Alright, this is hardly a "hardcore wheelin" Q.. but it's for the tow-rig for my wheelin' (and comp) rig. :D

Most Dana 44 front ends are rated for about 3,500lbs weight capacity.

I noticed some Dodge units were listed at 3,800lbs.

What's the highest weight-rated 10-bolt or 44 GM used, and how would I ID it?

3,500lbs won't cut it for my tow-rig, but 3800lbs would do the job.

I want to convert my 2wd 4-door IH tow-rig over to 4wd, but I don't want to lose the HD front end rating (rated to 4k) and I've grown rather fond of the huge brakes.

I'm at 3200lbs on the nose at-rest before I add in the t'case, put the interior back in, and other items, so a 3500lbs front axle might be a little on the weak side.

Maybe the higher rating is just a function of spindles and wheel hubs..

Some bling-bling rotors and dual piston calipers should get me the braking I want..

A 60 would be ideal, but the trail rig has first dibs.. and for my mostly street driven tow-rig I don't really need the 60 R&P, axles, or joints.. I just need the brakes and weight!

Why make it 4wd at all?... I live in Montana. It's not always sun shiny and dry when I want to tow.. and half the time the destination isn't paved..

GM's heavy-duty D44's mostly came with 8-lug hubs. Tube walls are 1/2" thick or so. I've got one (complete hub-to-hub) with 44-5F cast into the webbing; it's from a '78 GMC Jimmy, and has 6-lug hubs on large-bearing spindles. There was some discussion here about this casting ID versus the 55F, and not sure that it was ever totally resolved. I believe these 5F units were rated at 3600. My Dodge 44-30F is also a 3600 lb. rating. You didn't say if you want 8 lugs but on an IH crewcab with "huge brakes" I assume so. If it's a solid-front axle 2wd (again my assumption) you get that extra weight rating mainly from the solid spindles, larger bearings, solid axle, etc.

Large-bearing spindle GM-44's are found either in the 8-lug flavor from the factory, or in 6-lug on 77-up D44 fronts. Now a lot of people will scream that GM quit the D44 in '77 and went to the 10-bolt (and at some plants they did) but I have one from a '78 and have seen them factory-installed as late as the '80 model year. If you can find a housing with the 1/2" tubes, you can put on the large spindles (which are still available new) and use the big 3/4-ton 12-1/2" disc brake rotors, backing plates, and 8-lug hubs; this re-creates the factory's 8-lug heavy duty 44 by assembling it from the correct parts.

I was planning to take the two flattop knuckles and spindles off this GM 44, buy new 8-lug hubs and rotors, backing plates and calipers, and convert my Dodge axle with unit-bearing hubs to one with serviceable bearings, and conventional hubs. This would leave me with a perfectly good heavy-duty GM 44, complete to the inner knuckles. However, what I'd REALLY rather do is put 8-lug Dodge 44 outers (with their flattop knuckles, greasable bearings and hubs, etc.) on the Dodge housing. Unfortunately I've not been able to find any in this state. I know that the heavy-duty GM D44's aren't too rare or expensive, and shipping one stinks, but if someone has the Dodge outers I'm looking for in your area we might be able to work something out. More than likely you'll be able to find a complete GM 8-lug assembly more easily, but if you stumble across 8-lug Dodge 44 parts in your search, keep me in mind.

Originally posted by Lloyd
GM's heavy-duty D44's mostly came with 8-lug hubs. Tube walls are 1/2" thick or so.


I had a Chevy 1/2T '44 front with the .5" tubes under my race Scout until last August when I taco'd it.. now there's a Chevy 3/4T housing with the .5" tubes, TRUSSED.. using the old knuckles, spindles, and F150 hubs/rotors I had on the previous axle. I've heard GM used non .5" wall Dana 44s, but I haven't seen any..


believe these 5F units were rated at 3600. My Dodge 44-30F is also a 3600 lb. rating. You didn't say if you want 8 lugs but on an IH crewcab with "huge brakes" I assume so. If it's a



Yep, 8 on 6.5. The big front brake rotors are no longer available, so it's only a matter of time before I wear these ones out.

Rear axle is an IH built RA-15.. 7,500lbs that's pretty good sized with big drums.


solid-front axle 2wd (again my assumption) you get that extra weight rating mainly from the solid spindles, larger bearings, solid axle, etc.


The truck is currently IFS, sporting what others have claimed looks like an adapted Dodge IFS front end (it's a factory IFS, but IH was fond of borrowing parts from other vendors, so it could very well be more or less off-the-shelf Dodge A-arm / coil sprung parts, but the brake rotors are no longer in production)

These trucks share the same frame with the I-beam 2wd and 4x4 versions. The conversion to 4x4 is straight forward - cut the rivets/unbolt the bolts and yank out the IFS.

Bolt in the spring hangers from a leaf sprung truck, along with the springs, bolt in the divorced NP205 and crossmember, etc.

A grinder (for the rivets) and a socket set are all that are needed to do the conversion.


Large-bearing spindle GM-44's are found either in the 8-lug flavor from the factory, or in 6-lug on 77-up D44 fronts.


So your belief is the big-spindle/big-bearing versions are rated higher (which stands to reason) and that's a 3,600lbs rating.

That's a little better than the 3500 figure. :-)

If you can find a housing with the 1/2" tubes, you can put on the large spindles (which are still available new) and use the big 3/4-ton 12-1/2" disc brake rotors, backing plates, and 8-lug hubs; this re-creates the factory's 8-lug heavy duty 44 by assembling it from the correct parts.


Sounds like the plan. Would these be the big external style hubs, or was there an internal style 8-lug hub assembly also used? I've heard of the external hubs being part of the "HD44" but I've never really followed up on it.

I may have a line on a complete '44 front with the external 8-lug hubs. The one under my racer used to be one of these, but I think the guy had two..

I've just never seen any details on the weight rating of one versus the other..


However, what I'd REALLY rather do is put 8-lug Dodge 44 outers (with their flattop knuckles, greasable bearings and hubs, etc.) on the Dodge housing. Unfortunately I've not been able to find any in this state. if you stumble across 8-lug Dodge 44 parts in your search, keep me in mind.

I'll keep you in mind. :)


Thanks,

-Tom

I'm pretty sure that they did have some with internal hubs, but not sure that I can find a photo or any authoritative documentation right now. It may be that there were 44's rated higher than 3600 lbs, but I've not had any experience to support that. My old M880 is a pretty stout truck, and the only two front ends available for those were the 3600 lb. 44 or the 4600 lb. 60.

Good luck with it!