Front D44 or D60?
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Front D44 or D60?
I've got a '78 F-250 4x4 with a high pinion front axle. The other day a friend (who is usually a respectable parts guy) told me that it might be a Dana 60. I always thought it was a Dana 44HD, but I've had the truck only for a year and that's just going on what the last owner said. I know Ford had 44 high pinions in '78 and '79 but I haven't heard of a 60 high pinion.
I've pulled the tag: 3.54 D8TA ADC
610040-1
I've also pulled the tag on my junk truck, a '77 F-250, I just bought, so if anyone can de-code these or point me in a direction that'd be great.
ED D6TA AAE
610005-1P 4.09
Any help is greatly appreciated. -Dan
I've pulled the tag: 3.54 D8TA ADC
610040-1
I've also pulled the tag on my junk truck, a '77 F-250, I just bought, so if anyone can de-code these or point me in a direction that'd be great.
ED D6TA AAE
610005-1P 4.09
Any help is greatly appreciated. -Dan
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From: Evanston, WY
Front D44 or D60?
Hey Dan,
Yep they did make high-pinion reverse cut Dana 60s on those old F series. VERY desirable axles. Unfortunately the casting numbers are usually not very helpful so just look for the easiest way to tell:
Look at the steering knuckles. If they have four bolts holding the steering arm on one side, and four bolts holding a cap on the other (on top), and four bolts on the bottom on both sides then youre the lucky winner. There are D60's that have ball joints, but Ive never seen one.
Also the axle tube itself is much thicker on the 60.
Good luck.
-Scouder
Yep they did make high-pinion reverse cut Dana 60s on those old F series. VERY desirable axles. Unfortunately the casting numbers are usually not very helpful so just look for the easiest way to tell:
Look at the steering knuckles. If they have four bolts holding the steering arm on one side, and four bolts holding a cap on the other (on top), and four bolts on the bottom on both sides then youre the lucky winner. There are D60's that have ball joints, but Ive never seen one.
Also the axle tube itself is much thicker on the 60.
Good luck.
-Scouder
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Front D44 or D60?
The axle tubes on both trucks are the same diameter. Both axles use ball joints, with the steering arm bolted onto the left knuckle with 3 bolts. Neither use kingpin bearings.
-Dan
-Dan
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Front D44 or D60?
The numbers on the tag MUST say the identification of the axle, or else it would stand for nothing more than telling the axle ratio, right? Does anyone now what these tag numbers stand for? I've been told to look for a 44 or 60 number cast on the pumpkin, but I've gone over the axle and painted it, and see none. Is there a certain place to be looking?
Any help is much appreciated!
-Dan
Any help is much appreciated!
-Dan
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From: lake ariel usa
Front D44 or D60?
if it has ball joints its a 44 also the size of the hub on a d60 front axle is big like the size on the back one not small 44 size. There are also large hub 44s but i think only gm has those. T he king pin versus ball joint is the easiest way to tell. The 44/60 is cast on the rear of the pumkin in the webbed area.
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From: Evanston, WY
Front D44 or D60?
> The axle tubes on both trucks are the same diameter. Both
>axles use ball joints, with the steering arm bolted onto the
>left knuckle with 3 bolts. Neither use kingpin bearings.
>
> -Dan
The axle tubes on the D44 is significantly smaller than the D60.
The D44 typically uses ball joints with the steering arm bolted to the left knuckle with three bolts.
The D60 typically has kingpin bearings.
Three strikes, youre out.
Ive got two F series, one with ball joint 44, one with kingpin 60. They are not similar in any way. (Except they are both black)
-Scouder
>axles use ball joints, with the steering arm bolted onto the
>left knuckle with 3 bolts. Neither use kingpin bearings.
>
> -Dan
The axle tubes on the D44 is significantly smaller than the D60.
The D44 typically uses ball joints with the steering arm bolted to the left knuckle with three bolts.
The D60 typically has kingpin bearings.
Three strikes, youre out.
Ive got two F series, one with ball joint 44, one with kingpin 60. They are not similar in any way. (Except they are both black)
-Scouder
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From: Evanston, WY
Front D44 or D60?
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Nov-02 AT 11:23 AM (EST)]> The numbers on the tag MUST say the identification of the
>axle, or else it would stand for nothing more than telling
>the axle ratio, right? Does anyone now what these tag
>numbers stand for? I've been told to look for a 44 or 60
>number cast on the pumpkin, but I've gone over the axle and
>painted it, and see none. Is there a certain place to be
>looking?
