I want to ditch the Dana 44 Waggy axle before I start putting any money into it. I need a wider axle. I found a late 70's Dana 44 out of an F250 (67" wms). It is an 8 lug. Of course I really want a Dana 60, but they start at $1000. Is this dana 44 stonger than the Waggy axle? Remember I have 39.5 Boggers, 15 x 12 steel rims, and a 350.
might be getting a different Dana 44 now
- Thread starter bryanjeep
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88Wrangles
New member
Was the Waggy D44 a 1/2 ton? If so, the F250 D44 should be stronger, as long as it's a true 3/4 ton front end. It should be 3/4 ton if it is 8 lug I guess, but I could easily be wrong (Don't know that much about ford axles...)
Bounty__Hunter
Super Moderator
Should be a heavy D44, hence being stronger. Look at the '77.5 to '79 Ford F250 front axles, they're a heavy D44 8lug but they're high pinion.
RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Career Change? Any of you do it?
It came from an 81 Grand Wagoneer. I do not know what class that puts it in. So do you think I should be fine with my setup? Bounty, I think the axle is a low pinion, not a high pinion. It has external hubs. Is that a problem? Will it clear 15 inch rims? Here is the link to the pics... http://members.cox.net/trevorxj/For Sale.htm
It came from an 81 Grand Wagoneer. I do not know what class that puts it in. So do you think I should be fine with my setup? Bounty, I think the axle is a low pinion, not a high pinion. It has external hubs. Is that a problem? Will it clear 15 inch rims? Here is the link to the pics... http://members.cox.net/trevorxj/For Sale.htm
Re: RE: 31x11.50 Super Swampers
If it's an HD housing, you'll gain strength in the center section I think. Depending on what year and version it is, it might have stronger axle joints than the 297x that's in your Waggy axle. I think the spline counts for both axles are the same. I might be wrong about this, I don't know too much about the Ford axles.
What is the width of the 14 bolt?......is it like 63.5"? The waggy axle is about 58.5" from wms to wms, so the Ford axle would probably look better with the 14 bolt and it matches the lug pattern. I don't think you'll fit 15" rims over those calipers.
If it's an HD housing, you'll gain strength in the center section I think. Depending on what year and version it is, it might have stronger axle joints than the 297x that's in your Waggy axle. I think the spline counts for both axles are the same. I might be wrong about this, I don't know too much about the Ford axles.
What is the width of the 14 bolt?......is it like 63.5"? The waggy axle is about 58.5" from wms to wms, so the Ford axle would probably look better with the 14 bolt and it matches the lug pattern. I don't think you'll fit 15" rims over those calipers.
RE: Re: boston , buried--working link now
The 14 bolt is 67"wms. I was told the dana 44 is a HD axle. There has to be a way to get it to clear the 15 inch rims. By the way, this thing is gonna be huge. I test fit just the rims on the rear axle and it sticks out about a foot + past the fender flares.
The 14 bolt is 67"wms. I was told the dana 44 is a HD axle. There has to be a way to get it to clear the 15 inch rims. By the way, this thing is gonna be huge. I test fit just the rims on the rear axle and it sticks out about a foot + past the fender flares.
88Wrangles
New member
to clear the rims, you might have to grind down the calipers a little...but it's really no big deal
RE: Tailgate hinges
Your most likely gonna have to run a 17 inch rim to clear everything safely.. maybe 16 inch, but 15's won't fit.. and I am with junk, I don't believe you can shave too much material off the calipers to fit the 15" rim stock those axles had 16.5" rims which are not that great for offroad due to a lack of a inned bead.
Your most likely gonna have to run a 17 inch rim to clear everything safely.. maybe 16 inch, but 15's won't fit.. and I am with junk, I don't believe you can shave too much material off the calipers to fit the 15" rim stock those axles had 16.5" rims which are not that great for offroad due to a lack of a inned bead.
88Wrangles
New member
Re: boston , buried--working link now
How thick are your calipers?? The amount needed to shave also depends on the backspacing of your wheels.
How thick are your calipers?? The amount needed to shave also depends on the backspacing of your wheels.
88Wrangles
New member
RE: Greatest Sports Moment
Well the Pirate people don't seem to think it will work with 15's, but I see you're looking for a D60 now. Good luck!!
By the way, they say a D44 won't hold up to 39.5's....the rig in my signature has a Heavy D44 front, and I keep breaking drivelines before anything in the front end.
Well the Pirate people don't seem to think it will work with 15's, but I see you're looking for a D60 now. Good luck!!
By the way, they say a D44 won't hold up to 39.5's....the rig in my signature has a Heavy D44 front, and I keep breaking drivelines before anything in the front end.
redrooster
New member
The 3/4 ton Dana 44's have an 8 lug pattern and thicker axle tubes. I believe the brakes are bigger as well. The axle joints and shafts are the same size. This is where you should be concerned. You should be able to do mud just fine with that size tire and the D44. If you ever find traction when the RPM's are up you will hear the infamous "Ping Pow". That's a chinese dish that smells like a busted axle.
To dispell rumors: yes, you can grind D60 calipers to use a 15" wheel and no it won't hurt the caliper or the seals. Mine are ground as well as 100 other people I know. With your backspacing it might not even be necessary.
My personal opinion: You will be wasting money with a D44 running 39.5" Boggers and a V8. Go with the 60. Do it once and do it right.
Don't take this as D44 hatin. They are great for 36" and smaller tires with a medium sized engine. Big tires + big engine =big axle. It's plain and simple math.
To dispell rumors: yes, you can grind D60 calipers to use a 15" wheel and no it won't hurt the caliper or the seals. Mine are ground as well as 100 other people I know. With your backspacing it might not even be necessary.
My personal opinion: You will be wasting money with a D44 running 39.5" Boggers and a V8. Go with the 60. Do it once and do it right.
Don't take this as D44 hatin. They are great for 36" and smaller tires with a medium sized engine. Big tires + big engine =big axle. It's plain and simple math.
redrooster
New member
RE: Anyone ever used leaf springs with off center mounts?
Look on e-bay and the classifieds on pirate and a few other sites. You'll find one.
Look on e-bay and the classifieds on pirate and a few other sites. You'll find one.
Anyone a mortgage broker?
D60.....or D44? It depends on what you're doing......as well as how you are doing it. In a relatively lightweight rig with a mild V8 or smaller displacement engine, it would be more of a penalty than a benefit to run a D60 over the 44. If you can make a D44 live, it's no brainer to do so. With all other things being equal, the rig with the D44 will be more capable, faster, and economical than the one with a D60.......until it breaks, and alot of breakage issues can be avoided by upgrading the D44 to stronger aftermarket shafts, which is much cheaper than a D60.
I'm not knocking the 60, I want one.....but for 39s, I think it's overkill and a waste in most instances.
D60.....or D44? It depends on what you're doing......as well as how you are doing it. In a relatively lightweight rig with a mild V8 or smaller displacement engine, it would be more of a penalty than a benefit to run a D60 over the 44. If you can make a D44 live, it's no brainer to do so. With all other things being equal, the rig with the D44 will be more capable, faster, and economical than the one with a D60.......until it breaks, and alot of breakage issues can be avoided by upgrading the D44 to stronger aftermarket shafts, which is much cheaper than a D60.
I'm not knocking the 60, I want one.....but for 39s, I think it's overkill and a waste in most instances.
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