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Will Dana 44 hold up to 38.5x14.5s for extreme rockcrawling?

4398 Views 11 Replies 0 Participants Last post by **DONOTDELETE**, Nov 20, 1999

Discussion Starter · Nov 18, 1999

I am thinking of putting 38.5/14.5 SXs on a Dana 44 front end from a 1/2 Ton Chevy truck and putting it under my Toyota. I know, I know, but I need your help and you guys know your Dana stuff /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif.

I am running a 4cyl. with dual tcases and a 4.7 gearset in the rear case. Will the Dana 44 hold up to that size tire for rockcrawling if I am using Warn 4340 axle shafts and a high quality u joint?

Also, for that size tire with this tiny motor, I'll have to run either 5.86 gears or 6.17s. Do any of you know how strong/weak the ring and pinion gears will be with that low a gear? Keep in mind my tiny motor and the rear will have a Dana 60 so it will only matter in 4WD. Does anyone know the tooth count for these particular gear ratios? Thanks in advance.
Sean

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Discussion Starter · #2 · Nov 18, 1999

The Dana 44 is a good axle, but that is ALOT of gear reduction and some big tires. It all depends on how you use your Toy...if you beat on it, no way it will hold up, but if you are nice to it it should be ok. I have seen plenty of vehicles with 38's on Dana 44's, never with that much gear reduction though. I honestly can't give you a yes or no.

absolutjeep

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Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 18, 1999

Thanks for the info. absolute. I also just did a little more research and learned that the 5.89 is the lowest gear available for the 44 so I can only use it with 5.86s that will be in the rear 60. The main impetus for the 38.5s was to get clearance for the rear Dana 60. I'm now thinking it might just be better to run a custom length 44 rear end (with maybe a full float kit) and keeping the 35x15.5 SXs I run now with 5.38 gears. Has anyone here gone from 35s to 38s and noticed a significant increase in rock crawling ability? If there's little advantage, I'd just as soon stay with the 35s. Thanks,
Sean

BTW, it depends on the definition of "beat on your truck". If you mean do I get into a tough section and mash the throttle, then no. If you mean I use the truck to drive over 4-5 foot tall rocks (usually really slowly and with alot of thought as to how much stress I'm putting on axle shafts), etc., then I guess I am abusing it. Hope that helps some. Thanks again.

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Discussion Starter · #4 · Nov 19, 1999

yes it will hold up most of the time in a light vehicle one benifit to the larger tires is the increase in breakover angles and aproach departure angles that really help off road.

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Discussion Starter · #5 · Nov 19, 1999

5.89 is an awful small pinion(8 tooth i think dont quote me) for that much leverage. i have a friend running 38 swamps on a cj powered by a 454. he runs 488 gears though. he does go through u-joints (runs warn shafts w/ no prob) and broke one detroit locker (they actually warranteed it). 36 inch would be as large as i would go. are you going to narrow the housing? since you are running six lug wheels, why not run the 12bolt with a floater and stick with the 35s?

dan

I do not intend to offend,I offend with my intent

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Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 19, 1999

Re: Attn: Blackjack

Blackjack,
I've seriously looked into the 12 bolt but it is much weaker than the 60 and by the time you pay for the full float kit, it's more expensive than a 60 anyway. There are other problems with the 12 bolt too. They have a crush sleeve from what I understand which I don't prefer over the Dana setup. Also, I've heard (again, most of my info. is second hand) the bearing caps are only 7/16" and in the 44 they are 1/2". The other thing is that the Warn kit requires you to do some light machining to the drums in order to fit everything and while that isn't a big expense, it's an extra hassle as compared to just buying a 60 already redrilled for 6 lugs. I am kinda leaning now towards just running Dana 44s f/r with Warn shafts. I may have to have a custom rear though to match the width of the front and keep running 35s. I am going to narrow the front housing by 2.5" to 66.5" from wheel mounting flange to wheel mounting flange. I want to go fairly wide for increased articulation as well as keeping the body off the rocks.

Hope that explains everything. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, thanks for the input on the gears. I'll probably just run 5.38s with the 35s or would you recommend the 5.13s? Thanks again,
Sean

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Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 19, 1999

Re: Attn: Blackjack

5.38s with the 4cyl should be fine even with the crawler gears. just dont try to launch it hard in low low range. they are also easier to find than 5.13s. what tires do you run? avoid boggers, they eat up u-joints fast. if you do run a 44 in the rear, do run a floater on it(get the drive flanges no hubs) you will have less problems than with a semi-float.

dan

I do not intend to offend,I offend with my intent

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Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 19, 1999

Re: Attn: Blackjack

I will definitely be running the Warn Full Floater kit for the rear 44. Right now I am running 35x15.5 Super Swamper SXs. I will probably continue to use this tire unless the new Mickey Thompson Claws come in a 35x14.5 or 15.5. Will the SX in a 15.5 width eat up the ujoints like the Boggers?

Sean

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Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 19, 1999

Re: Attn: Blackjack

not as bad unless you cheat your steering stops like most(some just dont know) and bind the joint. i would probably get the fused hubs jic. my personal fave in the swamper line is the 36x12.5 sx. they dont bite quite as hard and you can run them on a 8in wheel. you are already used to having only 30deg turning radius you may keep the stops long on the 44 so you dont over angle them.

dan

I do not intend to offend,I offend with my intent

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Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 19, 1999

Re: Thanks Blackjack

I probably will turn the stops out so that they are closer to my normal 30 degrees just to save some stress on the ujoints. Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.
Sean

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Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 19, 1999

Re: Thanks Blackjack

you also might look into ORD's new moly axle shafts and stubs for the D44. They are supposed to be 3x stronger than stock. Which makes them slightly srtonger than a good Dana 60 Shaft. If you put 5.29 or so and a fullfloater kit, along with these shafts you would be able to crawl with confidence. That would be a hellofa bulletproof setup. /wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/laugh.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/smile.gif/wwwthreads_images/icons/crazy.gif

BTW- Either get a blower for that 4cyl, or yank it out for a small block chevy. That way you could easily stick to around 4.88's and stomp on everyone!!!

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Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 20, 1999

Re: Thanks Blackjack

ord shafts are the same material as the warn shafts, they may even buy them from warn who knows.
Sean: you could go with 35deg and pick up a little more radius with little side effects.

dan

I do not intend to offend,I offend with my intent

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