does anyone have the Early bronco d44 bolt on kit?

[mazdamama]

from fabritech or setstr8.com, just wanted to know how it handles and whether its realy worth the money. im debating whether to buy an sas or skyjacker 6 in kit.

 

[4x4junkie]

You won't find many with that kit, it's not very well engineered, and for the money it costs, you could have a real nice link suspension under there (the early Bronco D44 axle is not as strong as what you have under there now due to the u-joint size, anyway).

What size tires are you planning to run, and what kind of wheeling? (mud/rocks/sand/dirt trails/etc.)

 

[Live 2B OffRoad]

how much are the kits?

 

[mkpecor]

if you talk to 4x4junkie or read his build you can get alot of flex out of that d35. and its a strong axle.

 

[stegomon]

well it is not the strangth of the dana 44...it is the solid axil what people want.....i was talking to a guy from duff about a year ago...they have a few projects on the table...one of them was a SAS direct bolt in swap for the b2 and rangers....they where also working on a SAS for the 81-96 f-150s and broncos...also a lift for the full size ttb.....but i dont know that is going......hmmm any one got insite out there???

 

[mhughes165]

You won't find many with that kit, it's not very well engineered, and for the money it costs, you could have a real nice link suspension under there (the early Bronco D44 axle is not as strong as what you have under there now due to the u-joint size, anyway).

What size tires are you planning to run, and what kind of wheeling? (mud/rocks/sand/dirt trails/etc.)

but, when running the d44 you can get alot of other advantages, such as actually being able to upgrade your axle shafts, also with upgraded shafts you can get stronger u joints, and you can bolt up a full width f-150 yoke to them inorder to use the beefier u joints there

 

[rickcdewitt]

not only that but those little brakes and wheel bearings go bye-bye,along with the d60 size front profile when plowing rocks,mud,sand.

you probably lose handling and ride with the sas ,but it sounds like a worthwhile swap(edit:the sas not the bolt in fabritech crap)

 

[Live 2B OffRoad]

mine was.

all my components bolt on with a few holes to drill

 

[4x4junkie]

but, when running the d44 you can get alot of other advantages, such as actually being able to upgrade your axle shafts, also with upgraded shafts you can get stronger u joints, and you can bolt up a full width f-150 yoke to them inorder to use the beefier u joints there

True...

But by the time you've paid the $$$ for all that, you may as well have just gone with a D60. At least this way you still have a wealth of upgrades available ahead if you need them, instead of a maxed out D44 that's barely as strong as a bone-stock 60 (a simple 35-spl stub upgrade on the 60 would add maybe 20-30% more strength still, no D44 could ever catch up to that, no matter how much $$$ you throw at it).

well it is not the strangth of the dana 44...it is the solid axil what people want.....i was talking to a guy from duff about a year ago...they have a few projects on the table...one of them was a SAS direct bolt in swap for the b2 and rangers....they where also working on a SAS for the 81-96 f-150s and broncos...also a lift for the full size ttb.....but i dont know that is going......hmmm any one got insite out there???

Also true, it's commonly thought the solid axle is king...
I've found them to be way overrated (or maybe more accurately, the TTB is way underrated). Solid axle suspensions tend to be easier for most people to understand though, and does help with their attractiveness.



JMHO, I'd keep the TTB and learn exactly what it's quirks are, then you can use that knowledge to build it into something that can give any solid axle a run for it's $$$. Then when the time comes you truly do need something stronger, skip the D44 and go straight to the D60. You'll be money ahead this way.

how much are the kits?

Quite a few years ago I seem to remember them being somewhere around $2000, and didn't include an axle.
You can do a swap on your own using various pieces from the junkyard for far, far less.

 

[mjonesjr]

Just bumping this back up with a kit that Jeff's Bronco Graveyard sells. It is a bolt on kit that only requires drilling of 11 holes in the frame.

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-93950DS_1983-97_ranger_6__straight_axle_conversion.htm

 

[blackbronc]

There's one of these kits on Ebay right now. Look quickly, I don't remember how long it has to go to the end. Buy It Now is $1500. Bidding starting at $1 with a reserve price.

 

[stegomon]

link?

 

[4x4junkie]

Just bumping this back up with a kit that Jeff's Bronco Graveyard sells. It is a bolt on kit that only requires drilling of 11 holes in the frame.

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-93950DS_1983-97_ranger_6__straight_axle_conversion.htm

Ummm... that IS the Fabritech kit.

 

[mikepotts]

contact duffs! last time i was there, they had Ted Nugget's late model FSB there with dana 60's front and rear! bolt in! and Brett Broberg has built a BII for his girlfriend, as a test bed for a bolt in kit! give em a ring.

 

[colinrmitchell]

I don't know what kind of welding/fabrication skills you have (I'm willing to admit that I'm a n00b with a buzzbox), but I got an axle under mine for less that $1000 with leaf springs. I calculated that a radius arm/panhard setup would've been about $1200.

(These prices don't include axle rebuilds or regearing.)

I doubt I added anything, but what-ev'.