Is a 44 front axle really worth it?

[351Mazda]

I have a 44 front and 9 inch rear out of a 78ish f-150 in the Mazda. First time out snapped the ears off the front U-joint, so now I need a new axle shaft. I was pulling a broke down dodge uphill and maybe half throttle. I haven't geared the axles yet, I was planning on doing them this winter. I'm wondering now if I might be wasting my time and maybe a 44 isn't as heavy as I thought it would be? or might this have been a weak spot that was ready to go anyways? I'm running a 351W, C6, and 35x1250 pro comp mud terrains.

 

[swamprat]

The ears are the week point. Some after market shafts have stonger ears, but not as strong as a 60. 351 with 35 in tires would be pushing the D44

 

[351Mazda]

So what do you think? Find a D60 before I start dumping money into gears and lockers? It's geared at 3.00 to 1, so I have to do something with it.

 

[1badexplorer]

A stock D60 is stronger than you could ever build a D44. If you had a D60 you could really pound it with 35s and have no worrys. I'm running 44 boggers on my D60 and its still got stock shafts 5.13s and a locker and I havent had any problems at all. I have some HP D60s if you are interested I'm near Pittsburgh PA

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Do you have full snap rings on the axle u joints or just the stock style half clips?

I bet the half clip popped out, thus allowing the cap to come out. The trunnion of the u joint probably beat the ears to death on the end of the axle.

Shaft strength wise, the d35 and d44 are very similar. They both use the same half to u joints.

 

[RumpRangerSTX]

not all 44 are the same
some had small u=joints and some had big u-joints

 

[Bray D]

A stock D60 is stronger than you could ever build a D44.

I know of some guys that would argue that. That being said I'd probably build tons if I had a 351. I've got a locked chromo'd 44 on 35's with a doubler and don't have any problems. What do you plan to do with this truck?

 

[351Mazda]

I still had the stock u-joints with whatever clips came with them, I'm guessing half clips. They seemed tight so I never tore the axle down to check. It's the one with the larger U-joints, a 78. The small joints were used arount 72ish and older IIRC. I do mostly trail driving. Most of the trails around here are steep hills with a lot of rocks though, fairly technical stuff.

 

[Bray D]

Yeah trail riding is pretty general, depending where you're located. If you're gonna get into rocks at all I'd go ahead and build the 60 and step up in tire size too. Like I said I get away with a built 44 on 35's but I'm a medium weight rig with a less than medium power engine.

 

[351Mazda]

I'm starting to think the same thing. I just don't want to dump money into these axles and have problems all the time. I was trying to stay cheapish and not having to buy $1000 axles, plus new tires. Guess I might not have a choice.

 

[fordtrucknut77]

PERSONALLY i would buy chromoly shafts for the 44 .... most of the manufactures (SP)? say that 44 chromoly shafts are stronger than stock 60 shafts (with good u joints)
I am spinning 38s with a big block on a front 44 with chromolys and after 2 years of beating it weekly they havent broke
With stock 44 shafts I could break them like pretzels but this is just my experience... Yea im sure a 60 is better but its also more weight hangs down lower and as stated above is expensive to get one not counting having to buy new wheels and tires

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Get yourself some genuine Spicer 5-760X U joints, clearance your shafts to accept full snap rings, and go from there.

This is for the d35, but is the same as a D44

http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/May06/dana35_ujoint_snapring.htm

 

[351Mazda]

Where is a good source to find chromemoly shafts, and is there any out there with a warrenty of some kind?

 

[351Mazda]

I'm finding prices ranging from 350 to 800 dollars, that seems like a big gap for a similar product.

 

[Bray D]

I guess if you're gonna stay with the 35's then you could build the 44, but if you plan to any bigger build a 60. I've got just over $2k into my D44, but it should be nearly bulletproof for my applications. I would say it would be fairly reliable for yours. I know Cheapthrills was breakin chromo stub shafts, so they're not impossible to break