Dana 44HD differences from Dana 44LD
 

Hello,

Trying to put together a rebuild stock for my Dana 44HD TTB (from a 1985 F-250HD). From what I can understand there are some differences between the Dana 44LD (GVWR <8500lbs) and the Dana 44HD (GVWR >8500lbs).

So far the only thing I've found (I think) is that the inner and outer wheel bearings are different. Is that all?

Can anyone advise on the differences between the Dana 44LD and the Dana 44HD.

Also having a hard time finding parts for the HD, Broncograveyard has some but not many. Can anyone advise on a good source for Dana 44HD parts?

Thanks, its appreciated

Lower balljoints are larger.

The rotors are different with 8 lug(may be a different diameter too).

Calipers are different.

Housing is different. The hd is made for leaf springs, the f150 version(this is what you are calling the light duty) is made for a coil spring and radius arm. The f150 version also has longer arms, so I would assume the axles would be different lengths also.

The dana 44hd ttb was made for f250's, the regular dana 44 ttb was made for Broncos and f150's.

Well after 3 days and probably 10 hrs of work heres what I found out and I'm still not sure its all correct.

1980-mid 1985: GVWR <8500 got the Dana 44
GVWR >8500 got the Dana 44HD
Any "Snow Plow" option had the Dana 44HD regardless of
GVWR

Mid 1985 - 1986: All GVWR got the Dana 50
The Dana 44HD got the 8 lug 6.5 pattern hub
The Dana 44 got the 5 or 6 lug (I can't remember which right now)

Comparing the parts list for the Dana 44HD and the Dana 44 (Spicer document X510-9, which you can find on-line and download) showed all parts the same except as follows:

1. Oil seal and Spindle bearing (The bearing on the inside of the spindle where the axle plugs in, item # 48, 49 & 50 in the parts breakdown)

2. The shafts themselves (Items #32 in the parts breakdown)

From what I have read the shafts are a bit beefer which would explain the different oil seal and bearings

I have also read that the LH and RH support Assemblies (the arms basically) are beefier. The parts breakout states as a note to contact the Mfg for part number so it looks like the Mfg could opt for different strengths so this might be true.

Rgds

I think we might have a terminology problem here. You seem to group the "dana 44" in with the "dana 44HD" and the "dana 50". The dana 44 was found in f150's and Bronco's, and is different enough that I would call it a "different animal". I believe some of the center section(the part that makes it a dana 44) is the same between the two, but the dana 44 hd is found in f250's and is nothing much like the f150 front end.

I would group the dana 44(f150 frontend) by itself, and the dana 44hd and the dana 50 could possibly be grouped together(both f250/350 frontends).

Hi Franklin,

Thanks for the info, I did find alot of conflicting data on this subject. I had read elsewhere that the Dana 44 was on the F250 with a GVWR < 8500 and the Dana 44HD was on the F250 GVWR >8500, but that the Dana 44HD was on both if the Snow Plow option was installed...

Its also a bit more difficult when doing research on the 1985 as it appears there where several parts changes in that year

Thanks

I'm not the end-all expert but I'm pretty sure the D44ttb was only in the 1/2 tons and the F250's all got either D44HD or D50 as others have stated.