I just picked up a D44 reverse cut out of a 78 bronco. It wasnt complete. Does anyone know the final width of this axle??. I want to put it in my YJ and not sure if I need or want to cut it down just yet. thanks

BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

Care-full the full size one is larger 64" and some have side chunks that you cant take off unles you retube. Ask BRIMY13

if you want it to match the rear axle ya have you will need to cut it down. personally id get the 9 inch out of the same year bronco and run thoe 2. i ran 79 bronco axles in my yj for a few years and it was a great set up. i just went 1 ton in the yj and the 44 and 9 inch are going in the tj. i left them fullwidth, this way when ya snap a 44 shaft ya can get j yard replacements cheap, ya wont break the 9 inch though

http://www.pirate4x4.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=4&t=005255 chek this out

yep, i know from experence on that one, but now i have spare 44 parts and i got a dana 60 rear!! i have a 9" to match...i would sell it cheap <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

so it sounds as if once everything is on that they are definatly full width?. I wonder if it is worth re-tubing or not?

I run a 79 Ford Bronco Dana 44 with the non-removable radius arm casts. If I were to do it again I wouldn't. I had to grind the perches down to fit over the cast and had to have perches TIG welded on. Then I welded a 1/4 plate onto the perch so the springs would sit on top of it. I sandwiched the springs between the perch plate and another plate using grade 8 bolts. U-bolts were not available unless I had them made. Otherwise the axle came out great.

hey brim311,

what spare parts do you have?, I got the housing only. email me jeeper1@mediaone.net

Also this front-end doesnt have the full length tubes it has a section on it that has the bumps on it. Doesnt look like I can grind them off very easy. May check into re-tubing it I guess. Any more thoughts from anyone?

BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

hey insayn,

sounds like you have the same front-end I just picked up. I also have the non-removable radius arm cast. Any spare parts, hubs, spindles?

How did you do you steering with that?

i was going to grind the crap off and weld plates over the openings, but i found the f250 and now my plans are looking differnt <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

i was dreading the search for u-bolts and the grinding of spring perches.... <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">

Most of my leftover parts are already gone...Don't have too much room in the garage.
As for the steering I used a 78 Chevy Blazer's knuckles and had the passenger side machined flat. They were also drilled and tapped. I then used Sam's Offroad steering arm (can be found and made cheaper) to connect a Rockstomper drag link to a stock pitman arm that was drilled for Chevy rod ends. I used Rockstomper tie rods with Chevy rod ends at their stock location.
For brakes I retained the Chevy caliper brackets and calipers. I used the Chevy spindle off the 78 Blazer and a Ford Hub/Rotor and lockout for a 79 Ford Bronco. The brake line's brass fitting had to be drilled out to fit the larger banjo bolt. Fairly easy once you know what you need and assembly is a snap. I kept it all full width and love it. Good luck.

Hey Brimy your stuff is in the mail. I tink yuo will like it. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

hey insayn,

do you have any pictures, went to your web site off the link in your profile but it didnt work.

Thanks for the input. I guess I need to decide once and for all whether I am going to go full width or not.

thxs
BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by BlueYJ:
<STRONG>hey insayn,

do you have any pictures, went to your web site off the link in your profile but it didnt work.

Thanks for the input. I guess I need to decide once and for all whether I am going to go full width or not.

thxs
BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0"></STRONG>

WQhats to decide Go full go home. <IMG SRC="smilies/eyemouth.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0">

http://www.insayn.rockcrawler.com

I don't think I have any pics of the setup up close. I'll try and borrow someone's camera and take some shots of it.

please get some pics.
i am looking in to buying a jeep for a trail rig and i have a 77 f150 sitting in my dads field i could steal axles out of!

I'll try and have some pictures by tomorrow. I will post them here.

thanks, Qbert!!!

hey you guys, check that BB page that Qbert posted...you can get pics of his setup, which is by far sweet!!

blueyj, emailed you back <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

i vote for full width! <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/bounce2.gif" border="0">

Blue, I have the exact same '79 reverse cut under my TJ. I just cut the original tubes down to the length I needed. Then I turned them down to fit into TJ outers. This way I could retain my stock bolt pattern w/ no real loss in strength (both 297 u-joints). And, there are plenty of replacment outers for the 30 outers too. Easy and very effective.

