I blew many d44 axles in my chevy I used to plow with. Maybe with crome moly shafts he would never have an issue. The weight of the engine would be a issue with ball joint life. I carried a plow all winter on mine and was good for 1 to 2 ball joints every year. I never had a axle tube issue and only blew one ring and pinion. I was close to putting 1/2 ton axles in a 89 once due to the 3.07 gear unavailbility issue. Was going to run a 12 bolt rear with a d44 front. If I had to I would not think twice. At least you can buy parts for them.

 

I had an axle tube snap off the pumpkin once, but it was in a '77 3/4ton D44 equipped gasser Tough Truck.

 

Yup. I have seen that too. A guy in town thought he would do a little jump over a pile of dirt. Had his front wheels off 3 feet or so and came down hard. Broke the front housing in 2. I would think an axle brace would do wonders. Also trooperthorn on here has a ramcharger with a cummins and he is using the 1/2 ton axles and pulls the thing at the truck pulls.

 

Front lift blocks are illegal in most states and should be in all, they could shoot out when corning and cause you to lose control. I wonder how long those little Dana 44 ball joints will last with the weight of the heavy Cummins 6BT in a heavy full size truck.

 

I agree with Terraizer, get rid of the lift blocks.....trouble waiting to happen

 

a former friend turned parts thief swapped a d44 in his w250 so he could put the d60 under his off road toy. it eats ball joints and tires something awful.

let me know if you get up to NE indiana. i want to stay home while you are in the area with your front lift blocks.

 

Get rid of the blocks up front, kids. Plus it's not the power of the engine that's gonna cause the most problems for the light duty 44, it's the weight of the engine.

 

Save a life, and take the lift blocks off.

 

Lift blocks are no good, spend the money on leaf springs man.... Just cause your young don't mean you have to learn the hard way....

 

Lift blocks are dangerous in the front. I had a friend split a set in the back of an f150 and the rear went foward and twisted off the drive shaft and that went through the gas tank. They do break please do not use the in the front.

 

They're 1/4" steel blocks the i Stick welded to the axle with 7013 rod and 135 amps, inside the opening and out side. They aint goin anywhere, i made dang sure of that. I also have the U bolts cranked too. 9/16's diameter heat treated U bolts. The ball joint issue i've never heard but ill think of something if it happens. either cut the blocks off or make custom shackles and perches. Like 2x2 1/4" thick square tube for the front perches to drop out of the stockers and 1/4" thick shackles?

 

so...They are 1/4" tall, or just 1/4 thick wall tubing?? Well, even though you welded them in, if they are a riser block maybe 3-4"... I doubt you would call a 1/4" a lift block... Also, if you used 1/4'' square tubing for a block, you are even more crazy... Never use anything but solid steel for a riser block... So with that said, you have to think about leverage.. There is a ton of weight being supported by the front axle, if you were to slam on the breaks real hard, think about what is going on down there.. All your weight is on top of blocks instead of the axle tube.. Your axle will want to go backwards and your truck is going foward... Not saying it will happen, but the taking the risk is not worth it.. So think about it..

 

I took the blocks out and put them in the rear where they go. It sits level now.

 

good choice my friend..

 

Yeah, good choice. I really didnt feel like hearing a story a month from now that your front axle went crooked and you hit something....