Since we are talking about axle strength, would a high pinion D44 stand up to 36x14.50 Ground Hawgs?

 

Well on the 44 issues of getting messed up due to big tires and being locked. Oh when I was 18 I had a 77 F250 I had 33 inch tires under it while playing where I didn't belong I broke the front axle tore the exhaust off from the header back. I spent two days getting it dug out considering it was in mud to the bottom of the doors. So after getting it home in snow it sat till I fixed the exhaust only a few days. Driving in snow with out four wheel drive in that thing blows *****. So I found a 76 high boy with full time four wheel drive and bought the truck for the tires and front axle it was wrecked and the frame was snapped so the rest was junked. So now 35 tires a full time axle that was locked let me tell you I couldn't keep axles in that truck. I would snap an axle shaft just by putting it in four wheel drive on firm dirt and turning. My first mistake wanting to eliminate getting out of the truck to lock the hubs LOL.

 

The strongest part of the 44 is about as strong as the weakest portion of the 60. I am a big fan of the 60 (of course) but I have no problems with a D44.
I do not know how people are breaking these things other than just pure abuse.
I really can't see how someone ^^^^ is going to run a full time front axle with a locker. That has got to be brutal on the street. Jeep guys are brutal on the 44 and use them all the tie with big tires. We have rather heavy trucks, but they survive under them fairly well.
Many guys are running 60's up because they are the popular thing to do, and not really out of necessity. I see many early 60's with coarse splines under trucks, and as many later axles with small 30 spline outers, and they guys think they have scored cool points.
Depending on the abuse you are going to give your truck, a 44 might be just fine, especially with 36 inch tires.

 

I haven't had any problems with my 44 as of yet, it's just everything around it that tends to go. That's a good thing, mostly. However, I just blasted a hub. Never seen one let go like mine did. It pretty much disintegrated. Needless to say, Superwinch is buying me a new pair. Thankfully they have a lifetime warranty on them.

 

All my F250 will be used for is mudding, trail riding, occasional mild rocks and street. I figure about the only weak point in my truck will be the D44.

 

What are these friction pads? Are they the long plastic strips between the leaves? Little round pads at the end of the leaves? Would they work on the factory HB leaves and make it ride smoother? I would really like a smoother ride. My other truck is a f100 with a 4" lift, it rides a ton smoother.

 

Hey Scott:
Yeah man, you are right on the money with the friction pads. These pads are availabe in a veriety of styles, but some of the ones that just attach to the tips of the leafs will require some holes in the end so the do not just fall out after the first bump. There are linings that can be placed between the leafs and will allow them to slide over on another a little easier. This also eliminates squeeks too.
Factory HB springs also have a clamp that keep the leafs aligned. these clamps also limit travel (mostly extension). A bit of freedom is found when these are modified to allow the spring to move. I bend the ends striaght up, and chop off the top just above the top leaf. This still keeps the springs aligned and allows a little more movement.
I also use plain old rubber bushings and not Poly ones. I am not against anyone that uses Poly. I just prefer the ride and additional flex of the rubber bushing.
Knowing that I am not building a race car, and do not need the performance that a Poly bushing can provide. the end results are a little better ride with a rubber one.
All of these little things add up to much better flex, and a better ride.
Much of the reason you have a better ride in the F100 is because it has coil springs and the 250 has leafs. The rates are more progressive in a coil, and since the coil does not have friction like the leaf spring does it rides a bit better. Ok a lot better.
PM me. I can send you some pics of these pads. I have a few leaf packs apart, and you can easily see the difference.

 

I wouldn't suggest going any bigger on the D44 either. I'm ready to swap to a D60 if only I could afford one right now...

As for you, abnormloffrd, you're a jacka$$. Unless you plan on only using your rig on the streets and only have big tires for show, something will inevitably break. That's just the way it goes when you're actually off road.

__________________
I may be a jacka but I own and wheel a large varity of veh on huge tires and the only time my frt 44's aor any other part has broken when I was showing off my ***** and not using my brain.

 

A 44's lifespan depends on how you drive and what you drive on. I wouldn't have a 44 with 54 boggers or anything ridiculous like that, but I have had 39.5 swampers on a 44 with minimal breakage. Just a hub and some wheel bearings. Bearings died more from water then anything else. If you drive hard enough you can break damn near anything. With that being said, I still put a 60 in mine just for the sake of overbuilding.

 

Thats what I plan to do with mine, its just getting a Ford D60.

 

Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you............

 

what is the largest tire you can fit under a stock '77 F-150 2wd?
Thanks!

 

On a 77 f150 2wd I would go with 235 85 R16's they are awsome but require 16" rims. At 32" they are right at the limit for a stock 2wd.

 

I had 31 tires under my 77 F150 on 15 rims

 

Sounds like a good bunch of info here, I have 235-75's on the front of my '75 F-250 SC 2-wheel drive and 265-75's on the rear. The open diff will get an LSD later. (farm & camping use). I've got friends that have 1/2 tons and switch to D60's for off-roading. My thought is they upgrade to what I'm starting with. The 435 tranny and D60 are almost a bulletproof combo. Warn makes a 'hub fuse' to be installed as the weak link - saves U-joints and such. A LOT easier to replace on the trail.