dana 44 strength

how tough is a dana 44? I am running 37 inch toyos with lockers. People say the 44 holds up ok until you install a locker. Where is the weak link?

A locked front isnt good at all... i broke axle shafts rung off the pinion and shattered the ring gear with a locked front also broke my wrist when everything let go and took my hand with it in the steering wheel

thanx for the reply, i will take out the locker and sell it

they work well with a Open carrier though, I ran 38" TSL's on stock axle Shaft's until we Welded the spiders up in the front (stock axles from 77)

I disagree.... I have been running a spool in my dana 44 for 4 years now. I have broke two original axles, and even a chromoly. I've been running a stock inner and outer axle since the beginning of last season with no issues. The key is..... to have all parts in good working condition (ball joints, axle joints, etc) and have the gears set-up correctly.

My application is in mud drags and dirt drags. What is your planned application?

i plan on a weekend warrior trail truck which i will drive on and off road

I have been running a 44 front for 10 yrs, with a spool, I did break the shorty axle twice, with an upgrade to moser axles I havent had a problem, and hang an average of 700 + pounds over the front

can you elaborate about adding 700 lbs over the front please

cooter wrote:can you elaborate about adding 700 lbs over the front please

Truck Pulls, I have a weight bar out front, add weight to get better traction up front

cooter wrote:how tough is a dana 44? I am running 37 inch toyos with lockers. People say the 44 holds up ok until you install a locker. Where is the weak link?

There is a huge difference from straight line mud drags, truck pulls, and trail riding. For the straight line mud drags, I've broken more shafts with the locked front and lost some control of the truck. When I pulled the spool out and went back to an open front, I gained all of the control back and actually got faster with less breakage. In truck pulls you are going fairly straight with little to no turning so the joints are not being stressed and in that application, it works well. For trail riding where the truck will be subjected to non straight line stresses like having to turn around rocks and such, those D44 axle shafts (chromoly or not!) will shatter like tooth pics with anything larger than a 36" tire. Application has EVERYTHING to do with what axle works best in what situration. Granted, I run a D44 in my mud truck, but I'm not turning the wheels back and forth much, so it lives a long and happy life.

As to your application, the weak link becomes the ears on the axles shafts at the knuckle when you put a locker in. And considering the cheap bronco graveyard chromoly axle shafts are $300 a side to replace, what's your budget and how often are you willing to shell that money out before you swap back to that open front if you keep the d44?

If I were building a street/trail truck, it would atleast have a good limited slip in the front. I drive mine on the street, hunt out of it all winter, and race all summer...I do have to work around the spool and am always conscious it is there. I try not to get in situations where I bind the front up too bad from turning tight. No offense Kjett, but I'd never run an open differential...ever. haha

460bronco wrote: No offense Kjett, but I'd never run an open differential...ever. haha

None taken. But we can line your truck up next to mine and run em. I bet you will break a front axle long before I do

kjett wrote:

cooter wrote:how tough is a dana 44? I am running 37 inch toyos with lockers. People say the 44 holds up ok until you install a locker. Where is the weak link?

There is a huge difference from straight line mud drags, truck pulls, and trail riding. For the straight line mud drags, I've broken more shafts with the locked front and lost some control of the truck. When I pulled the spool out and went back to an open front, I gained all of the control back and actually got faster with less breakage. In truck pulls you are going fairly straight with little to no turning so the joints are not being stressed and in that application, it works well. For trail riding where the truck will be subjected to non straight line stresses like having to turn around rocks and such, those D44 axle shafts (chromoly or not!) will shatter like tooth pics with anything larger than a 36" tire. Application has EVERYTHING to do with what axle works best in what situration. Granted, I run a D44 in my mud truck, but I'm not turning the wheels back and forth much, so it lives a long and happy life.

As to your application, the weak link becomes the ears on the axles shafts at the knuckle when you put a locker in. And considering the cheap bronco graveyard chromoly axle shafts are $300 a side to replace, what's your budget and how often are you willing to shell that money out before you swap back to that open front if you keep the d44?

I will have to agree, I am a straight liner...............

Prolly so!!! I would like to see how my stock 4900lb bronco would line up against your fire breathing dragon!!! What kind of times to do you run on top of the ground in 200'? Better bring your spray and cuts though!!!

When it's running right, around the 4 second area. This past weekend was horrible with it not running right, times were in the 20-40 second range

Couldn't you just unlock one hub or remove one drive flange depending on the type of racing or pit? If its a deep pit unlock one side, if its a speed pit or drag lock it up.

Unlocking just 1 side will cause the truck to pull to that side. not a good deal if your truck has any speed.

I have to agree with Karl the locker will cause more issues in a straight line drag truck than most realize and wouldnt put one in for nothing! I have seen many truck run better after they pulled the lockers out. I had a buddy with a very fast superstock truck(back when he ran) that was convinced to install a locker when he launched the truck he couldnt keep it from heading right every time because the engine torqued the frame planting the front right tire dragging him that way after a couple passes the axle finally so no thank you and gave up.

lghting94 wrote:I have to agree with Karl the locker will cause more issues in a straight line drag truck than most realize and wouldnt put one in for nothing! I have seen many truck run better after they pulled the lockers out. I had a buddy with a very fast superstock truck(back when he ran) that was convinced to install a locker when he launched the truck he couldnt keep it from heading right every time because the engine torqued the frame planting the front right tire dragging him that way after a couple passes the axle finally so no thank you and gave up.

Don't listen to me, I don't know nothing aobut front spools or lockers.

kjett wrote:

lghting94 wrote:I have to agree with Karl the locker will cause more issues in a straight line drag truck than most realize and wouldnt put one in for nothing! I have seen many truck run better after they pulled the lockers out. I had a buddy with a very fast superstock truck(back when he ran) that was convinced to install a locker when he launched the truck he couldnt keep it from heading right every time because the engine torqued the frame planting the front right tire dragging him that way after a couple passes the axle finally so no thank you and gave up.

Don't listen to me, I don't know nothing aobut front spools or lockers.

I was agreeing with you??

I know, it was for the others that think a spool in the front makes them faster in the mud

460bronco wrote:Prolly so!!! I would like to see how my stock 4900lb bronco would line up against your fire breathing dragon!!! What kind of times to do you run on top of the ground in 200'? Better bring your spray and cuts though!!!

No offense but if karl lines up against a 4900lb truck on top of the ground my moneys on him!!!

lghting94 wrote:I have to agree with Karl the locker will cause more issues in a straight line drag truck than most realize and wouldnt put one in for nothing! I have seen many truck run better after they pulled the lockers out. I had a buddy with a very fast superstock truck(back when he ran) that was convinced to install a locker when he launched the truck he couldnt keep it from heading right every time because the engine torqued the frame planting the front right tire dragging him that way after a couple passes the axle finally so no thank you and gave up.

and it gets real fun when you snap a axle at 5+ grand and it yanks you straight into the wall.....

and to the unlocking one side question its a PITA to steer even when just creeping around, when mine was locked id unlock 1 hub until I lined up so not to break something in the pit area and just idling in gear would drag you to the passengers side (the one i had unlocked)

460bronco wrote:Prolly so!!! I would like to see how my stock 4900lb bronco would line up against your fire breathing dragon!!! What kind of times to do you run on top of the ground in 200'? Better bring your spray and cuts though!!!

I'm not saying a word.