axle advise

[weekend 4 wheelers]

Hey guys. I found these axles a guy has for cheap. $500 bucks. He says its a 8 lug dana 44 set up for high steer with 4.10s. He said he has a matching 14 bolt 4.10s 8 lug. Now here's where I'm confused..... he says the dana 44 is 8 lug. With the same bolt pattern as the 14 bolt? Is this possible? Also if I go this route. What problems am I gonna run into? Thanks in advance.

[muddy]

yep, totally possible. GM and Ford both used 8 lug versions of the D44. However(although it's not that big of a deal), depending on the year of the chevy that it came from (assuming it's from a chevy sense he has the matching 14bolt), it could be an 8-lug corp.10bolt axle. I don't remember the exact year, but at some point GM switched from the 44 front, to the corp 10 bolt fronts.

Also, just so you are aware, they also had a semi-float 14 bolt that they used in some of the 3/4 ton trucks

[Stuka]

D44 HD's were 8 lug, and typically larger brakes than a 5/6 lug D44.

3/4 trucks used D44's. 1 tons used D60's.

Are you wanting to put these into a waggy, WT Cherokee, or a J-Truck? And what year?

[Stuka]

yep, totally possible. GM and Ford both used 8 lug versions of the D44. However(although it's not that big of a deal), depending on the year of the chevy that it came from (assuming it's from a chevy sense he has the matching 14bolt), it could be an 8-lug corp.10bolt axle. I don't remember the exact year, but at some point GM switched from the 44 front, to the corp 10 bolt fronts.

Also, just so you are aware, they also had a semi-float 14 bolt that they used in some of the 3/4 ton trucks

I don't think they made 8 lug 10 bolts. As far as I know, the 3/4 tons always used the D44 HD.

[muddy]

I don't think they made 8 lug 10 bolts. As far as I know, the 3/4 tons always used the D44 HD.

Well, I sold it about 12 years ago (still kick myself for doing that ) but My first vehicle was an 82 3/4 ton chevy. It had the custom delux package, which was prety much just a stripped down work truck. It had the semi-float 14 bolt in the rear, and if memory serves correctly, it was a 10 bolt front.

[weekend 4 wheelers]

I'm gonna put these under my 82 waggy. The axle is driver drop so it wouldn't be a chevy 10 bolt. From what I understand they are all passenger drop. What I'm worried about is the spring perches and the drive shafts.

[Stuka]

I'm gonna put these under my 82 waggy. The axle is driver drop so it wouldn't be a chevy 10 bolt. From what I understand they are all passenger drop. What I'm worried about is the spring perches and the drive shafts.

If the D44 is a driver drop, that makes it a ford high pinion. Which is great for drive shaft angles, and it bolts in. Rear spring perches may have to be moved. These axles will also be wider than your current ones, so fender trimming may be in order depending on tire size.

[weekend 4 wheelers]

I want that wide stance. Cutting fenders has been the plan for a while. I'm just worried about the drive shafts, steering, pearches, ect. What am I gonna run into? Also he said this is a dodge front axle so I don't know if it is HP

[Stuka]

If its dodge, and driver drop, that makes it sound like its a later coil sprung axle? In which case, I would pass. It wont be high pinion, and it will not have standard hubs up front. It will have unit bearings with drive flanges.

[carnuck]

IH, Dodge, J20, Ford and Chev had 8 lug D44 fronts. For a couple years in the late '70s GM tried 10 bolt 8 lug (many needed replacing)

[AwesomeJ10]

If it's a later, unit bearing type dodge axle, then it's probably a coil spring axle. So unless you plan to swap in front coils, I'd pass.

You might consider a '77-79 ford Dana 44 front 8 lug as pictured below. I have that in my '88 waggy and it fits like a glove. I have some new rancho 44044 front leaves on there, which is giving it like 10" of lift in the front. I have a dodge rear D60, but I'm about to swap that out for a 14 bolt.

[fulsizjeep]

GM did make 8 lug 10 bolt. I have one from an 82 at home that I am stealing the outers off of.

Pictures of the said axles will tell more than a bunch of guessing.

[weekend 4 wheelers]

Well guys looks like the axle I was trying to get ended up passenger drop. I told the guy I needed driver drop about 3 times. Guess he can't read.... back to plan A

[AwesomeJ10]

what's plan A ?

[weekend 4 wheelers]

Stick with the 4" lift I have now. Get carriers, gears, locker up front, run 35s. Chop fenders. Beat the heck out of it on the trails.