Dana 44 vs. Dana 60

[sploosh]

I had a D44 and upgraded to a D60. I found that it's cheaper to do it right the first time.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Originally Posted by sploosh

I had a D44 and upgraded to a D60. I found that it's cheaper to do it right the first time.

That's a story I hear a lot.

Remember, the D44's came under 3/4 ton trucks, so if you want to build a farm truck out of your T100, the D44 ought to work fine, but it will still wear balljoints faster than anything else, especially if you're going to run 37's.

If you want to actually do some wheeling, having a D44 under your truck is one of those things that you will constantly have to be thinking about. "Hmmm, big crevasse coming up. Should I take it?" If you had a 60 it wouldn't even cross your mind.

The D60 is stronger all around. The axle tubes are bigger OD, the spindles and brakes are bigger, and of course gears and shafts, but the D60's highest accolade (in my opinion) is the knuckle and inner c, and how they interface. Kingpin knuckles are going to last much longer than balljoints.

Let's finish my book here...

But it boils down to this; you have the D44. Use it, but be conscious of it...always.

[jsherrill]

I need to see what all Dad's took off his D60. I know for sure both lockouts are on his other truck and I think an axle, also. If it's gonna be cheaper for me to just put the D60 back together than up-doing the D44 some, then I'll try to steal it from underneath Dad's truck. I know the D60's stonger and an all around better axle, I'm just not sure if I could get away with the 44 without replacing shafts and joints every trip I take through the woods. It would be awesome if the 44 would be fine with my application, the 44 stuff is a hell of a lot cheaper than 60 stuff. That helps with the money problem.....well I make pretty good money, it's my dear sweet wife letting me spend it.

[jsherrill]

Just a quick update, I asked Dad what all he took off the D60. He said "Just the lockouts, if you want that D60 you can use the lockouts on that D44 you have, I took them off a D60 years ago...". Well that was easy lol the last time I asked him about it he was like "Heck no, I need that front end and you're Toyota would look like a piss-ant riding a monkey!" So barring anything really expensive to fix, I guess I'm doing tons all around now.

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Originally Posted by jsherrill

Just a quick update, I asked Dad what all he took off the D60. He said "Just the lockouts, if you want that D60 you can use the lockouts on that D44 you have, I took them off a D60 years ago...". Well that was easy lol the last time I asked him about it he was like "Heck no, I need that front end and you're Toyota would look like a piss-ant riding a monkey!" So barring anything really expensive to fix, I guess I'm doing tons all around now.

I was thinking it would look more like a jay bird sittin' on a stinkbug. Or maybe as silly as a bum full of smarties.

I love those old timer euphemisms. Many wise words are spoken in jest, but they don’t compare with the number of stupid words spoken in earnest.

And I think it'll look great.

[taco4x4rar]

Originally Posted by jsherrill

Just a quick update, I asked Dad what all he took off the D60. He said "Just the lockouts, if you want that D60 you can use the lockouts on that D44 you have, I took them off a D60 years ago...". Well that was easy lol the last time I asked him about it he was like "Heck no, I need that front end and you're Toyota would look like a piss-ant riding a monkey!" So barring anything really expensive to fix, I guess I'm doing tons all around now.

You may want to make sure that is actually a D60, i'm fairly confident that there are no dana44/10bolt lockouts that will fit any dana 60

[jsherrill]

I know for sure the front ends are a D44 and a D60, they're stamped all over but yeah he may have been mistaken on what he took the hubs off of. The D44 was under a 3/4 ton truck that he converted to a 1 ton. I also know that the lockouts on the D44 that we're talking about are actually bigger than the ones on his work truck with a D60, also they also stick way out like the front end under a dually truck. I'll take pictures tomorrow and see if anybody can clarify. Thanks for pointing that out though.

[jsherrill]

Also, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't be aftermarket. These trucks came from an era with way too many trucks and not near enough money, I don't see Dad actually buying something like that.

