HELP?
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New User
Joined: Feb 2002
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HELP?
How do you know if youre axels are ok for running big tires? On my previous post, lift for 79 f150 4x4, I mentioned putting 38 inch tires on my truck. Someone asked if my axels are up to it. How do you know if they are ok for 38 inch tires?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 105
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HELP?
Running 38's on a Dana 44 and 9 inch always seems to cause a difference in opinions. Pretty much everyone agrees that those axles are fine with 35-36"s, but you could start breaking axleshafts and front axle u-joints with bigger tires. It depends a lot on how you drive and your motor size. In my opinion if you just drive it on the street and maybe real easy off-road you'll be fine. But if you have a strong 429 or 460 or your the kind of guy whose always smoking his tires at lights or going thru deep mud full throttle, plan on braking parts sometimes. I say just do it, and if you have to replace a axleshaft once in a while, at least you'll know how to do it. I used to know a guy who ran 44" gumbos on a '78 F-150. It broke stuff sometimes, but I've also seen it hold up though some DEEP mud just fine. (It even had 3.50 gears beleive it or not!). Once the snow starts melting in another month or so, I'm going to buy some 38" swamper or either ground hawgs for my '78 F-150.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Glendale USA
HELP?
I have always heard 36" is the maximum you want to go on a Dana44 but then again we all know the guy who runs 40's on a Dana 44 and never breaks a thing and then there is the guy with 33's on a Dana 44 that is breaking something just by pulling out of the driveway. It all depends on what you are going to be doing with the truck if you off-road alot or just drive down the street looking pretty. If you off-road I would buy a good set of 4340 chrome-moly axle shafts and a good set of u-joints and always keep extras in the truck you never know when something will go TWANG which is not a good sound when off-road in a bind. Another thing you could do is get a set of milemarker
hubs which are not a bad hub but they will break SOMETIMES before an axle shaft will and it is always easier to replace a hub in the field then an axle shaft. Just my $0.02 of advise
hubs which are not a bad hub but they will break SOMETIMES before an axle shaft will and it is always easier to replace a hub in the field then an axle shaft. Just my $0.02 of advise
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