rears

[fredneck]

hey yall i am pretty new to the scene dude told me a ford 8.8 was stronger
than dana 44 can anyone tell me why i did buy a 44 with has superior
488's and is welded and has cromeoly akleshafts for 200 from buddy
was that a good deal and does it sound strong
i know these are stupid qusetions but i really just do not know thanksalot

 

[Beef52751]

not really the right forum, i think you would have better luck in one of the axle forums.
Good luck

 

[Chance]

Yeah... dis is definitely not parts for sale...

But one really basic reason is ring gear size. The 8.8 has a.... well you know.

Whereas a rear d44 has a slightly smaller one... somewhere between 8.5-8.75 I believe.

And another is axle size... Expo 8.8's are 31 spline and I believe that the 44 is 30 spline depending on application...

But this is all from my head so I may have a few things wrong. But I do believe that 8.8 is ever so slightly just a lil bit stronger but they're pry about the same.

IIRC I think like Four Wheeler did an axle guide and the explorer (or foolsize or both) rated higher than a d44... but the ranger 8.8 rated lower in strength...

 

[Ranger44]

A D44 rear won't be as strong as an 8.8, esp. if it's a 31 spline 8.8. The D44 is somewhere between a 7.5 and 8.8.

The only advantage I see of keeping the d44 is that it's already upgraded.....that's a BIG plus.

 

[fredneck]

thanks for yalls input yes it was a big plus and cheap

my buddy just came has a 78 full size bronco thinking bout getting it 500 bucks

it has 9 inch and 44 front that should do the trick plus new gears but again more money

 

[Boggin]

thanks for yalls input yes it was a big plus and cheap

my buddy just came has a 78 full size bronco thinking bout getting it 500 bucks

it has 9 inch and 44 front that should do the trick plus new gears but again more money

get it, i got one yesterday and LOVE it, they got straight front axles too, the only 2 years broncos had straight axles were 78 and 79
you wont be dissapointed

 

[NMB2]

the difference between a d44 and 8.8 isnt anything to talk about. 30spline 1.30" vs 31spline 1.31". 8.8" ring gear vs 8.5" ring gear. That D44 that is already built for $200 is a good deal, and stronger than a stock 8.8.

 

[Taragon]

get it, i got one yesterday and LOVE it, they got straight front axles too, the only 2 years broncos had straight axles were 78 and 79
you wont be dissapointed

Are you crazy?

The earlier bronco's had soild D44's also. but they were low pinion where the 78-79 where high pinion!!!

The 77 and earlier broco's are more "Ranger width" also. And you cant narrow the 78-79 D44's by just grinding the welds off the "ears", you have to grind off the whole knuckle, cut the tube, and reset the angle and reweld.

 

[Boggin]

Are you crazy?

The earlier bronco's had soild D44's also. but they were low pinion where the 78-79 where high pinion!!!

The 77 and earlier broco's are more "Ranger width" also. And you cant narrow the 78-79 D44's by just grinding the welds off the "ears", you have to grind off the whole knuckle, cut the tube, and reset the angle and reweld.

im talking about full size

 

[4x4junkie]

The 8.8" will always be stronger than a D44, just because the ring & pinion gears dwarf those of a D44 (not so much in ring outer diameter, but ring thickness, and pinion shaft diameter). The 8.8" also uses a 45° axle spline pressure angle, which makes for a much larger spline root diameter than if it used the same 30° angle the D44 uses. The difference in shaft strength is quite significant (6500-7000ft-lbs vs. about 4500ft-lbs breaking strength for stock shafts).

That D44 built the way it is is nothing to sneeze at however. If it suits your needs, go ahead and use it.

 

[fredneck]

thanks fianly i hear something good about my rear 44