>
> Any help is much appreciated!
>
> -Dan
Dan,
Ive sandblasted and painted my D60 housing and looked over every inch of it. There is no "60" cast into it anywhere. My 44 however has the "44" plainly cast into it. Sounds pretty certain that youve got a 44 though, from your previous post.
-Scouder
>axle, or else it would stand for nothing more than telling
>the axle ratio, right? Does anyone now what these tag
>numbers stand for? I've been told to look for a 44 or 60
>number cast on the pumpkin, but I've gone over the axle and
>painted it, and see none. Is there a certain place to be
>looking?
>
> Any help is much appreciated!
>
> -Dan
Dan,
Ive sandblasted and painted my D60 housing and looked over every inch of it. There is no "60" cast into it anywhere. My 44 however has the "44" plainly cast into it. Sounds pretty certain that youve got a 44 though, from your previous post.
-Scouder
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From: Oregon
Front D44 or D60?
OK I decoded your tags and this is what it gave me
D6TA AAE = Ford truck, 78-79, F-150, 3.50 ratio, no limited slip, with locking hubs, Spicer 44-9 housing, probably out of a supercab I am not sure about that part though.
D8TA ADC = Ford truck, 78, F250, 3.54 ratio, Spicer 44-9 housing, 3800lb weight rating
So From my decoder it looks like you have 2 dana 44 front axles there.
Hope this helps
Bushman
79 F250 Crewcab 4wd
73 F250 Crewcab 2wd
71 Bronco
67 F250 Std cab 4wd
D6TA AAE = Ford truck, 78-79, F-150, 3.50 ratio, no limited slip, with locking hubs, Spicer 44-9 housing, probably out of a supercab I am not sure about that part though.
D8TA ADC = Ford truck, 78, F250, 3.54 ratio, Spicer 44-9 housing, 3800lb weight rating
So From my decoder it looks like you have 2 dana 44 front axles there.
Hope this helps
Bushman
79 F250 Crewcab 4wd
73 F250 Crewcab 2wd
71 Bronco
67 F250 Std cab 4wd
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Front D44 or D60?
Thanks guys! Glad I got that cleared up. Also, i have heard that the reverse cut D44s are the weaker of the two.
Are the reverse cut D44s very common? I know that they were put in '78 and '79 trucks. The reason I ask is that I was hoping to get an OX locker for it sometime next summer, but if the reverse 44s are different in parts availability, that just might throw a shoe in my plans.
This also confirms my thoughts on my parts truck. The guy who sold it to me said it had Posi-traction at both axles, I thought the guy was full of shiznizle anyway, but now I know he was. :7
Right now i'm running 33" TSL Thornbirds so the D44 should be stout enough.
-Dan
Are the reverse cut D44s very common? I know that they were put in '78 and '79 trucks. The reason I ask is that I was hoping to get an OX locker for it sometime next summer, but if the reverse 44s are different in parts availability, that just might throw a shoe in my plans.
This also confirms my thoughts on my parts truck. The guy who sold it to me said it had Posi-traction at both axles, I thought the guy was full of shiznizle anyway, but now I know he was. :7
Right now i'm running 33" TSL Thornbirds so the D44 should be stout enough.
-Dan
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From: Evanston, WY
Front D44 or D60?
> Thanks guys! Glad I got that cleared up. Also, i have
>heard that the reverse cut D44s are the weaker of the two.
>
>Are the reverse cut D44s very common? I know that they were
>put in '78 and '79 trucks. The reason I ask is that I was
>hoping to get an OX locker for it sometime next summer, but
>if the reverse 44s are different in parts availability, that
>just might throw a shoe in my plans.
>
>This also confirms my thoughts on my parts truck. The guy
>who sold it to me said it had Posi-traction at both axles, I
>thought the guy was full of shiznizle anyway, but now I know
>he was. :7
>
> Right now i'm running 33" TSL Thornbirds so the D44 should
>be stout enough.
>
> -Dan
Dan,
The reverse cut is stronger than a non-reverse cut, if that was your question. Non-reverse cut are basically a rear-end gearset running backwards. Reverse cut gears are made to be used in a front axle.
High-pinion, reverse cut = good thing to have.
-Scouder
>heard that the reverse cut D44s are the weaker of the two.
