Axle Combo - Swap HELP

[HeadHunter]

 I am trying to weigh the benefits of 2 combinations for my axle swaps. I need advice, preferably from those who know what they actually talking about, or feel confident in making an educated guess. Thanks.

Figuring the PRO's & CON's of these combinations:

Ford 9" Rear with a Dana 44 Front VS. Ford 8.8 Rear with Dana 44 Front

*note; the 44 is the variable and could come from a variety of sources (ex: Rubicon 44 - 1970's Ford 44), Rims are not to have an influence on the decision, I aim to push 36-38" rubber, V8 or Diesel engine swap eventually immanent though not for years*

So Far this is what I have gathered:

FORD 9" W/ DANA 44:
PRO'S:
- Won't have to adjust the track width of either diff if the 44 comes from a full size
- Lockers seem to cost less for a 9" than an 8.8
- The 44 could be factory equipped with unlockable hubs if source from a full size
- 9" is stronger than an 8.8
-

CON's:
- Already have an 8.8
- drum brakes on the 9" vs disk on the 8.8 (although I understand that in some cases you can pull the brake set up from an 8.8 and put it on a 9")
- drum brakes are also most likely to be found on a Ford front 44, so drum brakes all around... hurray! ..gay.
- 9" has less ground clearance
-


FORD 8.8 W/ DANA 44 COMBO:
PRO's:
- already have an 8.8 in my possession
- disk brake set up
- the 8.8 is from a 1998 explorer and is relatively newer than the 9" available, also in good shape
- better ground clearance than the 9"

CON's:
- Have to adjust track width of front 44 UNLESS I find a Rubicon 44
- Rubicon 44 is going to be hard to come by, and will likely cost more than a more common 44
- 8.8 still has a "C" clip as it's weak point
- Although the 8.8 is stronger than a D44, the 9" is stronger than the 8.8
- Cost of outfitting the 8.8 with suspension component bracketry, pinion yoke conversion, gears and a locker will be roughly the same as the cost of out fitting the 9"

[BlackYJ]

Ground clearance is not going to be a big difference between the 8.8 and 9" and I thought in stock form both axles are similar strength.  Now there is WAY more aftermarket available for the 9" than the 8.8 and there is a couple HP options for the 9" plus you can get D60 strength shafts for the 9".  Superior has a c-clip eliminator kit out for the 8.8 now that is supposed to be very good and would allow you to easily run 37s maybe 38s depending on your choice of engine.

With your plans I would look at getting a 9" and making a 609 out of it

[Bnine]

First things first. A nine does not have less clearence then a 88. Taken even farther,  shaved nine has more clearence then a 30. 88 is only half an inch higher then a 60 they are pigs.

88 are weak at rhe axle flange and prone to bending there. Only after welding tubes to chunk, and installing a super 88 does that axle become stronger then a stock 44 and equal to a built 44.

9 and ford hp 44 is the best combo you will find on the cheap for your planned application. You want a set from a late 70's bronco. You need to confirm which year doesn't have the radius arm mounts casted in.

Brakes don't matter. You can put disk on any os the axles mention via junk yard parts.

You need to research and make sure the 9 is big bearing. Similar to the 88 there are two sizes available.

Good luck

[hps4evr]

i figure if you built the 8.8 with the super88 kit and put it in the rear of your tj you could save for a custom front end or look for front rubi 44. 8.8 has the same bolt pattern as your tj, and you own the 8.8 allready. ive seen a few people run 8.8 rear ends with 37" tires and drive them hard. and survive

[Bnine]

To run 37's without really compromising the balance of the rig, you want some length and width. You would have to spacer the snot out of a 8.8 to make it practical on a TJ with 37s. Unless you just wanted tires for the muck regadless of suspension travel and stability.

[HeadHunter]

good info so far, but it has been hard to find anything about big bearing 9's. Who has them? Yea the late Bronco's did and some ford 150's... but what else? what about the Ford E150 series etc..

going to pick n pull again this week end for some shopping.

[Bnine]

Talk to Steve's ford parts. He might have some stuff laying around. Might even take some trade value on your 8.8

[cLAY]

Do you want to do it once or twice? Cause if you are serous about a V8 and 37s you'll be doing the 9" in the end.

[HeadHunter]

Who's Steve? Ford Parts?

Yea I want to do it once. So there may be an 8.8 on the market soon, but if I 9" I only want to do that once as well...

Question on the 9", like I said, seems hard to find quality info for finding one, unless you go to the mysterious & illusive Bronco graveyard. How can I identify a large bearing 9? Would I pull the axles and count a 31 spline? Or is it something else? I know to look for the larger style where the housing is thicker around the pumpkin, as seen in the various pictures on the net, and also an "N" in between the ribs above the third member (N= Nodular Iron).

Because, as research will tell you, the small bearing, and those with the 28 spline are weak and impractical, needing serious modification to get the big bearings in, and spin the optional 35 spliners for that D60 strength.

Appreciate the input guys, keep it coming!

[Rookie]

Here you go first hit on a Google search

http://www.kevinstang.com/Ninecase.htm

[Fredduck]

I have just completed installing the D44- 9" combo, heres what I found
First the D-44, The axles were out of a 78/79 and have the cast wedges so I installed the full bronco front suspension in the YJ.
Don't worry about brakes the stubs and knuckles can be swapped. the Dana you are looking for is Pre 78 in a Bronco and I can't speak for the F150 trucks.

The 9 inch in the rear;
I assume the TY and the YJ have the  same distance between the output of the T-case and the rear pinion.
You will need to do a super short SYE kit to get some driveshaft lenght so you can get a good angle on the driveshaft to run large tires.
The pinion on the nine inch is lower which adds to you D-shaft angle.
There is a high pinion center section you can buy for the 9 I think it's from HI9.


Just some food for thought

[HeadHunter]

I think I'll be going for the 197?'s combo from an F100. A HP44 front with a 9" out back, and the currie HP 3rd member. Very interested in that deisel swap you did as that has been my un official plan since I bought mj jeep including the bio diesel part, but we can say I copied you when it goes thru. 

[Bnine]

I would not recommend a high pinion third member in the rear other then a tru hi. There is to much deflection.

See the load bolt up on the side of case?


The helps stop the gears from walking away from eachother under load.

Tru hi are the only guys that do this.

Also, they do the beefiest aftermarket housing there is.



The clearence is worth every penny.



38" tires still have more clearence then a d30 with 37's, but more overall strength then a dana 60, and at 260lbs complete, less then half the weight.

Go here to read up on Tru hi 3rd members.

http://www.truehi9.com/

[Fredduck]

Thats the one I ment Billy

[Bnine]