Ive got a front 44 out of a 79 bronco. im gonna put it in my dakota. what is the wms to wms of this axle. i got it bare with no knuckles, so i cant just go out to the garage and measure it. thanks.

Not again:shaking:
Travis..

is it 66"? and who would you recommend for knuckles? the plan is high steer, chrome moly, arb, and ctm. not sure who to use for knuckles that will use chevy 3/4 ton brakes.

I'd ask about WMS in either the Ford or the Newbie section. I doubt you'll find people in the Dodge section that know. You could also try Mr. N's Dana 44 web page.

As for knuckles, I'd use GM knuckles and outers. They're cheap and easy to find. Wheel bolt pattern won't matter, because you'll have to change the rear axle bolt pattern no matter what you make the front axle.

i know that i will have to change the rear pattern if i were keeping the stock axle. i have a rear 60 that im gonna run. so you would suggest to use stock chevy flattops? what aftermarket components do you guys recommend? Solid? Blue Torch? etc

should be 67.5" WMS, my 79' f250 hp44 is, and i believe they're the same.

should be 67.5" WMS, my 79' f250 hp44 is, and i believe they're the same.

It probably will be if he goes with the 8 lug outers. I'm pretty sure that they gain width when you switch from the stock 1/2t outers to the 3/4t 8 lug outers. Otherwise, I would bet it is somewhere around 65".

i know that i will have to change the rear pattern if i were keeping the stock axle. i have a rear 60 that im gonna run. so you would suggest to use stock chevy flattops? what aftermarket components do you guys recommend? Solid? Blue Torch? etc

I would use stock GM or Jeep flattops (they are the same). They are easy to find (around here at least) and nobody I know has broken one yet. Breakage may be an issue next year since my buddy is going to be using full hydro steering.

What kind of aftermarket parts are you looking for? You need to be a bit more specific than what you were there.

thanks for all of your answers. i think that i will go with the factory chevy knuckles. Do they use the same ball joint between ford and chevy for the 44?

to be more specific i just wanted to know if any of you prefer aftermarket outer knuckles like the ones offered by solid for example, or running factory chevys with a high steer arm on it.

The balljoints should all be the same in the older stuff like what you're dealing with.

As far as aftermarket knuckles and the like, I'm sure they are all good. All I can say is that we haven't had any issues with them, but other people may have varied results. I would just go with some stock GM ones due to cost and replace them at a later date if you find that they aren't holding up to what you want to do with them. I would guess you might find other weak points first however.

hey durcrim, werent you doing a very similar build with a dakota using cage radius arms? how did that turn out? i plan on using the cage arms also. and probably coilovers, maybe just coils though, havent decided.

thanks mondtster

hey durcrim, werent you doing a very similar build with a dakota using cage radius arms? how did that turn out? i plan on using the cage arms also. and probably coilovers, maybe just coils though, havent decided.

yes i am, it's not done, but almost. Got the coil buckets in this week, now we just have steering left. check it out.

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=580956

oh, the cage arms worked very well for my application. i haven't wheeled them yet, but they sure are beefy. check out the pictures in the build thread.