Qbert has virtually the same steering setup I have. My steering is almost identicle with the exception of the tie rod and drag link are from Rockstomper and utilize jam nuts instead of sleeves and my tie rod sits on top of the stock arm instead of below.

hey qbert and insayn, checked your rigs out they are sweet. Qbert like the steering.

Hey T&P what axles do you run now? since you have the D30 ends?

thanks
BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

thanks! From bout of us

Front End
http://www.insayn.rockcrawler.com/images/front_end.jpg

[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Insayn ]

Steering Arm
http://www.insayn.rockcrawler.com/images/steering_arm.jpg

[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Insayn ]

Perch
http://www.insayn.rockcrawler.com/images/perch.jpg

[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Insayn ]

Hey insayn,

No pics can you try again.

thnks blueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

I'll email them to you. I have triple checked the link on the pics and I cannot seem to get it to work.

Hey Insayn,

The jeep looks awsome on take off in the last pic posted. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

I run 44's front & rear...

Hey P&T

I will be more specific. In your front end what axles do you run since you have the d30 outers?. Are they still the D44's

Originally posted by BlueYJ:
<STRONG>so it sounds as if once everything is on that they are definatly full width?. I wonder if it is worth re-tubing or not?</STRONG>

It's my understanding that full width is a relative term <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> My front D44 is 69 inches, now THAT'S full width <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> 64 I believe is also called full width, but to me it really isn't <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

hey keith thanks for the input, I have a D44 reverse cut for the rear that I am re-tubing and the end result needs to be the same. Not to mention that when I bring the housing to the shop that is going to re-tube it and I say full width, that, that is exactly what I would get and hmmmmmm it is wider then the front <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> . that would suck.

BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

i am confused...i have a f250 44 and it is amost the same width as the one out of the bronco....only like 1/2 difference!

Hey Brimy311,

they are the same width. I measured the bronco axle it is 67 inches WMS to WMS.

BlueYJ <IMG SRC="smilies/glasses.gif" border="0">

Sorry guys, but mine measure 69 <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0"> off a 78 F250. Mine is 3/4 ton 8 lug...does that make a difference?

shouldn't...maybe are over measuring...bet you have done that with something else too <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> J/K

Originally posted by Insayn:
<STRONG>Steering Arm
http://www.insayn.rockcrawler.com/images/steering_arm.jpg

[ 09-04-2001: Message edited by: Insayn ]</STRONG>

Here we see a perfect example of why I hate mud. it corodes everiting. I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud I hate mud

hey qbert tell us how you really feel. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/mad.gif" border="0">

here is to mud <IMG SRC="smilies/flipoff.gif" border="0">

Originally posted by brimy311:
<STRONG>shouldn't...maybe are over measuring...bet you have done that with something else too <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> J/K</STRONG>

<IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> Damn I didnt see that one coming. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> I will remeasure it this weekend and see, but I was pretty sure <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

I actually don't go into mud at all. The corrosion is a result of 2 weeks of straight rain here. Not too sure why the caliper started to rust like that. I hate mud just as much as Qbert! Especially stinky mud.

i like MUD!!! but that is all we have here in michigan <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Hey keith, are you running 15 inch wheels. If so how much grinding was required and how much backspacing? THANKS!

i have seen someone say that with 2.5 inches of backspacing you have grinding....personally that sticks out to far! <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> just grind the caliper...i will not be that big of a deal <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0">

Blue, sorry that was a pretty dumb response... I'm runnin' custom 44 inners and stock 30 outers.

I am usin 4.25 BS wheels <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> They go on...with about 50% of the calipers ground off <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> Dont drive in front of me <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

If I ever go home again I will try to remember to snap a pic or two of how much I had to grind.