i already checked patooye's site. it was not there. i also tried www2.dana.com/expert. i need to know, so i can order some parts for it. the ratio tag looks like it said 3.07. this is chevy 6 lug, passenger side drop maybe from a 1/2 ton suburban. only thing is, i never see suburban mentioned when it comes to D44 fronts. i am only thrown off by a large, thick backing plate behind the rotors. it makes my 15x8 rims almost not fit. any info will help.

i wirebrushed the long tube side and got these:

BOM is

603706-1

build date is

8 22 5 7BE

Hmmm....sounds like a run of the mill garden variety Chevy 1/2 ton Dana 44. No difference between Suburban or pickup axles. Those thick caliper mounts are quite common, some like to use them cuz they're beefy, some like to use the 1/2 tin ones with the tin removed for better cleaning. Either way, 15" wheels will fint fine, but too much backspacing will cause the tierod end to strip off your inside wheel weights.

If you would have used the http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/images/top_search.gif (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/search.php?s=) you would have found a thread called Axle ID question (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82179) that just so happens to be questioning an axle with the same BOM as yours, with the results being a '76 1/2 ton.

i did see that thread when i used the search function, but it didn't seem like indy indycj got all the info he was after. i think my build date is 1975 if i am reading it correctly. and doesn't the -1 on the BOM tell me more info?

i am going high crossover with 3.75" BS. that is supposed to fit.

A build date of 8/22/75 would mean that the axle was used in a '76 modle year truck, even if it was placed in a truck the day that it was built (not likely) What other info did you want? I don't recall what the -1 indicates.

the -1 is what i want clarified. is that just telling me gears and carrier (locker/limited slip/open)?

You all ready have all the info you need to order any part of the whole axle!:rolleyes:

Yup, Old Scout is correct. When you have the BOM matched up, you're good to go.

Personally, I really never bother with BOM's, especially on Chevy stuff, or Jeep stuff for that matter, I just go to pep boys and say '75 Chevy pickup, long box, power steering, power brakes, no A/C, buckskin interior with vinyl mat, manual trans......now just give me my goddamn 5-297x u-joint and BR35 & BR37 wheel bearings!!

Originally posted by 4Bangler
Personally, I really never bother with BOM's, especially on Chevy stuff, or Jeep stuff for that matter, I just go to pep boys and say '75 Chevy pickup, long box, power steering, power brakes, no A/C, buckskin interior with vinyl mat, manual trans......now just give me my goddamn 5-297x u-joint and BR35 & BR37 wheel bearings!!

I'd agree with that, except in my case, I found my axle in a PILE of about 150 other axles. There wasn't anyway to tell what it was out of... It's just nice to know what you've gotten sometimes. :D

Actually, my axle came out of an '81 Jeep Wagoneer, I just tell the parts counter dilrods teh '75 Chevy story to avoid any hassle, I only mention Jeep at the parts counter when I absolutely have to. I find that '75' Chevy works for almost all Dana 44 parts. just be sure to tell them no A/C, the Dana 44's that come on trucks with A/C were way different.

Last time I bought axle joints, "5-297x Spicer front axle joints" was not enough information for the monkey behind the counter, so I laid out the good 'ol mythical '75 Chevy application, and the waste of sperm actually asked if it was 2 or 4 wheel drive........

Originally posted by 4Bangler
no A/C, the Dana 44's that come on trucks with A/C were way different.



Your joking right? A/C =10 bolt?

i'm assuming it was a joke.

IIRC.... (could be spreading propaganda).... the minus number (i.e. -1, -2, -3) designates the ratio in the axle in the hierarchy of available ratios specific to the particular model vehicle and year....

For example:

-1 ~might~ mean 3.07
-2 3.55
-3 3.73

Am I smoking crack???? I thought I remember reading this somewhere..

Originally posted by 4Bangler
Personally, I really never bother with BOM's, especially on Chevy stuff, or Jeep stuff for that matter, I just go to pep boys and say '75 Chevy pickup, long box, power steering, power brakes, no A/C, buckskin interior with vinyl mat, manual trans......now just give me my goddamn 5-297x u-joint and BR35 & BR37 wheel bearings!!

autozone shows 37 and 45 bearing. see, either the nimrods already have me messed up or maybe you made a typo.

Yeah. I was joking about the A/C Dana 44 thing, sorry.

I'm pretty sure that the early small bearing Dana 44 used a BR37 and a BR35, but I've been wrong before, only once, but wrong none the less, anyway, the later big bearing spindles use the same outer, the BR35 if I recall corectly, and a larger inner bearing that I can never remember the part number of, toooo many usless facts rolling around upstairs. The small bearing spindles uses the same wheel bearings as a '78 & up 5-lug Ford Dana 44, making those spindles popular with us Jeep guys because it allows 5 on 5.5 wheels with a Chevy Dana 44.

Originally posted by 4Bangler
The small bearing spindles uses the same wheel bearings as a '78 & up 5-lug Ford Dana 44, making those spindles popular with us Jeep guys because it allows 5 on 5.5 wheels with a Chevy Dana 44.

Us Scout guys like them as well!:D

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/uploads/chev-scout44.jpg

Originally posted by SolidAxleDurango
IIRC.... (could be spreading propaganda).... the minus number (i.e. -1, -2, -3) designates the ratio in the axle in the hierarchy of available ratios specific to the particular model vehicle and year....

For example:

-1 ~might~ mean 3.07
-2 3.55
-3 3.73

Am I smoking crack???? I thought I remember reading this somewhere..

This is true for some axles but not all. For example on my 70 rear a -1 denotes an open diff and -2 is a PowerLoc. You won't know until you check your specific BOM.