Dana 44 or Yota axle

Wickedtoyz · Sep 22, 2003

Just wondering what u would use on a tacoma? 36 inch tires

knowing that the dana 44 is the most common swap because of the driver drop tchain case and width- crawler gears now available while still using the the chain tcase

Yota axle- passenger drop, adapter for the w59 finally for the old gear cases, and a bit narrower but can remedied-

what would u do? Id rather stick all yota if i can, but dosnt matter in the long run. just want some simple input on the pros and cons, im tired of debating with myself and want some real world opinions, thanks

wes8517 · Sep 22, 2003

dana 44, for strength, thats my vote

wes

7938 · Sep 22, 2003

Toyota for strength, thats my vote

Brad:flipoff2:

KC_JoNeS · Sep 22, 2003

There are several advantages to each.
For the toyota axle, all toyota parts can be used for brakes and brake lines and will not give you any headaches when configuring brake lines and other things.

However, the Dana 44 will give you better steering capability, stronger housing (unless the toyota is trussed real well), and a wider stance.

The disadvantage to a Dana 44 over a toy axle is gearing. If you run standard taco rear end, then the closest gearing you will find will be the 4.88s. You can run the 5.29 in rear, and 5.38 out front, and probably not have any problems with it, except for peace of mind.

The disadvantage to the toy axle obviously is the birfield situation. Now, you can opt for Longfields, and cure problems with of course more spending, but that is a choice you must make on your own.

KC

Alabamatoy · Sep 22, 2003

KC_JoNeS said:
There are several advantages to each.

Geeeeze, how many times has this been discussed?

Good summary KC_Jones (watch your speed

, but couple of other pro-Toy points I can add:

- Interchangeable diffs with rear axle in Toy

- third member setup makes some maintenance easier

- no wimpy pie-tin diff cover on the Toy, and half pipe-cap makes great diff guard for even better protection

- MUCH easier to work on (Toy requires not one single special tool, whereas 44 can require several)

- Toy is better clearance under the chunk

- Toy can become high pinion just by swapping the chunk

- Electric locker available for Toy

- All Toys are already spring-over, many (most?) 44s are spring under.

- Toy is easier to do x-over steering

- Axle seal change doesnt require pulling the diff

- It is really difficult to prevent trail shit from building up inside the 44 housing, and when you install an axle its hard not to shove some of that trail shit into the diff.

Pro 44 points:

- Ox Locker available for it

- more readily available parts

- Somewhat cheaper

- Less leaky - Toys will inevitably piddle goo on the inside of your tires....

My experience has been that the strength, stock versus stock, is about a wash if you drive 'em gently. If you are a big motor leadfoot who gets wood from tiresmoke at full steering lock, the 44 may be better since changing the axles is easier.

Wickedtoyz · Sep 23, 2003

Im not trying to beat a dead horse here, just the everyday axle swap for tacomas have been dana 44s, just havent seen a yota axle under a tacoma yet, not saying there is none out there. i dont wanna debate axle strenths, i know enuff on that, and know properly built dana 44s and yota axles are vertually even in comparison. For the longest time though no crawler options were available for tacomas, well not a crawler setup a joe blow could afford, so why sas a rig that will still be 40 to 1 if your lucky, , and using a yota axle is a consideration since marlin makes a w-59 adapter to retrofit the late model tcases from the old four bangers, im just trying to get other opinions and just not my own, using a yota axle is going against the grain a tad bit, but i do like the idea of using dual geared cases, and tossin the tchain case out the door, thanks for the response

Alabamatoy said:
Geeeeze, how many times has this been discussed?

Good summary KC_Jones (watch your speed , but couple of other pro-Toy points I can add:

- Interchangeable diffs with rear axle in Toy

- third member setup makes some maintenance easier

- no wimpy pie-tin diff cover on the Toy, and half pipe-cap makes great diff guard for even better protection

- MUCH easier to work on (Toy requires not one single special tool, whereas 44 can require several)

- Toy is better clearance under the chunk

- Toy can become high pinion just by swapping the chunk

- Electric locker available for Toy

- All Toys are already spring-over, many (most?) 44s are spring under.

