Dana 44HD axle nut socket? Or is it a Dana 50?

[1986F150Six]

Looking good!

[ArdWrknTrk]

Awesome!
It's really amazing what a little TLC  can do.

[Bulletproof250]

The wheels came off off a 1989 Ford Bronco Centurion conversion. I think that they maybe factory? Not the easiest to find lugs for, since they're not your typical  "AR Outlaw 2 Modulars". These use the Mag wheel style lug nut with the washers, especially difficult when you have one hub with LH thread.

FYI Gorilla Automotive Lug Nut PN

75197 RH Std Length Head 9/16-18
75197L LH Std Length Head 9/16-18

75197XL RH Taller Head 9/16-18
75197LXL LH Taller Head 9/16-18 (could not find these in-stock anywhere however, while I'm writing this post, Summit Racing anticipates that their shipment arrives in May)



Floor Pans this weekend.....

[Bulletproof250]

Can anyone confirm this is a Dana 50? or Dana 44HD? I think hat its a Dana 50? I'm interested in rebuilding this axle soon so I'll need to get this right before I order parts. I'm also interested in a Air or E-Locker, but I'm not sure that make for a Dana 50.





Additional Pics Might Help?

[ArdWrknTrk]

I can't see anything in relation to the wheel or proportions of it.but just over 3 1/4" seems like D-44.

A D-50:has hubs with very little taper, and 50 cast on the pinion side of the diff.

Take a look at the lockout from the side.
Do the hub sides look like they would eventually converge to you?

[Lima Delta]

Hi Alex,
I can't see the photos you posted for some reason, but my understanding is the D50 only came on the F250HD (GVWR >8500lbs) between 80 and 86 and has a much beefier 4" "soup can" type hub as mentioned. It wasn't until 87 that the D50 became standard on all F250s.

Also, I have the same wheels and tires on my truck. I got the wheels aftermarket. Are those tires 235/85R16?
That BFG all-terrain tread has worn well over time and I like pizza cutter profile for the snow.

[Bulletproof250]

Lucas these tires are 245/75 R16, They're remolds from Treadwright, but I've put at least 3000 miles on them and they're solid, Load Range E.

I added some more Pics in my earlier post that may help define this front axle.

Thanks for the help,

[Bulletproof250]

Jim, you typed that it looks like a D44, did you mean a D44HD? I looked and was confused by the images in another forum  BlueOval Trucks:



"Above is a comparison between the Dana 44HD TTB / Dana 50 TTB axle beam (top) and the normal Dana 44 TTB axle beam (bottom)"


I'm confused I think mine looks more like the D50....?

[Bulletproof250]

Does anyone know what they offer for E- or Air Lockers for this  D44 HD Diff? I'm running the carrier for 3.55s and with the T18 I doubt Ill be running anything lower unless I get into something taller than 35"s

[Gary Lewis]

OX Lockers offer a locker for the D44.  I'm running one of theirs in my D60, but haven't really used it yet.  However, their customer support has been excellent.

[Nothing Special]

Lima Delta wrote

Hi Alex,
I can't see the photos you posted for some reason, but my understanding is the D50 only came on the F250HD (GVWR >8500lbs) between 80 and 86 and has a much beefier 4" "soup can" type hub as mentioned. It wasn't until 87 that the D50 became standard on all F250s....

The TTB Dana 50 was never standard on all F-250s.  The Dana 44HD was always used on the F-250 and often on the F-250HD until 1996/1997.  Dana 50s came with a snow plow package, in a crew cab, and almost always in a SuperCab.  And any other time that Ford felt like it.

Bulletproof250 wrote

Does anyone know what they offer for E- or Air Lockers for this  D44 HD Diff? I'm running the carrier for 3.55s and with the T18 I doubt Ill be running anything lower unless I get into something taller than 35"s

Gary Lewis wrote

OX Lockers offer a locker for the D44.  I'm running one of theirs in my D60, but haven't really used it yet.  However, their customer support has been excellent.

OX does not offer a locker for any TTB front axle.  The OX locker shift fork is mounted to their diff cover, so it can't go into any diff that doesn't have a replaceable cover (TTB and 9" for example).

I'm pretty sure there are ARB air lockers available for all of the TTB diffs, and I'd guess the Eaton E-Locker as well

[Gary Lewis]

Nothing Special wrote

OX does not offer a locker for any TTB front axle.  The OX locker shift fork is mounted to their diff cover, so it can't go into any diff that doesn't have a replaceable cover (TTB and 9" for example).

I'm pretty sure there are ARB air lockers available for all of the TTB diffs, and I'd guess the Eaton E-Locker as well

Wow!  I'm sure glad you caught that, Bob!  You are right and I'm WRONG!  

[ArdWrknTrk]

It looks like a D-44 HD

A) look on your door sticker.
What is the front axle weight rating (FAWR)?
3,800(ish) is a D-44
45 or 4,600 is a D-50.

B) Does your front diff have (50) cast in it?

C) Are your hubs (not the lockouts!) 4 3/16" diameter?
If the hub (behind the chrome cap) is the width of a 2x4 -3 5/8"- then it is a D-44(HD)

The light D-44 found on 150's uses a pivot like their radius arms do.
That's why the lightweight D-44 has such a long arm and coil springs.

I pretty much ignore the light duty 250's (without 8 lug hubs and full-floating axles)
The D-50 was not even found much in crew cabs, but it was common with super cabs and plow prepped trucks.

[Bulletproof250]

Well I'm quite sure that's uiits a Dana 44 HD then as the hubs justbehind the lock as similar in size, and the truck's a 1984 F250 however the Front GVWR seems WAY to light. and it doesn't look like the D44 (non-HD)

I guess my next question is the carrier is it the same? I.E. can I use a D44 locker (D44 lockers are way more common)

[Nothing Special]

I don't know what's different between a Dana 44, a Dana 44 TTB and a Dana 44HD TTB.

I THINK the diffs are the same between all three, but I don't know that.  So I would check with technical support with whatever company you are thinking of going with and ask them.

[ArdWrknTrk]

The TTB D-44 is high pinion, reverse cut, and unloads like a 9" where everything is contained in the hogshead. Unlike the solid axle 44 that you have to set up in the case.

The D- 44-HD uses a much bigger pinion than a regular 44 ifs found in a 150.

And of course you need to pay attention to the diameter and spline counts of the axles.

Let us know what you figure out.

[Bulletproof250]

Thanks for the inputs and guideance Gary, Jim and Bob.

I'll try and remember to post here promptly, with what I find when I pull-the-trigger on this project this summer.

[Lima Delta]

ArdWrknTrk wrote

I pretty much ignore the light duty 250's (without 8 lug hubs and full-floating axles)

Jim, what do you mean by 8 lug hubs exactly?
I don't understand because I thought all F250s, including non-HD models, have eight studs for mounting the wheels.

[Nothing Special]

I think he means that he doesn't pay any attention to the standard F-250 .  Because he seems to not realize that they also had 8 lugs, at least up to 1997 when the new body style F-250 had 7 lugs.  (In '97 the F-250HD was still the old body style and had 8 lugs.)

(Sorry Jim, not meant to be a jab in any way, just an attempt at humor that may or may not work over the internet)

[Lima Delta]

Ah, ok, I didn't realize there was such a thing as a seven lug wheel on the later model F250s.
Although now that I'm thinking about it, I remember my brother in law had an F150 (2001 I think) with six lug wheels which we jokingly called a 5/8-ton.