Any one done tube swap on a D44 front?

SNOWTHROWER · Feb 19, 2007

I got a D44 sitting in the shop that would look real nice under the front of my ride but it's a scout D44 and it has a passenger side drop... My ford is drivers side.

I concidered a divorced T_case behind my stock case as a doubler plus swaping front out put sides but I'm pretty cheap and no one wanted to part with a divorced T-case that would work plus, with a 94" wheel base there is not much room.

So I'm thinking a tube swap would fix my trouble, I've seen this done two way's. One is to cut the tubes and sleave them but I'm not to keen on that one. The other is to drill the roset welds out pull and swap the tubes.

I need to know just how hard is the press fit to get apart? Then can I get them back together or will I have to turn the tubes down then weld all the way around? I've heard of guys turning the tube ends but it just does not seem like it would hold togther.

Or should I sell/trade this one for an axle that is the proper drop? Either way that's not the end of the story as I intend to graft on Dana 35 TTB knuckles/hubs/brakes onto what ever I end up with.

crash2 · Feb 19, 2007

A scout diff--I would throw that away and look for a preper diff to go under your rig

As for swapping tubes--did it once and never again--I will pay somebody to make me new tubes...

Outback · Feb 19, 2007

SNOWTHROWER said:
Or should I sell/trade this one for an axle that is the proper drop? Either way that's not the end of the story as I intend to graft on Dana 35 TTB knuckles/hubs/brakes onto what ever I end up with.

I agree with Mr. C. on the tubes!

Next just why beyond wheel stud pattern would you want to run TTB JUNK on the ends of a D44?

uke:

uke:

You are going to DOWNGRADE a D44 to be a weak as the TTB is? :wtf:
JUNK Brakes, Shit4hubz, One of the worst wheel bearing set ups ever?

Think it through again before you drop any coin!!!

Chris

SNOWTHROWER · Feb 19, 2007

I agree the wheel bearing are crap but I have not had any trouble with them my self.

I like the idea of running the TTB outers because they run the hat style hub ( super easy to replace ) and 90% of the time you will pop the hub before you pop the shaft. BTW the D35 TTB run's a 297x axle joint so I'm only down grading the hub and bearing...

Plus I got bead locks that fit the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern.

Outback · Feb 20, 2007

SNOWTHROWER said:
I agree the wheel bearing are crap but I have not had any trouble with them my self.

I like the idea of running the TTB outers because they run the hat style hub ( super easy to replace ) and 90% of the time you will pop the hub before you pop the shaft. BTW the D35 TTB run's a 297x axle joint so I'm only down grading the hub and bearing...

Plus I got bead locks that fit the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern.

Far be it for me to find fault... I've built/build some karzy combo's...:haha:
Still all of the parts I mentioned are junk, regardless of your good luck so far!
If you wheel long enough you will regret this choice.
I'd just get new wheels personally, save you a bunch of headaches down the trail!

Chris
This from a guy with a D44 under a Fullsize on 35â€™s and a BBâ€¦:looser:

Zoediak · Feb 20, 2007

I would have to agree with the rest... I run the scout axle in my rig, it works for me because of the jeep thing.. but, D44's are a dime a dozen.

You can find them on craig's list all day long.

I have collected about 7 D44's in the last 3 months off there..

(sorry none with that side drop)

only been building CJ's lately.

The tube thing.. yeah you can do it.. is it easy?? if you have a shop set up for it, yeah it's easy. If not, it can be a pain in the ass.

I did it once, my first time... took a while. Will I do it again?? yeah, but knowing already what to expect I will take a lot of precautionary measures first. Like building jigs to securely hole the unit at 3 points to aid in the straightness. (lots of work)

save yourself a headache and look for one out of a ford, or a waggy with the driver's drop.

good luck