- Toy is easier to do x-over steering

- Axle seal change doesnt require pulling the diff

- It is really difficult to prevent trail shit from building up inside the 44 housing, and when you install an axle its hard not to shove some of that trail shit into the diff.

Pro 44 points:

- Ox Locker available for it

- more readily available parts

- Somewhat cheaper

- Less leaky - Toys will inevitably piddle goo on the inside of your tires....

My experience has been that the strength, stock versus stock, is about a wash if you drive 'em gently. If you are a big motor leadfoot who gets wood from tiresmoke at full steering lock, the 44 may be better since changing the axles is easier.

Wickedtoyz · Sep 23, 2003

well it seems to me, that either way i go i will have enuff money involved to buy 3 crack houses and a few ho's to boot, i kind of mislead u guys on this thread in a way, not meaning too, reason being if i go yota axle i can run the old cases, and if i run the dana 44 its a gear/tchain case combo. and the fact that i dont know shit about dana 44s, other than what ive read. im just trying to get a consensus going on what the fawk i should do, winter is rolling around and i have a nice warm garage i wanna junk up with parts and start the axle rebuild, yota or dana given the crawler options, plus the pros and cons of each axle, what do ya think. later

KC_JoNeS said:
There are several advantages to each.
For the toyota axle, all toyota parts can be used for brakes and brake lines and will not give you any headaches when configuring brake lines and other things.

However, the Dana 44 will give you better steering capability, stronger housing (unless the toyota is trussed real well), and a wider stance.

The disadvantage to a Dana 44 over a toy axle is gearing. If you run standard taco rear end, then the closest gearing you will find will be the 4.88s. You can run the 5.29 in rear, and 5.38 out front, and probably not have any problems with it, except for peace of mind.

The disadvantage to the toy axle obviously is the birfield situation. Now, you can opt for Longfields, and cure problems with of course more spending, but that is a choice you must make on your own.

KC

snowchucker · Sep 23, 2003

just go w/ a 63" d44 axle and run w/ a passanger side marlin case setup. its what i run on mine..

Alabamatoy · Sep 23, 2003

Wickedtoyz said:
well it seems to me, that either way i go i will have enuff money involved to buy 3 crack houses and a few ho's to boot

Welllll, I dunno. I bought a good rebuildable D44 for $100. You can find good rebuildable Toy axles for about twice that. Not that much either way.

I dont know squat about the taco steering - if its like my wife's 99 4unner, its rack and pinion behind the axle, which is a whole 'nother ballgame. I have no idea how you would adapt the D44 to that, but the Toy could just use backwards steering arms - how the heck do you clear the driveshaft??

Are the Tacos that much wider? I was under the impression that their rear axles were same width as an early IFS rig - not so? If so, then the Toy axle is good fit.

The key is the driver's side versus the passenger side chunk. If you can swing the old cases and adapter, you'll be a lot happier in the long run if you stay in this hobby, cause your going to want to go lower ratios eventually. Or if you stay with the drivers side, you can do some unique Dana 300 thing or an atlas or .......

$$$

Good luck.

Ben Holloway · Sep 23, 2003

dana 44, better for width and the fact that you can turn sharp

Ben

Wilson · Sep 23, 2003

Alabamatoy said:
Welllll, I dunno. I bought a good rebuildable D44 for $100. You can find good rebuildable Toy axles for about twice that. Not that much either way.

I dont know squat about the taco steering - if its like my wife's 99 4unner, its rack and pinion behind the axle, which is a whole 'nother ballgame. I have no idea how you would adapt the D44 to that, but the Toy could just use backwards steering arms - how the heck do you clear the driveshaft??

Are the Tacos that much wider? I was under the impression that their rear axles were same width as an early IFS rig - not so? If so, then the Toy axle is good fit.

Good luck.

1. Yep, rack and pinion steering. Easily converted to crossover with an IFS box...just like old push/pull setups.

2. Taco rear axles are 65" WMS to WMS IIRC, 7" wider than a toy front axle with IFS hub conversion .

CJ5-Man · Sep 23, 2003

Alabamatoy said:
Geeeeze, how many times has this been discussed?

