Is there a difference between the 1/2 ton 44s and the 3/4 ton 44 "HD" in the 73 -79 trucks other than the hubs?? I have a 79 F150 with a D60 rear out of a F250 and am starting to think about the front now. I want to keep the coils but if i can just change the hubs then im not going to deal with putting wedges on the HD axle and messing with all that any info on this situation would be helpfull Thanks

Is there a difference between the 1/2 ton 44s and the 3/4 ton 44 "HD" in the 73 -79 trucks other than the hubs?? I have a 79 F150 with a D60 rear out of a F250 and am starting to think about the front now. I want to keep the coils but if i can just change the hubs then im not going to deal with putting wedges on the HD axle and messing with all that any info on this situation would be helpfull Thanks

Lots. Research here: http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

you can use the outter knuckles, spindles, and hubs off a chevy 3/4 ton 10 bolt or dana 44. you'll also need to use ford ball joints in the chevy knuckles

its not any stronger on the inners...

the lockouts on the HD are a little stronger..
but they have their own weaknesses..the outters and outer knuckles are diffrent..the axleshafts are diffrent lengths (close enough for some to work)..

I have one...its the weaklink in my driveline..and I've got alloys in it..

I coulda had a 60!!..(for what I got in the 44)

its not any stronger on the inners...

the lockouts on the HD are a little stronger..
but they have their own weaknesses..the outters and outer knuckles are diffrent..the axleshafts are diffrent lengths (close enough for some to work)..

I have one...its the weaklink in my driveline..and I've got alloys in it..

I coulda had a 60!!..(for what I got in the 44)

Lol yea that is what im debating is if i should just bite the bullet and go with a dana 60 right off the bat. the thing is i dont have a whole lot of ching to stick into it right now so im trying to get just a little more beef for not a lot of dollar and i got both 3/4 ton axles for free I think for right now since there is no possible way i could afford a dana 60 and thats before putting the money into it to clean it up and get it good, im just going to take the whole front axle and try to set it up for my trailing arms and coils

Does anyone know if the axle tube diameter is the same as far putting wedges on it for the trailing arms from 1/2 to 3/4 ton ??? Thanks for the help guys !!!!!!!!

Is there a difference between the 1/2 ton 44s and the 3/4 ton 44 "HD" in the 73 -79 trucks other than the hubs?? I have a 79 F150 with a D60 rear out of a F250 and am starting to think about the front now. I want to keep the coils but if i can just change the hubs then im not going to deal with putting wedges on the HD axle and messing with all that any info on this situation would be helpfull Thanks


What year is your front 44? Some years are pretty much junk.

the '77 HPD44 I just removed from my rig...had the 1/2 axle tube wall thickness. I dont think the earlier axles offer that(could be wrong)

What year is your front 44? Some years are pretty much junk.

Mine is either a 76 or a 77. The hubs are huge compared to my 1/2 ton 44. If these axles are anything better then the regular 44 thats in my truck then i just need to figure out how to keep my trailing arms and mount wedges on the 44HD Or is that a wasted idea and i should just go with leaf springs??

Mine is either a 76 or a 77. The hubs are huge compared to my 1/2 ton 44. If these axles are anything better then the regular 44 thats in my truck then i just need to figure out how to keep my trailing arms and mount wedges on the 44HD Or is that a wasted idea and i should just go with leaf springs??

Nothing special about that axle, open knuckle, external lockouts and thick tube but it's low pinion and has odd ball brakes that aren't interchangeable with '77-1/2 and newer. The lockouts are big but that doesn't mean they're stronger (definetly cooler tho) and it has flattop knuckles.

The tube would be thicker and it has better brakes than the d44 in your F-150 but not much of an upgrade otherwise.

Are you running different wheel lug patterns right now? (8 lug d60 rear, 5 lug d44 front) if so it might be worth swapping from knuckles out to fix that.
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the '77 HPD44 I just removed from my rig...had the 1/2 axle tube wall thickness. I dont think the earlier axles offer that(could be wrong)

yea..and I think they weight about #150 MORE than the 1/2ton..(says my BACK!)

