Topic: Toyota Front Axle with D44 Knuckels??

[90slvpup]

I am building up my 90 pickup to be a decent DD and crawling rig. I already have 5.29 's front and rear along with ARB's in both.  My shop told me that a cool thing to try would be chop those toyota knuckles off the front and put D44's on there. He assured me that the 30 spline D44 axles would fit into my toyota 3rds (which was true) and that if i run a HD Axle and U joint (longfield U Joint) that it would be a pretty bomb proof steup.  What does anyone think about this idea is it worht the work??
I was orriginally going to just put longs 30 splines in there and call it good.

Thanks for the sugestions!

[jr9162]

There's a guy in AL or NC who has done this, once had a set of the axles for sale on Ebay. Looked slick. If you do it, use Chevy dana 44 C's and knuckles. Toughest part is getting new axles made up to fit it. I'd prefer to stay close to stock width myself.

JR

[90slvpup [OP]]

The shop will be using some after market high strength axle similar to Warn and then those Longfield U joints, which are alot cheaper than CTM's though not as strong.  why a chevy knuckle versus the rest though??

[Hyena]

Go with 60 nuckles and axles.

[90slvpup [OP]]

60's dont use the same 30 spline though do they??

[FIREBALL]

Open knuckles suck, put longs in yur yota front and skip all the fabbin

[UNBREAKABLE]

Open knuckles suck, put longs in yur yota front and skip all the fabbin

Agreed...Why do all that when it would be cheaper just to put the D44 complete under the front end or even better a d60

[Hyena]

A stock 60 will slip into a toyota carrier.

[90slvpup [OP]]

Is a D60 that much stronger over a D44?? Especially since i am only running a four cylinder?? The only reason i dont go full D44 is cause of how much i have invested in my 3rds. they arent worth seperating from.  So my main concern is if a D60 isnt a whole ton stronger than a D44 should i just stick with a D44 instead of bumb to a D60??

[jr9162]

Open knuckles suck, put longs in yur yota front and skip all the fabbin

I agree, open knuckles offer two advantages: lower manufacturing costs, and a tighter turning radius. The tighter radius and 'open to atmosphere' design leads to lower life. The Toyota 8" diff is stronger than a Dana 44, and probably equal in strength to a Dana 60. The Ford 9" diff is stronger than a Dana 70. Birfields fail simply because of 'operator error'. You're simply operating the joint outside it's design envelope. 

[90slvpup [OP]]

So the overall strongest way to go in the knuckle end of things would be a Toyota design versus a D60 or D44

[toybuilt]

Dana 60s are stronger than Dana 44s and you can gear them to your hearts kintent.

[toybuilt]

There is also the CTM conversion kit for your perfeilds on your yota axle.

[jr9162]

Dana 60s are stronger than Dana 44s and you can gear them to your hearts kintent.

Dana 60's are stronger than a Dana 44 but you're gaining a lot more unsprung weight and loosing ground clearance to install one up front. I'd stay with the Toyota axle and beef up the birfields. Their closed knuckle king pin design is superior to the open knuckle ball joint system.

If money isn't an object - have a custom Ford 9" high pinion front axle built using whatever knuckle system you desire. Also build a standard 9" with Dana 60 full floating spindles, hubs, disc brakes, and custom axles for the rear.

For those with small piggy banks, just up grade the stock Toyota axles with better OEM or aftermarket parts. 

[mr4x42u]

I have been beating the piss out of my front end now that I have 30spline longs...I could not be happier..I am running 36 irocks and think the front would hold up to 38's and a good beating..hard to argue with that..ligher,,smaller and strong..I have turned in my bump stops in also and no worries..I guess what you do depends on money..you won't build a stronger axle then a toy axle for 635 bucks....the cost of 30 spline longs..

[Suprarunner]

I've got a 60 under my Yota now. When I swapped to the 6 cyl I kept breaking every Longfeild I put in there (this was pre 30 spline kit) so I swapped to full widths.

If I were in your position with a DD I would personally go with the 30 spline Long kit. Bobby Long is a great guy with a great product and he went out of his way to take care of me when I was having problems. If I was running stock axles I'd give those 30 splines a whoopin...