the road, cause not all are the same thickness and it depends on the reamer and depth it was done to.


looking at that posted writeup, you should be able to nail this easily.

 

[bobbywalter]

oh, i have been using a 7 deg twist to do them lately from a tool place in detroit. acme bolt may have them now too.

 

[swtjames23]

How bout axle shafts? Do i need to put the 44 outers on the 35 shafts? The article doesn't mention that. Also, the brakes. The stock ranger brake booster and such will be enough for the larger f150 calipers?

 

[swtjames23]

Where can i get a 7* twist? Any big name stores or where should I look? no Acme Bolt around here...

 

[bobbywalter]

my brakes are always soft but work waaaaay better with the 150 stuff.

yes you need the 150 outers. you put them on your d30 inners.



if your satisfied with that then you can go to custom shafts and a 30 spline carrier at later dates.

 

[swtjames23]

Alright well thanks bobby i'm sure i'll come up with more questions later