How can a guy tell the difference between a danna 44hd or a danna 60 front end thanks?

 

The 44HD has a different style of hub, not a smooth like on the 60, 50, 44, etc. Don't remeber if it uses bolts or still allen screws (been quite a while since I've had one apart).

 

Not always true. Early D60 low pinions used the external locking hubs, wheel hubs, and same diameter axle shafts as the D44. The best way to tell is to look at the tag on the cover or the casting number on the ear next to it.

 

Veru good point Forworth. Often enough the external hubs on D44's are mistaken for D60 front axles. The diameters are the same, and very easilly mistaken.
Internet discussions on identification of the low pinion closed knuckle axles can be difficult. The steering arms are also straight and the little king pins are often mistaken for the later 78/9 "real king pin" axles that are so desireable.
Here is some reading:
Dana 44 Solid Front Axle: Reverse Spiral and Standard Housing info..

Best piece of info that I can bring to the table is to bring two wrenches. (actually one will do) one 9/16" and one 1/2". The 1/2" will fit the diff cover bolts on the D44, and the D60 will require the 9/16" wrench.
Unless one is very famliar with visual identification, things can get confusing in a hurry.

 

I have a 76 F250 High Boy did they come with a Danna 60 front end or a 44HD Being a high boy I would think it would be a 60.

 

It could be either. My '75 Highboy came with a 44HD closed kunckle. Not knowing any better I replaced it with a LP60 several years ago. The differences between the two are the center section and open knuckles with disc brakes. Of course now it has a '78 HP60 which is D60 from end to end.

 

nice truck fordworth...like the color a lot.

 

more than likely its a 44...other than the cover bolts another way to tell if its a 44 is tosee if it has ball joints on the upper part of the knuckle...the d60 of this era only used kingpins.


so 9/16 cover bolts & kingpins = d60
1/2 cover bolts & balljoints = d44

 

My ford book specifies a D44, but that isn't to say someone didn't swap in a 60.

 

This is not 100% accurate. The closed knuckle axles of this era do not have ball joints.
Closed knuckle large hub D44 HD's of this era are commonly mistaken for desireable front axles. Often this method of identification (the ball joint method) can be misleading and a little confusing.

 

yeah i guess i wrote that a lil wrong...the early 44's still had 1/2in cover bolts tho right?

 

Yes sir, that part is 100% correct....

 

Does anyone have any pics of the 78/79 D60's? I know I have seen a few on here but can't seem to find them on the searches.

 

I just look for the stamped #, actually its raised lettering. On the L/H side of the center pumpkin, on the lower side of the axle. Just left of the cover, on the cast webbing.

I look for D44, D44HD, and of course the famous D60, I think I have seen people swap
D60 outers on to D44 axle? So using the outer lock in lock out hub dia (4"), could be miss leading.

Hope you got what you want.

 

Be very carefull when looking at stamped numbers on the 44 and 60. The numbers on a D44 actually have the numbers "60" right in them and are often confused.
As mentioned earlier, the ball joint and king pin form of identification can also be problematic. The later 60's have ball joint knuckles, and some aftermarket axles have these. This does not make them bad, and does not mean that they will not fit.

Rock Jock D60 front axle with ball joints:




Here is a shot of a D44 knuckle. This is an open knuckle, D44 with disc brakes:
Note the ball joint also. Looks just like the above aftermarket or later D60F.
A 78/9 front axle will have a longer driverside axle tube than the later D60F, and a king pin knuckle. SOme later axles will still have a king pin design, but still wont fit the early trucks. This makes the axle tube length method of identification very valuable:



Here is a close up of a 79 D60F king pin cap. Actually a modified steering arm, but this is the idea:




Pass side knuckle and steering arm for crossover steering:



The whole enchilada: