9" d44 strengths weeknesses

85b2man · Nov 2, 2008

ok so i am running a ford 9 inch dana 44 high pinion out of a 79 bronco i just broke a 9 " shaft this weekend they are both fully rebuilt with 4.88 gears and spool rear all this under a 2.8L bronco 2 with doubler and 36" iroks i dont see the need for 60's yet but my question would the 9" hold up good with a 60 front or could the 44 hold up i wanna start running bys and running with the big dogs some day lol so what do you guy have for reccomendadions :beer:

jeepmauler · Nov 3, 2008

35 spine in the 9" and a 60 up front...the 44 will always be a problem

NotMatt · Nov 3, 2008

jeepmauler said:
35 spine in the 9" and a 60 up front...the 44 will always be a problem

:awesomework:

The 9" is a good axle. Some chromo 35 splinerz and a well built 3rd will hold up to a lot of abuse.

PS, I've run BYS multiple times with wagoneer 44's front and rear, stock spicer shafts and joints, spooled in the back and detroit in the front, on 36" TSL's... with no trouble. Tack weld the caps on your 44 shafts, and adjust your steering stops conservatively and the 44 can handle some abuse. :awesomework:

Having said that, I'm putting a 60 in the front of my rig right now. :awesomework:

:awesomework::awesomework::awesomework:

Cascade_Crawler · Nov 3, 2008

If your gonna build the 9 you need to also truss the top and back, might as well get a strong dropout while your at it.

PORTER · Nov 3, 2008

If you are going to build the niner, then truss it, then centersection it you might as well start with a 60. In the end it will be overall stronger. Nothing against the niner but the housing will bend even trussed under hardcore wheelin.

85b2man · Nov 3, 2008

how thick are the tubes on a 9 and does 35 spline really make that much more of a difference then 31 splines i'm pullling both my axles to go thru them make sure nothing else broke so i might truss the rear while its out

redyj1 · Nov 3, 2008

invest in a 60 front, im always having issues with my d44 with a stock 4.0 and 5.13s on 37s

85b2man · Nov 3, 2008

so then question should i weld the front end lol and if i need steering just leave one hub unlocked instead of investing in a locker lol or should i just run a lock right till i can afford to properly build a 60

Cascade_Crawler · Nov 3, 2008

85b2man said:
so then question should i weld the front end lol and if i need steering just leave one hub unlocked instead of investing in a locker lol or should i just run a lock right till i can afford to properly build a 60

35 spline is a huge difference over 31 spline. put a lockright in the front.

86sasRunner · Nov 3, 2008

yes do not weld the front! and 34 spline is the only way to run a 9" with lots of truss

85b2man · Nov 4, 2008

ok so here is what i'm thinking i'm gonna replace the broken axle with stock and get a lock right for the front save up till middle of next year or when ever i can afford to build my 9 inch properly and a 60 front what do you guys think sound like a plan

Boonie Buster · Nov 4, 2008

9" front w/ 60 outers.....9" rear

85b2man · Nov 4, 2008

Boonie Buster said:
9" front w/ 60 outers.....9" rear

hahahah hmmmmm:i kinda like the sound of the .
sound like making setting up gears easy

crap tho that means i have to get new gears grrr :booo: we will see :corn:

Freeride · Nov 4, 2008

Seems like a fluke breaking a 9" shaft in a rig like that on 36s. I've beat on mine in a TJ on 40" tires with an Atlas and 5.13s. Bunch of friends running 31 spline shafts too and none have broke one yet. Throw a junkyard replacement in and see how long it lasts before you spend a bunch of cash on new axles.

85b2man · Nov 4, 2008

Freeride said:
Seems like a fluke breaking a 9" shaft in a rig like that on 36s. I've beat on mine in a TJ on 40" tires with an Atlas and 5.13s. Bunch of friends running 31 spline shafts too and none have broke one yet. Throw a junkyard replacement in and see how long it lasts before you spend a bunch of cash on new axles.

thats what i'm figureing i think i'll wait till sometime next year to do any changing on the axles anyways till i can afford to do it rite

dessertrunner735 · Nov 11, 2008

9"/44

Well for starters the 9/44 combo is a great 1/2ton combo are you running the ttb or straight 44? I wheel a BroncoII with a 2.9l a4ld and run full width axel sets front and rear the 44 ttb out of an 86 fsb full spool in rear w 5:13 yukons and detroit true track up front 37" irocks for now and have had no issues also use warn superduty hubs these are the one main weakness that I have found so far. definatly truss the rear and run james duff trail front runners for better articulation and run the single shock set up , and place a u joint plate to protect the obvious. you can get a lot of good ideas from BRONCO DRIVER magizine , broncos are all they cover. TOMS BRONCO GRAVEYARD has lot of great tech support and build parts too. check iiiiittttt!!!!!:awesomework: :awesomework:

85b2man · Nov 17, 2008

dessertrunner735 said:
Well for starters the 9/44 combo is a great 1/2ton combo are you running the ttb or straight 44? I wheel a BroncoII with a 2.9l a4ld and run full width axel sets front and rear the 44 ttb out of an 86 fsb full spool in rear w 5:13 yukons and detroit true track up front 37" irocks for now and have had no issues also use warn superduty hubs these are the one main weakness that I have found so far. definatly truss the rear and run james duff trail front runners for better articulation and run the single shock set up , and place a u joint plate to protect the obvious. you can get a lot of good ideas from BRONCO DRIVER magizine , broncos are all they cover. TOMS BRONCO GRAVEYARD has lot of great tech support and build parts too. check iiiiittttt!!!!!:awesomework: :awesomework:

i am running the d44 straight axle out of the 79 bronco with radius arms fully rebuilt with upgraded gubs and u joints