Sure the FORD 9" is a bitchin axle but let me share with you some advice I got some years ago from Art Archer, Owner of Archer Brothers Jeep here in Hayward.
Art said the trouble with custom Fab'd axles is that when you are W A Y
back on a trail some miles off the blacktop and the dang thing breaks, where are you gonna find spare parts or a welding shop to fab you up a fix on a hot Sunday afternoon in a tiny mountain town ??
Alum 44 ????
Never heard of such a critter..but more important....WHY ???
The 44 has a strong carrier section.
BUT
Not any stronger than lots and lots and lots of other axles under all kinds of trucks in our country.
The best part of the 44 is the tubes.
They are extra thickwalled & made of extra strong steel.
THATS what makes a 44 so strong, not the gears.
HELL, anybody can build a strong carrier
As a matter of fact, most everybody does.
It aint the gears & bearings which gave the 44 its fame, it is the tubes.
There is a new SUV import just out. I forgot the badge, because, who cares ?
Anyway, the specs said D44 axles.
I said...SAY WHAT ?!?!?!?!?
Turns out it uses D44 carrier with homegrown tubes.
(probably plastic tubes...)
Yuk, Yuk, Yuk...