Welding front diff?
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Welding front diff?
I have a D44 front in my truck. I don't do any serious rock crawling, but I'm looking for a little more pull from the front end. The biggest tires i will run are 35's but most likely 33's. Would welding the diff affect everyday street driving? I searched but couldn't find anything. Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Fl
as long as you dont run with you hubs locked or in 4x4 anywhere. Good luck turnin off road though, and that 44 wont hold up very well either. I wouldnt even suggest putting a locker in a 44, ive been down that road before and the turnout is VERY expensive.
A buddy of mine has a 10 bolt front welded. If hes trial riding with us he can only lock one hub at a time, which really kinda sucks in some cases. If he gets in to sloppy of mud they can be locked in. But he just broke both axles shafts, spindles, and steering knuckle at once....So again, I wouldnt do it. Look into getting a good posi- unit.
A buddy of mine has a 10 bolt front welded. If hes trial riding with us he can only lock one hub at a time, which really kinda sucks in some cases. If he gets in to sloppy of mud they can be locked in. But he just broke both axles shafts, spindles, and steering knuckle at once....So again, I wouldnt do it. Look into getting a good posi- unit.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
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From: Senoia, GA
i say go for it. when i did my front (it was a Dana 60) i was blown away at the difference it made! now you will need to be very careful b/c your axle is much smaller and your axle joints are the axles Achilles' heel, but if you drive smart you will be fine.
to answer your question, unless you drive on the street now with your hubs locked you will not notice any difference. as to steering while offroad, i always left one hub unlocked then when i thought it might get hairy i locked the other in. you'd be surprised how much of a difference that made.
you will need to watch the sector shaft in your steering box, i snapped 2 of them turning hard with both hubs locked. the small sector shafts just cant handle the stress. if having a welded front is something you want to have forever (welded or with a locker) you really need to think about hydro assist steering. its not as hard as some make it out to be and if you can fabricate and weld it will be a quickie project for you.
-cutts-
to answer your question, unless you drive on the street now with your hubs locked you will not notice any difference. as to steering while offroad, i always left one hub unlocked then when i thought it might get hairy i locked the other in. you'd be surprised how much of a difference that made.
you will need to watch the sector shaft in your steering box, i snapped 2 of them turning hard with both hubs locked. the small sector shafts just cant handle the stress. if having a welded front is something you want to have forever (welded or with a locker) you really need to think about hydro assist steering. its not as hard as some make it out to be and if you can fabricate and weld it will be a quickie project for you.
-cutts-
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Farmington, IL
I had a full spool in my 44 and i was running 35x15.5 tsl's and it will pull to the drivers side cause its the short side but i just drove to where i was gonna play or do a local mud run and in the dirt and mud it was to bad atleast i didnt think it was. good luck
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Washington
been there done that and it's not a good idea unless you only run mud or snow.
Running one hub unlock makes it harder to get around than with an open diff. I had problems making it over root *****.
Snow (where talking deep snow in the where you float on top 2+feet), will allow enough slip where it's not a problem, getting the rig to turn is still a problem sometimes but it works OK.
Mud, would be if you can drive to the mud pit then lock them, racing whatever but driving on a trail with a locked front SUCKS.
If you have to have a front locker, get a lunch box locker (~300), this will work much better.
As for the street, a locked frontend WILL NOT WORK with the hubs locked in. If the hubs are unlocked, you won't know it's locked.
Running one hub unlock makes it harder to get around than with an open diff. I had problems making it over root *****.
Snow (where talking deep snow in the where you float on top 2+feet), will allow enough slip where it's not a problem, getting the rig to turn is still a problem sometimes but it works OK.
Mud, would be if you can drive to the mud pit then lock them, racing whatever but driving on a trail with a locked front SUCKS.
If you have to have a front locker, get a lunch box locker (~300), this will work much better.
As for the street, a locked frontend WILL NOT WORK with the hubs locked in. If the hubs are unlocked, you won't know it's locked.
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