I have a 79 F250 with a 460 and D44/60 combo with 4.56 gears and Detroit lockers on stock axle shafts.
Ive done a search and Ive read all the horror stories about your trucks (particularly 73-79s) with D44 and tall tires. Im wanting to know exactly what Im getting in to. I have gathered that there is nothing heavy duty about a D44HD it has the same diameter shafts and spline count as the F150 D44. correct? Now I dont go out and try to bog my truck down every weekend. I "play" in the mud very rarely. The last thing I want to do is tear my truck up but I see guys all the time have huge tires on toyotas and never have problems. My only thought on that is not enough motor or gear to turn the tire hard enough. I just dont want to replace an axle shaft ever time I put it in 4wd. When your shafts broke were you turning and hit the gas or driving along straight? Deep mud? There are no rocks in SC to climb so thats out. I know they will brake but what I want to know is how and why. Im looking for a D60 but thats a grand plus another grand in gears lockers bearings and seals. Dont have that in the budget now. Are moser or yukon axles worth the $500?

 

I'd just put a good set of spicer u joints in it. Most of the time it's a cheep u joint that breaks.

 

Mark,
could you recommend a part number and name of a u-joint?

 

That is correct that there is nothing HD about the HD. I have mixed and matched the parts, and they are the same, except for the bearings in the hubs, and the brakes are dual piston. I would make sure the ball joints are good, and the u-joints are good. If I break mine, I will probably upgrade to better shafts to bring it up to the strength of a stock D60. I think the reason they break is because of lots of torque and bouncing, but under normal driving, I would think a D44 would be fine.

 

When I still had my 44 (dana 60 now) in the front of my mudbogger i either broke the spiders or the u-joint first which usually took out the ears on the shafts, never had a chance to break a shaft by itself though. The first upgrade that would suit you best would be to upgrade your u-joints...then if you end up breaking shafts upgrade them....OR save up for a 60 and be done with it.

 

but when yall broke the ujoints how hard were you being on the truck? I guess Im asking how hard I can be on it until things start breaking. Im going to change out my ujoints and start busting piggy banks until I can come up with d60 money.

 

I haven't broke anything. I have realized I am a torque type of driving guy. I prefer just enough to get me through stuff, not high revving bashing. I think it comes from years of driving a tractor

 

I beat pretty hard on the dana 44, and for awhile it actually held up to 38.5 boggers. I think you will probably be fine. I would just put some stout u-joints in them and be careful when you get in the dirt.

 

i have run 38.5 inch super swampers on a 1/2 ton d44. i found that if you run a dana/spicer u joint #760x. it works good. that is the same u joint you get in drivetrain wairhouse's lifetime garenteed front shafts. next, how hard do you play? i have gone through spider gears a set every 6 months or so. playing quite hard. now i put a mini spool in it. so i will find out how strong the u joints and stock shafts really are. so far so good.

 

OK, I went to my local napa and ask for the 760x ujoints. The guy there used his crossover and pulled 3 ujoints for #760: standard, heavy duty, and professional. He didnt have anything for part number 760X. I bought the professional ujoints (napa # 210-0332) for $47 each. These are a normal stock item so I can return them if you guys think they are not strong enough. Ive seen ujoints sell for as high as $160 on drivetrain websites. What is the deal with these?

 

check out www.broncograveyard.com they have the dana/spicer brand. i have had no luck with the napa brand.

 

I will second that.

 

And I'll third it. Now return the Napa joints and get some spicers.

It's important to have good (new) u-joints in the front. I have seen many broken axle joints that were dry, and haven't had grease in them for years. I have ran 40's on a D44 without any problems. Just don't drive super-hard-core.