[06silverback]

I have a built D44 in my front and a 9.5" LC with RuffStuff housing in the rear in a 4 link. I've never had a prob with my front failing and I think the d44 gets a bad rep when guys try to make them work with mechanical lockers. I considered switching to a D60, but decided to go another route and here's why--> IF I was to run a D60 I'd want to up my tires to ~40".....cheaper to build a 60, but I would blow more on tires. I do desire something a little stronger than my D44 HP even tho I've never broken it. In the future I'm going to be building an axle to suit my needs....it will be a 9.5" LC 3rd, RuffStuff housing, 35 spline ARB, 35 spline inner shafts and I'll re-use my D44 knuckles and outers. I'm throwing around machining the knuckle to accept a uni-ball style upper joint similar to the spidertrax knuckles. Good strength, something different and not as heavy as a 60

[06silverback]

I've had some guys question me on why I'm not just gonna do a hi-9?? The pinion spline count is 28 on a 4.88 ford 9" pinion and on the LC it's 27 with a larger ring gear. Ill keep the d44 outer stuff instead of a heavier kingpin setup to reduce unsprung mass...since I'm running 37" tires they'd be overkill anyways. And if I decide to keep the inner axles 30 spline I can switch 3rd members in case of catastrophe

[jsherrill]

Here is the 44 proof (no idea what the bf is for):


And the 60 proof (it looks like 50 but it does say 60):


The lockouts on the 44:



The empty hole on the 60:


And the lockouts on Dad's other worktruck, it's a D60 but it has aftermarket MileMarker lockouts:


The lockouts look like they attach kinda different but they're about the same size, as far as diameter and length from the hub.

[canadian bum]

Rock crawling with the Ford hp dana 44 with stock shafts I never broke the axle, I however grenaded the Toyota CV I use on my front shaft on Fordyce couple years back on 37's.

However snow wheeling in wet snow in the spring I chewed up the side gears and pinion gears in the stock carrier. This summer I grenaded a stub shaft ripped the ears off. Whenever it breaks I just upgrade the broken shaft to chromoly. So it has its applications. I will be linking the front and going to Dana 60's front and rear, but I'm also going to a V8 and 40 or 42's locked.

Axle is 78 ford f250 dana 44 HP with parts Mike hi steer arms and knuckles, chevy from knuckles out with Toyota studs. WMS is 65"

[Dick Foster]

If you really build a 44 it's OK with 35's and if you can keep your foot out it (most can't) 37's max but no more. It all depends on how hard you wheel. If you're gonna wheel the crazy shit just get a 60 up front and a 14 bolt out back. Concentarte on the rear as a stock 8" toy is more likely to bend and shit.
Currently I'm running a fully built Ford flavor HP 44 up front and RockJock HP60 in the back.

I'm on 35's and intend to stay on 35's forever as this is a street/trail truck and I want to keep it that way.

I prefer OX lockers BTW, they are stout as hell and having a selectable up front at least only makes sense.

Originally Posted by canadian bum

Rock crawling with the Ford hp dana 44 with stock shafts I never broke the axle, I however grenaded the Toyota CV I use on my front shaft on Fordyce couple years back on 37's.

However snow wheeling in wet snow in the spring I chewed up the side gears and pinion gears in the stock carrier. This summer I grenaded a stub shaft ripped the ears off. Whenever it breaks I just upgrade the broken shaft to chromoly. So it has its applications. I will be linking the front and going to Dana 60's front and rear, but I'm also going to a V8 and 40 or 42's locked.

Axle is 78 ford f250 dana 44 HP with parts Mike hi steer arms and knuckles, chevy from knuckles out with Toyota studs. WMS is 65"

[canadian bum]

Oh I also street mine never trailer has made the trip from Canada to California twice now. Only vehicle so she is on the road more than the dirt, but when she is in the dirt she works awesome and is just as fine on the road even at higher speeds...