Is a 44 front axle really worth it?

[fordtrucknut77]

the shafts im running were from alloy usa and they had a 10 year warranty UNTIL THE PLACE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS so yea everything I have read is that chromoly is chromoly so I would be tempted to go with the cheap ones and see how they hold up. like it was said above just having the full circle clips makes a great great differnce.
I took one of my chromoly shafts apart last fall to replace the u joint and the only thing holding them together were the c clips other wise the joints were junk with literally 1/4 inch of play in them and I had just busted my front spider gears the day before but didnt damage the shaft.

 

[fordtrucknut77]

and bray, I Cant hardly see 2grand in a front 44 unless u have an ARB?

 

[CheapThrillB2]

The full circle mod works great if you have chromo's, I found doing that mod allows the cap to spin to much which egg shapes the ears and eventually ruins them. I had longer life from shafts just tacking the caps in with a welder vs allowing them to spin in the ears.




I've been down this road to many times............

I spent ALL KINDS OF $$ on a ttb 35 stuff just to upgrade to a D44 ( full size made to EB size) then decided on an actual full width 44 and spent ALL KINDS OF $$ on that.

One thing all three had in common.....always left me breaking my shit and fixing it on the trail.

After THOUSANDS of $$ spent I know have a 60 and regret every putting a dime in any other axle. I am now wheeling many trips and not breaking and don't have anything to fix between trips. I'll break it down.......

my own expeirence

D60 $320 (actually spent $200 on axle but paid the guy $120 finders fee for finding it for me)
5.38 gears $150
Lock Right $330
Ball Joints $50
Calipers $25
Misc $50
new Yoke kit $70

$995

14 Bolt $150
5.38's $240
Crush Sleeve $10
Seals $50

$450



My most recent D44

Axle $100
5.13's $130
Brake stuff $150
ujoints $50

$430

9" $100
Brake Stuff $150
Broken Mini-Spool and shaft $80
Seals Misc $50

$380

My other 44
Axle $150
Shorten Axle Tube $60
Yukon Chromo's $380
4.88's $150
Knuckle Related $250
Aussie $260
Seals and Misc $50

$1300

8.8 $100
Lug Adapters $90
4.88s $150
Brakes $80
Seals Misc $50

$470



I am sure i have left things out of the 44,44,9",8.8 as its been awhile

Should of done the 1 tons long time ago and many $$ ago

If you decide to Chromo the 44 DO NOT BUY YUKONS they are junk (broke way to many and seen way to many break). Spend the more on better qaulity and American made shafts not India made.

 

[NMB2]

I spent about $900 on my fully built front 60 as well. But i had an initial cost of zero. Not everyone can find good deals on D60s. it took me almost 4yrs, switching between D30 and D44, ect. Ill say this though, a fully polished D44 should easily last under your current truck. Sceeps lasted under their heavy CJ w/ a 360, auto, klune, 300 and 37" mtr's rock crawling.... it just eventually became to weak for the trails they were running.

 

[Bray D]

and bray, I Cant hardly see 2grand in a front 44 unless u have an ARB?

Like I said, my 44 is decently built. I DD this thing so I'm shootin for reliability (short of goin to tons). I kept a spreadsheet during the build as well. Here is the axle build portion of the spreadsheet:

D44/9" combo 200
Gears/master install kit/carrier 290
Aussie Locker 259
Chevy Small Bearing spindles w/ caliper brackets 105
Chevy flat top knuckles w/ moog balljoints 255
sold 9" -150
Nickel Rod for Welding Cast 94
Yukon Chromo Axles/Spicer Joints 490
Warn Premium Hubs 98
Sold Ford D44 knuckles/caliper brackets/outters -130
Misc Bearings/seals/etc. 100
Chevy Calipers w/ Pads 48
Branik Highsteer w/ Stud Kit 180
Tie rod/ Drag link ends 130
Ruff Stuff Cover 100

TOTAL 2069

That's including the money I got back from selling the parts I didn't use, also doesn't include raw material or weld in bungs for the drag link/ tie rod. Adds up quick

 

[fordtrucknut77]

ahhh yea when i posted that i wasnt thinkin about all the money for tie rods and heims

 

[351Mazda]

Still leaning to the 60's, it just makes more sense to me. There's a guy right by me selling a set with 4.10's and a locker in the rear with rims for 1200. I'm going to see if they're in good shape. If not 1badexplorer has a couple or fronts for sale, probably get one of them and find a rear from something. I'll have a 44 and 9 inch for sale soon, already modified to fit in a ranger.

 

[4x4junkie]

Agreed, go with the D60 (and a D70 or 10.25" rear to match).

D44s (and even the 9 to some extent) do tend to get grossly overrated (after all, your stock D35 TTB axle is probably 95% of what any stock D44 is... those breaking D35s often end up continuing their breakage after a D44 swap too). Go D60 and don't look back. You won't regret it.