Ford Ranger Forums
Discussion Categories => Drivetrain Discussion => Axles & Differentials => Topic started by: Dyllan on December 02, 2009, 08:27:18 PM
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What gears does it come in? Do most people have an 8.8 with it? So it doesnt mount to the frame at all, just the radius arms shocks and coils, right?
I know this is bad, but im thinking of posting my good dana 35 with all new brake parts on craigs list, ill give radius arms driveshafts and everything. Im thinking this, because im about to weld axle pivot drop brackets, radius arms, and buy new shocks. Might as well do it for the 44.
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Very true... with as much work as you are about to do, it would be worth it to do the D44 swap...
Actually, nothing will really "bolt in". The radius arms are much longer for the D44 than the D35 and the brackets will need to be further back. You can get a set of drop radius arm brackets for a 70-77 Bronco, but be warned, they're not cheap! The coils are actually a wider diameter and can be made to work with the stock coil buckets, but it's much easier to just get new buckets for an older Bronco or F150. Then there is also the need to fab up a bracket for the trac bar. Rangers/BII's dont have a trac bar to keep the axle lined up under the truck (thats what the drop brackets are for).
Check out Blue Torch Fab for some of the brackets and such. A 70-77 Bronco D44 is by far the easiest (in comparison) swaps you can do to a Ranger/BII.
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Well ill be welding it all myself. But that is less welding. As of now i have to weld 2 axle drop brackets, and long link radius arms. With the d44, just a trac bar, and long link radius arms.
What gears does it come in? Do most people have an 8.8 with it?
Now i just ordered $150 worth of brake parts, and i spent 140 for an 8.8 and a D35. So if i sell Ex coils, front driveshaft, and axle with brakes and hubs will i be able to get $200? If i can then i just bought a 8.8 for $90. Should i cancel my order, or just wait to try and get a good deal on the D35?
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As far as gears, I believe they can come in a wide ranger from the low 3's up to 4.11's (It's wierd, but it's not actually 4.10's).
You can use an 8.8 but remember, the bolt pattern on the front D44 will be 5 on 5.5, whereas, the 8.8 will 5 on 4.5. Since you have differing bolt patterns, you wont be able to rotate your tires w/o taking them off the rims. Most people that I know of get the matching rear axle out of the Bronco which is a Ford 9" rear axle. Very strong and they even make a kit for them to make them 35 spline (in comparison, D44's are 30 spline, and most 8.8's are 28 or 31 spline).
You could probably get $200 for the setup, but remember you wont be able to ship them (economically) and someone will have to pick them up. This limits the number of willing buyers. But I do think $200 is possible, especially with the new brake parts.
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Okay now i remember why i didnt do it in the first place, my new rims.
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If you are lucky you can pick up a Jeep Rubicon D44, they come with the 5x4.5 bolt pattern, disc brakes, and narrow width(like an RBV).
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More narrow than an ex? Would that cost alot more? Isnt there another way i can change the hub or knuckle or something?
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If I ever run across a Rubicon D44 for a decent price then it would be under the truck that afternoon.lol I have accepted the fact that 8" lift and 35's is as big as you can go with a TTB D35. I will die before I ever even think of putting a body lift on my truck, so it looks like a D44 is in my truck's future. I think I would like to run leaves too, I like the way they flex and can be stiffened of softened up by simply adding or removing leaves.
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They are just the right width to run with a 31 spline 8.8.
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Very true! I totally forgot about the Rubicon... sucks they are usually about $1500 though! Hell, EB D44's aint cheap either!
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Narrow D44's and 9"s are getting scarce (and pricey). Makes me wish I had a 2.3 reg cab 4x4, because D30s are dime a dozen.lol
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I dont mind width, its just i like my new rims.
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well if all else fails you can get adapters for any lug set
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Really, are they expensive? Where?
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They arent too much I dont think... Maybe $100 for a good set of two...
Try checking out stylinconcepts or 4wheelparts and see if they have some
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I just called 4wheelparts, and they said they dont sell them for liability reasons.
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Ah, well that sucks... LOL
Have you checked eBay?
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ebay or a tire and wheel shop there are alot of places around here that sell them. i have to get some that are 5 on 5.5 to 5 on 4.5 my front has f150 hubs and brakes and the back is small ford bolt pattern. i know there out there for sure if you can not get them ill track them down for you if need be bro
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Are they dangerous? Are there certain D44's i should be looking for, other than the lug diameter? Are they all very expensive?
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I've heard some bad things about spacers, but have never used them so I really cant say.
Most D44's can be pretty pricey, especially for fully rebuilt ones. As far as an easy swap goes, look for one out of a 70-77 Bronco... some people get really lucky and find an old Bronco in the junkyard and get the parts off of it. However, these axles would need a complete rebuild as well...
