School me on 8 lug 44's

[cavaliers1323]

i have a 8 lug hp 44 w/ hi-steer installed for sale! pm me

[cavaliers1323]

http://www.nagca.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34546

[Derek33]

I wish i had the money, that would be perfect!

[cLAYH]

I'm running a shaved D60 rear with 36" tires, don't notice much axle dragging. That d60 is now on its 3rd 4x4 rig that I've built. As solid as a rock, has had a welded carrier since day one(almost 8years now) and never failed or broke. Cheap and strong.

For the front I have a wide trac waggy D44 housing with Dodge 8 bolt knuckles and outers with flat tops and high steer. Here is a writeup I did a while ago on dodge D44 flat top knuckles.:

Some background, many people who want D44 front axles want flat top knuckles with a 5 on5.5 bolt pattern. Only Ford and Dodge offered 5 lug D44s(Chev and Jeep were 6 bolt). But only Chev(limited years) and Dodge offered D44 Flat top knuckles.

So you have two options, mix and match Ford parts to get what you want, or use all Dodge stuff.


'74-79 Dodges use a unit bearing style outer hub with a 5 on 4.5 lug pattern much like newer D30 axles and don't use locking hubs(was paired with a NP203 t-case). Avoid, there is no usable parts here.

1980 straight thru to 1993 is what you are looking for. ALL Dodge D44 in this year range have flat top knuckles. Use everything from the knuckles out to get a 5 on 5.5 lug pattern with disc brakes and flat top knuckles. Easily found on 1/2 trucks and Ramchargers. Use stuff from a 3/4ton truck to get an 8 bolt pattern(with flat tops) to match a regular rear D60.

This stuff can usually be picked up cheap since everyone seems to overlook the Dodge stuff.

FYI the dodge knuckles are different from a 1/2ton and 3/4ton. Brakes, calipers, seals, bearings, spindles are all the same though. Ford factory locking hubs drop right in if you get an axle with drive flanges instead of hubs. Chev spindles are also the same. Ford are different. Obviously the rotors are different from 1/2ton to 3/4ton.

[cLAYH]

BTW my rear D60 was from a mid 80s Dodge 3/4ton, it measures 65" WMS-WMS.

The wide trac waggy diff is about 63" WMS in stock form with the stock knuckles. The Dodge 8bolt stuff added about an inch to each side giving it a 65"WMS as well.

[jborushko]

Im running a 242 without an sye. Is it mandatory i upgrade to an sye before swapping tons under my zj? I don't have any vibes.

Do 1 tons require new drive shafts? or is there a method to change the u-joint?

Thanks.

sye... mandatory??? well technically no... but i would highly highly recommend it, with longer travel when you lift its IMO a must

and yes you generally will need new drive shafts, or at least get yours cut to fit correctly with a good about of travel(course thats with a SYE)

im gonna go with a YES and YES

[death-mobile]

BTW my rear D60 was from a mid 80s Dodge 3/4ton, it measures 65" WMS-WMS.

The wide trac waggy diff is about 63" WMS in stock form with the stock knuckles. The Dodge 8bolt stuff added about an inch to each side giving it a 65"WMS as well.

So dodge trucks from 80-93 is where I can find D44 front axles for my WJ, what about rear axles? Did any of those have issues with cast housings or any other issues to look out for?