dana 44 knuckles on a toy front axle????

[4rnr4evr]

does any one know of a link or web site etc. that some one is puttin dana knuckles on a toy straite axle? like all pro is doin i cant afford a trillion $$$$$$ to buy one of allpros and theirs dont even have a third member. the reason i dont swap in a full dana axle is a few reasons ive allready got 5;29 revers rotation detroitlockerfj80 third member allproo highstear long fields and diff armor.pluss its lighter than a dana so help if any one knows ony articles or anything

[Coreshot]

Muleskinner did his a couple of months ago. PM him for info.

[muleskinner]

I had a guy here in Salt Lake do mine. He's pretty cheap, Only cost me $250. Your axle will weigh more with the new tubes pressed in, they are 1/2 wall d.o.m. tube. You can re-use your tierod and draglink if you stay the same width, I went 3 inches wider on mine. (you will need hysteer arms and flatop knuckles for your 44) I used stock 44 shafts on mine to keep it simple for parts. (I'll post part #'s for ya if you want)

[stock4runner]

if you put in dana knuckles in it do 60s. 44s are weeker than stock toyota axles and if you do longfields thereis no contest. bobby long has sold something like 2100-2500 and only had like 32 come back for replacment (Tracy Evens has gotten realy unlucky and sent back two)

[muleskinner]

Originally posted by stock4runner
if you put in dana knuckles in it do 60s. 44s are weeker than stock toyota axles and if you do longfields thereis no contest. bobby long has sold something like 2100-2500 and only had like 32 come back for replacment (Tracy Evens has gotten realy unlucky and sent back two)

If you put 60's in, you get bigger U-joints but your still only as big as a 44/toy where the shaft goes into the 3rd (waste of money IMHO):rolleyes: as far as 44/toy strenth debate, I've run both for many years and had MUCH better luck with the 44's. Plus easier/cleaner to work on. And you can run Warn shaft's that are stronger than longfields also.

[SuperRunner]

44s turn much sharper too

[Coreshot]

Warn shafts and CTM U-joints and you'll be better than Longfields.

[chet]

mule skinner can you go into a little detail on what you had done? Did you use the Dana44 tubes? Or did you use custom tubes? What did you do for axle seals?

Also what is you WMS-WMS now? Also what are the inners that you used from?

Thanks!

[Coreshot]

'Skinner's in Moab for the rest of the week, so I'll try to answer for him. He had it retubed custom, 61" or 62" WMS-WMS. Dana 44 seals. The inner on the short side is from a certain model of Jeep. The other is from a Dodge. Both OEM lengths, so he can find parts easy enough. I'm sure he'll elaborate when he returns.

[chet]

thanks!

[BigDaddy]

Originally posted by muleskinner
. And you can run Warn shaft's that are stronger than longfields also.

How much stronger are the warn shafts than Longfields?

How many years did you run the Longfields, and how many did you bust up?

I spoke with Bobby Long last week he told me that guys were ditching the 44s and going to the Toyota front ends :confused: But I have a buddy who runs a 44 with a 4.3 and has no problems.....on the other side of the coin I have ran the Longfields and still going strong....broke a shaft thats it. I am sure there are pros and cons to it all.....but make sure if you do the swap you cary spare parts for your set up....nothing like being in Moab with out a spare shaft. Good luck!

[MSB]

the only reason i see to do it is for the width or if you get it done for free more or less

[Tim Taylor]

I built a hybrid, D44 / Toyota for the front of mine. It works great. You need a doner 44 or a GM corporate 10 bolt. I built mine to widen the track width also. I am now 62 wms to wms. Off the shelf axles. I have the part numbers. You can buy your axles at any spicer dealer. Factory D44 seals. I have a couple Toyota fronts laying around that I would rather sell than use.

I am already set up with the jigs. I would build one for somebody in trade for a good set of 5.29's F and R. If you provide the parts. I suggest starting with a rear toyota housing. They are cheap, and you don't need to mess up a front.

Toolman

[southern_yota]

hey, Tim the Toolman Taylor! how much you want for one o'them toyota axles??? do they need any work? 4.10 or 4.30? also, how did you do your coils in the front? a buddy of mine did coils on all four corners with 4in xj and tj coils and it gave him 10in of lift, which he didnt want. or d'you know of a really flexy leaf pack to use for the front? thanks man

[Tim Taylor]

I'm not really trying to sell hybrid axles, but I do want a set of 5.29's. I would build one for a set of them F/R ($300), you supply the doner parts.

I used grand cherokee front coils. I gained about 8-9" of lift.

I haven't coiled the back yet. Need to move the tank first.

Toolman

[freds40]

I've thought about this idea a bit but the part I'm still not sure of is the shaft seals. Do you machine the new tubes to put the shafts on the outers or do they end up on the inners? Is this with original D44 tubes or new DOM? Where on a set of stock D44 shafts is it machined for seals?

[muleskinner]

The axle tubes are 1/2 inch thick DOM. The oil seals are in the stock Dana position on the axle (inner) the gut who built mine puts the tube in a lathe and cuts the seal pocket into the end of the tube before he presses the tube into the 3rd. The outer tube is just like a stock Dana, and has no seal.
Hope this helps

[Tim Taylor]

I did mine a little different than the guy that did mule skinners.

I used the factory tube from the D44 housing, that already has the seal area machined in it. I have a lathe and could have re-machined it, but you narrow a housing from the outside anyway. I put the tubes in the housing and then narrowed to desired width.

This is no different than turning a 9" ford rear into a front end, wich I have done too.

Please E-Mail me with any questions at tim.taylor@uscellular.com.