I would say $1000 is probably gonna be the lower end of the price range (once rebuilding and regearing are taken into account).
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High end 2500, on broncograveyard.com. LOL
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Very true... it can get expensive really quick!
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How much is the cheapest i could get something that nice?
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If you were able to score the axle for $200 or less, you would need to spend about $600 probably to rebuild/upgrade it (gears, locking hubs, new brakes, etc).
You would be in about $800 at that point, but if you have to get someone to install the gears, it's gonna crack $1000
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well make sure your not getting spacers thats not what your looking for just so you know i was talking about adapters and i have used them on just about every thing i can think of from mudd boggers to sand drag bikes and buggies. i have heard some bad things about them but cant say bad things about them there are some places that will NOT work on your tires if you have them on your ride but just go with a comp that has made a good name for them self and you should be good.
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hmmm... Thanks for the heads up. It is the only way i could ever have bought the D44, instead of the D35. But even then i cant afford to have bought it, because i spent 300, on a D35 and an 8.8 and all suspension. Plus 200 for brakes and random stuff. That is still less than half of what the 44 would have cost, and that is without coils.
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ya the best thing to do i think is use the up grades you have bro. that way if you mess up the cheaper stuff than working on the costly stuff and breaking it. its a learn as you go kinda thing
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i got a axle out of a 78 f100 for a $100 and then i got the cast c's removed and shortened the the early bronco with for $400 and bought the early bronco axle shaft for $120 and then i got coil bracket from ballistic fab for under $40 a pair. and im building my own track bar and control arm's plus the advantage of the f100 axle is it has the 3inch tube's and it is high pinion axle also. And i also wonted to let you no if you wont a 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern some of the older dodges had that bolt pattern that you can use the rotor's off that to get the bolt pattern you need.
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As far as gears, I believe they can come in a wide ranger from the low 3's up to 4.11's (It's wierd, but it's not actually 4.10's).
You can use an 8.8 but remember, the bolt pattern on the front D44 will be 5 on 5.5, whereas, the 8.8 will 5 on 4.5. Since you have differing bolt patterns, you wont be able to rotate your tires w/o taking them off the rims. Most people that I know of get the matching rear axle out of the Bronco which is a Ford 9" rear axle. Very strong and they even make a kit for them to make them 35 spline (in comparison, D44's are 30 spline, and most 8.8's are 28 or 31 spline).
You could probably get $200 for the setup, but remember you wont be able to ship them (economically) and someone will have to pick them up. This limits the number of willing buyers. But I do think $200 is possible, especially with the new brake parts.
man all you guys say RANGER instead of RANGE! ;D
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i never looked at that before lol
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i got a axle out of a 78 f100 for a $100 and then i got the cast c's removed and shortened the the early bronco with for $400 and bought the early bronco axle shaft for $120 and then i got coil bracket from ballistic fab for under $40 a pair. and im building my own track bar and control arm's plus the advantage of the f100 axle is it has the 3inch tube's and it is high pinion axle also. And i also wonted to let you no if you wont a 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern some of the older dodges had that bolt pattern that you can use the rotor's off that to get the bolt pattern you need.
Very good point about using the knuckles from something else to get the desired bolt pattern. I completely forgot about that! I almost changed the Wagoneer axle I have to 5 on 5.5 when I about bought a 9" a couple years back...
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ya im going with Chevy knuckle's and ford rotors because the Chevy brakes are a ton better.
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i love chevy parts on a ford truck lol ha ha ha ha ha ha
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I like ford parts on a ford truck, keep it metric... how unamerican of me.
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axle parts are axle parts ford does not make there axle's nor does chevy or dodge etc etc so i have no problem interchanging them now if it where a chevy engine in ford i dont like doing that.
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Good ole Dana Corp!
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hay it is nice if you no what your looking for you can build you some killer axle's for way cheaper than you can buy them for.
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Definitely...
My front axle is from an 84 wagoneer, high steer chevy knuckles, high steer arms.
Definitely custom!
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you go with the 5 on 5.5 ford front you can send your rear shafts out of the 8.8 to chrome molly and for about 150 thell make you shafts for any pattern. so you might have to give up your rims for the 4.5 but it will fix the rotating problems
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ya i could do that but its alot of work and i found two rims sittin a a friends house the same design lol
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ya i could do that but its alot of work and i found two rims sittin a a friends house the same design lol
That will work also but then you have to carry two spare's.
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And tire rotation will be a pain!
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nope i have a plan for that my buddy has a set of adaptersfor the back it will 5 on 5.5 too and i have four sets of rims that fit my car trailer and big ford and like six that are small ford so i got rims if need be lol most of my stuff is small ford pattern