I have the one...and got alloys...for the price...I coulda saved my pennies...looked around..and found a good D60 and kept me from having to do it AGAIN (in the future)

yer call...ya been notified..:smokin::flipoff2:

Lol yea that is what im debating is if i should just bite the bullet and go with a dana 60 right off the bat. the thing is i dont have a whole lot of ching to stick into it right now so im trying to get just a little more beef for not a lot of dollar and i got both 3/4 ton axles for free I think for right now since there is no possible way i could afford a dana 60 and thats before putting the money into it to clean it up and get it good, im just going to take the whole front axle and try to set it up for my trailing arms and coils

Does anyone know if the axle tube diameter is the same as far putting wedges on it for the trailing arms from 1/2 to 3/4 ton ??? Thanks for the help guys !!!!!!!!

I think the axle tube diam. is 3" for either the HPD44 and D60...dont know about the weaker D44. The '77 D44 had weld on wedges...I just cut them loose and moved them inward and rewelded them. If you can , just do the D60...I've been through 3 complete yukon chromo sets. and I'm running damn warn standard hubs-go figure:shaking:(never broke one yet, been through 3 warn premiums & MM stainless)

Nothing special about that axle, open knuckle, external lockouts and thick tube but it's low pinion and has odd ball brakes that aren't interchangeable with '77-1/2 and newer. The lockouts are big but that doesn't mean they're stronger (definetly cooler tho) and it has flattop knuckles.

The tube would be thicker and it has better brakes than the d44 in your F-150 but not much of an upgrade otherwise.

Are you running different wheel lug patterns right now? (8 lug d60 rear, 5 lug d44 front) if so it might be worth swapping from knuckles out to fix that.
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Yea right now im running different lug patterns. So i could just take from the knuckles out on my HD and put them on my 5 lugger?? I was thinking about just reusing the wedges and just throwing the whole axle under it then taking parts from both but if it would be easier i would just do that.

I think the axle tube diam. is 3" for either the HPD44 and D60...dont know about the weaker D44. The '77 D44 had weld on wedges...I just cut them loose and moved them inward and rewelded them.

Ford460 is asking about the leaf sprung 44hd, not a 1/2 ton d44.

Yea right now im running different lug patterns. So i could just take from the knuckles out on my HD and put them on my 5 lugger?? I was thinking about just reusing the wedges and just throwing the whole axle under it then taking parts from both but if it would be easier i would just do that.

Yes, you'll need everything from the knuckle out including the outer shaft because the hd shaft is about 1" longer. Brake line should bolt on.

i'm sorry but I keep seeing the term...larger hub. aren't all D44 the same hub lock out(either internal or external) or are yall speaking of the hub bearing size? which I know have a couple different sizes. just clarifying

i'm sorry but I keep seeing the term...larger hub. aren't all D44 the same hub lock out(either internal or external) or are yall speaking of the hub bearing size? which I know have a couple different sizes. just clarifying


HD hubs:

Ford460 is asking about the leaf sprung 44hd, not a 1/2 ton d44.



Yes, you'll need everything from the knuckle out including the outer shaft because the hd shaft is about 1" longer. Brake line should bolt on.

That sounds like a lot more headaches then swaping the whole axle and figuring out for the trailing arms. Then my axle would pretty much be the exact same as a 44HD anyways right. One more question... Would the carriers be the same so i could swap that and have the 4.10s in the front or would i just have to get the ring and pinion for the half ton??? Thanks a lot for all the help 4xFord!! Everyone else to

swapping outers is the way to go

So will the carrier swap out or will i have to gert a new ring and pinion for my carrier ???

PS in my my last post i meant a lot LESS headaches **:homer:

So will the carrier swap out or will i have to gert a new ring and pinion for my carrier ???

PS in my my last post i meant a lot LESS headaches **:homer:

it'll swap..(if theyre both low or high pinion...)

Ok good
Thanks a lot!!

I think the axle tube diam. is 3" for either the HPD44 and D60...dont know about the weaker D44. The '77 D44 had weld on wedges...I just cut them loose and moved them inward and rewelded them. If you can , just do the D60...I've been through 3 complete yukon chromo sets. and I'm running damn warn standard hubs-go figure:shaking:(never broke one yet, been through 3 warn premiums & MM stainless)

FYI the Dana 60 tube is 3 1/8" (1978 Ford), but you can grind the wedges to fit, or make spacers for the radius arms (cap will not bolt down all the way)