D35 with 44 outers..anyone done it?

[4x4junkie]

I've seen adapters for 5x5 to 5x4.5, is it not possible to have the center hole enlarged to fit over the hub? The reason I ask is cause I plan on doing the 44 outers and buying new wheels isn't a viable option for me. I have trail worthy fab wheels and I don't have the funds to buy new inners (they run ~$100 each IIRC).

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

It's 5x5.5" to 5x4.5". The D44 hub itself is much too big to fit within a 4.5" bolt circle.

FWIW, the bigger brakes would be the only real reason I see for this swap myself, I've had 0 issues out of the stock D35 setup using Timken brand bearings and the Warn Jeep hubs. That is not to say the D44's bearing setup isn't better (it most certainly is), but I'd maybe try switching to Timken brand bearings & races (SET-37) if you're having issues with it, which seems to solve the problem for a lot of people.

 

[kryptonitecb]

I was using the Timken bearings but was blowing them up just as fast as the cheap ones. My problem is the wheel/tire combo I have are around 100 lbs each (37" tires on trailworthyfab hummer wheels). This puts enough stress on the bearings that during the winter when I couldn't ride I was going through bearings once a month or two. Good to know that I can't get the adapters to fit before I started to do this. Would've been a huge waste of money for nothing.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[4x4junkie]

How are you tightening your D35's bearings? I'm thinking regardless of your tires the Timken bearings should last at least some amount longer than some cheapo ones...


I went out and looked at the D44 hubs on my Ranger, I'm now thinking there could be some possibility you could make it go together, however I'm still not sure how comfortable I'd be with it. You'd probably end up with around 5/16" thereabouts between the studs and the I.D. of the adapter on the 4.5" side (which I'd certainly want the adapters be made from steel, I think that's too thin for aluminum ones). The next thing would be how much meat would be left on your wheel centers if you widen them. It'll be tight getting a nut & socket in between there for sure.

 

[kryptonitecb]

The centers have tons o room. However at the dfw meet today hazmat mentioned that the d44 hubs are to big like you mentioned so it's time to stop procrastinating and get the d60 under the truck.

I was tightening the bearings a bit tight. Last time I did the bearings I only seated the bearings then tightened the outer spindle nut as much as possible. So far its lasted longer but I use the bike as much as possible. 45 mpg on a motorcycle beats out 15 mpg in the truck IMO.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[4x4junkie]

I was tightening the bearings a bit tight.

The inner nut only needs 15 inch-pounds, no more (some say 16 inch-lbs, close enough), then the outer nut goes on to 225-250ft-lbs (making sure the inner nut & washer doesn't try to turn with it).

If you got a 60 on hand though, then what the heck are you waiting for?

 

[kryptonitecb]

Money, of all the threads started saying they where doing a cheap swap easily turned into a $1500+ job. I have college, no place to work on it, and non existent funds to use. And I won't be that guy that uses a credit card to finance a SAS.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[4x4junkie]

No doubt, I hear you there...

Well, good luck on your D35 then... I think you should get at least a couple years out of it with your setup if you get the preload right on it. I put MT/R-Ks on my rig early last year and with the steel rims they are probably within 15lbs of what yours are (MT/R-Ks are heavy-ass tires). And that's on bearings that have already endured 12 years & 70K miles with my prior BFGs and the mileage under my Ranger before I did the D44 on it.

Alright, giving the thread back to the OP.