- no wimpy pie-tin diff cover on the Toy, and half pipe-cap makes great diff guard for even better protection

- MUCH easier to work on (Toy requires not one single special tool, whereas 44 can require several)

Thick diff covers are easily found for 44's, and what special tool are you talking about? Only one that comes to mind is a spanner wrench, but thats for a toy axle.

The rest of your arguments all have to do with maintanance and initial setup. who uses stock spring perches anyway, and 44's are available as narrow as 58".

Shrock · Sep 23, 2003

Wilson said:
2. Taco rear axles are 65" WMS to WMS IIRC

I think this is more like 60 or 61"

Wilson · Sep 23, 2003

ahhh, then the tundra is 65".... still 61" is 3" wider than you can get a toy axle without spacers. It may be a matter of personal prefernece but I like to have a wider track in the front than rear by a couple inhes.

Wickedtoyz · Sep 23, 2003

Wilson said:
ahhh, then the tundra is 65".... still 61" is 3" wider than you can get a toy axle without spacers. It may be a matter of personal prefernece but I like to have a wider track in the front than rear by a couple inhes.

so what do ya think is the best way to go? dana 44 i will still have to use the tchain case, and cant go super wide due to state laws, but can use a yota axle and like u said the ifs hub conversion and billit wheel spacers, to even out the front, if it was up to you, and could run dual 4cly cases and yota axle vs dana 44 4cly case adapted to the tchain case, in which super low isnt acheivable. what would ya do?

gnob · Sep 23, 2003

you realize there is a taco doubler now right?
for width go 44
and if you need strength i believe the Warn/CTM combo is going to give the strength edge to the 44 as well

Wickedtoyz · Sep 23, 2003

gnob said:
you realize there is a taco doubler now right?
for width go 44
and if you need strength i believe the Warn/CTM combo is going to give the strength edge to the 44 as well

yah i know about the doubler, but im really unsure about using the chain transfer case, since ive already blown one up. and since its in the rear of the doubler it takes all the abuse. other than the width factor for a yota axle, that can be remedied, and from what ive read over the past year, longs have held up to 38s and in competitions, basically would u choose the dana 44/doubler knowing the rear tcase is the weak link or a yota axle/dual 4cyl cases with the downfall of using hub wideners and spacers and longs, keeping in mind only running 36 tsl's.

Ben Holloway · Sep 24, 2003

Wickedtoyz said:
yah i know about the doubler, but im really unsure about using the chain transfer case, since ive already blown one up. and since its in the rear of the doubler it takes all the abuse. other than the width factor for a yota axle, that can be remedied, and from what ive read over the past year, longs have held up to 38s and in competitions, basically would u choose the dana 44/doubler knowing the rear tcase is the weak link or a yota axle/dual 4cyl cases with the downfall of using hub wideners and spacers and longs, keeping in mind only running 36 tsl's.

i swear i know what im talkin about here go 44 especially if that taco is an ex-cab the increased turning radius is worth it a toy axle its self aint back but then throw longs in it move the stops all they way out and its like turning a bus and a tight section of trail

Ben

gnob · Sep 24, 2003

the turning rad. of a toy is definately poor.
in a taco i would go 44 just to match the widths.

...aw fuck it, just get a 60

Wilson · Sep 24, 2003

I have done and would do the D44. The wider stance without potentially weak spacers and the sharper turning radius are reason enough. The taco case must be weaker than my V6 case was, I had no problems with mine despite several gear failures. If it were mine I'd go with a passenger drop D44, cut down to width using the information from ErikB's site. I would adapt to dual gear driven cases and call it good. If you the money or capabilities, I would give some consideration to starting with a RC 44 and swapping the tubes to give you a passenger drop. My standard pinion is fine for everything I do.

Dana 44 or Yota axle

Wickedtoyz

wes8517

7938

KC_JoNeS

Alabamatoy

Wickedtoyz

Wickedtoyz

snowchucker

Alabamatoy

Ben Holloway

Wilson

CJ5-Man

Shrock

Wilson

Wickedtoyz

gnob

Wickedtoyz

Ben Holloway

gnob

Wilson

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