>
>Are the reverse cut D44s very common? I know that they were
>put in '78 and '79 trucks. The reason I ask is that I was
>hoping to get an OX locker for it sometime next summer, but
>if the reverse 44s are different in parts availability, that
>just might throw a shoe in my plans.
>
>This also confirms my thoughts on my parts truck. The guy
>who sold it to me said it had Posi-traction at both axles, I
>thought the guy was full of shiznizle anyway, but now I know
>he was. :7
>
> Right now i'm running 33" TSL Thornbirds so the D44 should
>be stout enough.
>
> -Dan
Dan,
The reverse cut is stronger than a non-reverse cut, if that was your question. Non-reverse cut are basically a rear-end gearset running backwards. Reverse cut gears are made to be used in a front axle.
High-pinion, reverse cut = good thing to have.
-Scouder
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From: Shirley USA
Front D44 or D60?
Hey guys, I have a 78 F250 with what I know is a Dana 60, my tag reads
4 10 D8TA ACD
610023-6
so I would say that first axle is a Dana 60, cheap and good looking way to be sure is just order a chrome diff cover for a dana 60, if it fits leave it on and enjoy your 60, if it doesn't then trade it in for '44 cover 'cause that what ya got... that's what I would do if I weren't sure anyway...
4 10 D8TA ACD
610023-6
so I would say that first axle is a Dana 60, cheap and good looking way to be sure is just order a chrome diff cover for a dana 60, if it fits leave it on and enjoy your 60, if it doesn't then trade it in for '44 cover 'cause that what ya got... that's what I would do if I weren't sure anyway...
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Front D44 or D60?
>so I would say that first axle is a Dana 60, cheap and good
>looking way to be sure is just order a chrome diff cover for
>a dana 60
Cheap! Ha. The last one I have looked at for a 44 was just a shade under $100. Anyways I painted both covers the same color as my truck and it looks pretty cool. Although I could use an extra capacity one 'cause of the full-time 4x4. Hmmm.... Maybe that could be something for Christmas.
Today I looked at a friend's truck at work that had a Dana 60 front axle. I'm sure now that I don't have a Dana 60. It was a '93 3/4 ton with a Cummins. The knucles and axle shafts were considerately larger than mine. And even though I admire the Cummins, it was still a pretty crude truck, made me appreciate my Ford.
"Oh, this is YOUR P-O-S Dodge."
"Nuts I said that outloud didn't I"Oh well, he should've drove a Ford!
-Dan
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Front D44 or D60?
> I've pulled the tag: 3.54 D8TA ADC
> 610040-1
>>
> ED D6TA AAE
> 610005-1P 4.09
>
>
Both are D-44. But the 610005 is a low pinion and the 610040 is High-pinion.
For a 78-79 D-60 the only BOM number I've ever seen is 610023. This is good for both 1978 and 1979 years.
D-44 is not a bad unit. Put some Warn Alloy axle shafts in it and get CTM u-joints and go thrash it.
Eric
> 610040-1
>>
> ED D6TA AAE
> 610005-1P 4.09
>
>
Both are D-44. But the 610005 is a low pinion and the 610040 is High-pinion.
For a 78-79 D-60 the only BOM number I've ever seen is 610023. This is good for both 1978 and 1979 years.
D-44 is not a bad unit. Put some Warn Alloy axle shafts in it and get CTM u-joints and go thrash it.
Eric
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Posts: 1,191
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From: West Union, OH USA
Front D44 or D60?
hey guys check out the latest edition of FOUR WHEELER. it has a section all about axles and how to tell them apart and even has pictures. the mag should have a big superduty ford on the cover
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From: Shirley USA
Front D44 or D60?
Thanks for the clarification Eric, I guess I had thought the letters were the axle model/year of production, and the numbers I thought were just serialnoumbers for theproduction run... don't know where I got that idea. Oh, and the last time I picked up a cover it was $35 at a local parts store when I was stationed in N.C. Was a while ago though, I haven't had time to play with my truck in a long time and have just started working on trying to get it back into road worthy condition. In fact, the driver side steering knuckle of my front dana 60 is in pieces right now so I can swap out the king pin and parts... anybody done this? is there a kit with the replacement parts? I was looking at the shop manual cd i got from this site and it says 500 ft/lbs torque... I better start eating my wheaties, I never even saw a torque wrench that goes over 250 ft/lbs. If anyone knows this job I'd love to hear what ya got to say.... thanks all!