D44 Strong enough?
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D44 Strong enough?
I tried to post this in the suspension forum and got no answers so I thought I'd bring it here. I have an 85 F150 4x2 that I am converting to 4x4 and have a cummins 6bt to drop into. I have found a coil sprung dana 44 8 lug front axle out of a 70s F250. Will this be strong enough to support the cummins? I also need it to clear some 36x12.5-16.5 tires. I am assuming you can get springs to lift the truck enough but I just wanted to come here and check. Thanks for your help in advance guys.
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Joined: Oct 2003
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From: utica il
personally i wouldn't do it as that's a lot of weight and stress to put on a d44 even just daily driving.
and that coil sprung d44 didn't come out of an f250. if anything it's from an f150 or bronco and someone converted it to 8 lug outers. all 3/4 and 1 ton 4x4's up until 2004 were leaf sprung fronts.
to be honest i'd look for a set of super duty axles, they are still pretty cheap for the most part and very easy to find.
and that coil sprung d44 didn't come out of an f250. if anything it's from an f150 or bronco and someone converted it to 8 lug outers. all 3/4 and 1 ton 4x4's up until 2004 were leaf sprung fronts.
to be honest i'd look for a set of super duty axles, they are still pretty cheap for the most part and very easy to find.
Post Fiend
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From: utica il
are you aiming for leaf springs or coils?
leaf springs: any 99-04 axles would work, but 99-02 is mostly dana 50's which look just like a dana 60 but are only minutely stronger than a dana 44, try to avoid them. d50's aren't bad, they are just weaker and overpriced for the most part. i believe all 03 and 04 f250's and 350's have d60 fronts. all excursions have d50 fronts.
coil springs: all 05 up trucks have d60 fronts that are coil and radius arm setups.
something to think about though, all super duty axles are a metric 8 lug pattern that requires specific rims, and the 2005 and newer axles have bigger brakes that require 17'' and bigger rims.
you're not gonna wanna hear this, but you would be miles ahead (as well as a stack of money ahead too) to just start out with a 3/4 or 1 ton 4x4 truck. they have heavier frames/axles/brakes not to mention starting with 4x4 saves you a big hassle.
leaf springs: any 99-04 axles would work, but 99-02 is mostly dana 50's which look just like a dana 60 but are only minutely stronger than a dana 44, try to avoid them. d50's aren't bad, they are just weaker and overpriced for the most part. i believe all 03 and 04 f250's and 350's have d60 fronts. all excursions have d50 fronts.
coil springs: all 05 up trucks have d60 fronts that are coil and radius arm setups.
something to think about though, all super duty axles are a metric 8 lug pattern that requires specific rims, and the 2005 and newer axles have bigger brakes that require 17'' and bigger rims.
you're not gonna wanna hear this, but you would be miles ahead (as well as a stack of money ahead too) to just start out with a 3/4 or 1 ton 4x4 truck. they have heavier frames/axles/brakes not to mention starting with 4x4 saves you a big hassle.
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Well either one would work. I was thinking coils simply for the fact that the frame is already set up for them but I have a stripped frame from an 88 F250 so I have all the 4x4 parts I need plus I have the rear axle. I was just trying to aviod the TTB since it is not the worlds greatest axle for this setup. I cannot put my body on the F250 frame because it is a single cab frame and the 85 is an extended cab 8ft bed body. I want to stay with the regular bolt pattern because I already have rims and tires for the older bolt pattern I dont want to go with the metric pattern. So any ideas I would appreciate the help guys. Thanks again.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: St. Louis
+1 with starting with a different truck, the F250 is simply a heavier truck than the F150, with a motor like the cummins your probably gonna want work with it. A custom 5 lug hub is gonna be needed for an axle thats strong enough to properly handle all that weight. I don't know of any 3/4 or 1 ton truck with 5 lugs.
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I dont have 5 lug rims I have 8 lug rims because thats whats on the truck right now with the F250 suspension. I am not going to get a new truck so that idea is mute. The F150 frame has been professionally tubed/reinforced all the way down so strength of the frame is not an issue at all (it was done for free). So I'm guessing what I need to do is find a D60 and call it quits?
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From: New Albany, MS
I you leave the front unlocked, and are mindful of your driving, the dana 44 can survive. I would get some nickel rod or whatever it is and weld up where the tubes are pressed into the chunk, I have seen several that have twisted loose from the spot welds.
The other really weak link is the steering u joints, these are very easy to break. Usually they will break the caps first, so if you hear a lot of clanking but you still have power to the front tires, these are a likely culprit. Only use forged u-joints if replacement is necessary.
The other really weak link is the steering u joints, these are very easy to break. Usually they will break the caps first, so if you hear a lot of clanking but you still have power to the front tires, these are a likely culprit. Only use forged u-joints if replacement is necessary.
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Joined: Oct 2008
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From: concord ca
well fist of all with how much hp are u shoting for with that cummins. weight wont really be a problem i have 85 f350 diesel that had the ttb replaced with a 79 dana 44 hd with 8 lug pattern had no problems with weight and i ran 37s. the problem with super dutys axles is the unit bearings witch can become a problem with runing over sized tires. and fyi ford put ttb 44 under diesel for years befor going to the ttb 50 and mono bean 50.
Post Fiend
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Joe, didnt we revoke your tech question answering priviledges?
Unfortunately, youre right.
On a different note...
I need friends that would "professionally tubed/reinforced" a complete frame for free. Hell, I cant even get friends to ship me parts I pay for in less than 6 weeks. - :flipatdanandpaul:
Unfortunately, youre right.
On a different note...
I need friends that would "professionally tubed/reinforced" a complete frame for free. Hell, I cant even get friends to ship me parts I pay for in less than 6 weeks. - :flipatdanandpaul:
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 8,513
Likes: 2
From: concord ca
Joe, didnt we revoke your tech question answering priviledges?
Unfortunately, youre right.
On a different note...
I need friends that would "professionally tubed/reinforced" a complete frame for free. Hell, I cant even get friends to ship me parts I pay for in less than 6 weeks. - :flipatdanandpaul:
Unfortunately, youre right.
On a different note...
I need friends that would "professionally tubed/reinforced" a complete frame for free. Hell, I cant even get friends to ship me parts I pay for in less than 6 weeks. - :flipatdanandpaul:
no that was dan on brake advice