D44 or Toy 8"

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mferguson28

mferguson28

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Nov 4, 2008
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Hi guys i'm new on this forum, it have a Toyota Pick up with 7" lift, rear teraflex revolver shackles, LTB 35 x 12.5 R15, and a 22re with k&n air filter, headers and msd ignition and so on,
The question is i'm going to make it SAS, and i'm wondering to use a Wagg Dana 44 or earlier toyota 8" differential.

Wich size of tire is limit of each of those diff's???

sorry about my eanglish, i'm from Panama

here's a pic of my truck
P1010627.jpg
 
Last edited:
your english is good.

I'm a die hard toyota fan 100% and believe in the stock axles as being best.

you need to make sure the housing you get is straight. look at the inner axle seals, if they are damaged, the tube may be bent.

Once you get a straight one, weld a gusset on there. truss and knuckle gusset.

the biggest tires my buddys run is 39.5"


there are lots of upgrades availible for these axles. like bobby longfield super axles.
marlin crawler makes the best high steer setup on the market.
 
Thank you about the coments...

The earlier model of waggs come with the diff in the passenger side.

like this...
steering_lnk_6-1-00.jpg


Is an stock Dana 44 stronger than a Toyota 8"???????
 
Last edited:
mferguson28 said:
Thank you about the coments...

The earlier model of waggs come with the diff in the passenger side.

like this...
steering_lnk_6-1-00.jpg



is the stock dana 44 stronger than a stock toyota 8"?????????
Click to expand...

Yes. According to tests Longfield did, the stock toyota 8" was around 3800 lbs, and the d44 was 5200. (dont quote me, I can't find the chart, but those numbers look correct).

Aftermarket joints brought the 8" to 5200, and the 30 spline longs brought it up to around 8000 ft lbs.
 
I agree on all counts.....and I know folks do not like Trail Gear but they sell some cheap and well built gussets

WristPin said:
your english is good.

I'm a die hard toyota fan 100% and believe in the stock axles as being best.

you need to make sure the housing you get is straight. look at the inner axle seals, if they are damaged, the tube may be bent.

Once you get a straight one, weld a gusset on there. truss and knuckle gusset.

the biggest tires my buddys run is 39.5"


there are lots of upgrades availible for these axles. like bobby longfield super axles.
marlin crawler makes the best high steer setup on the market.
Click to expand...
 
Really the only question is width. Do you want a wider axle yes => D44 no => Toy. If you go toy, I would personally use a Landcruiser axle though, 8” diffs are pretty weak.

Strength wise they are very comparable especially if you use upgraded components, either has its pluses and minuses.

A D44 turns sharper
 
thank you for the info

now i have an idea about what a toy 8" can do, but my question is still the same, is the stock dana 44 stronger than the toy 8", somebody have info about it???

is the dana 44 with chromoly axles and reinforced drive shaft joints stronger than an toy 8" with chromoly birfields and longfields????

wich one is the limit of tire size that an stock dana 44 can resist??
 
I run a toyota 8" front axle with stock birfs, 35s, and Marlin Dual Ultimates and I run with several yotas with D44 front axles and I have yet to break while the D44 rigs are constantly breaking something on their D44s. I say stick with Toyota. Makes it further advantageous when wheeling with many other yotas. Dont want to be the odd guy out with the only D44 in the group.
 
Alright:
8"-Parts available local most anywhere
-stronger aftermarket axles
-easy fix when breakage occurs
-keep toyota
-removable 3rd (much easier imo)
can be built for anything
D44- WIDER! So unless your going to do a rear D44 or MASSIVE wheel spacers watch out!
Stong aftermarket support
interchangeable with chevy-ford-dodge-heep-etc.
cheaper-available everwhere
not oe
purists would h8 you
steering (possibility?)

My uncle runs 35's, chevy 350, and stock birfs. If your not going to purposely sink your tires in holes jsut there size, then there is no need to worry. Rocks could advance breakage trumendously.

Hope that helps!
 
fortysixandtwo said:
I run a toyota 8" front axle with stock birfs, 35s, and Marlin Dual Ultimates and I run with several yotas with D44 front axles and I have yet to break while the D44 rigs are constantly breaking something on their D44s. I say stick with Toyota. Makes it further advantageous when wheeling with many other yotas. Dont want to be the odd guy out with the only D44 in the group.
Click to expand...

Freaking AGREED! Keep it Toyota, keep down the frustration.
 
liljlandon said:
Alright:
8"-Parts available local most anywhere
-stronger aftermarket axles
-easy fix when breakage occurs
-keep toyota
-removable 3rd (much easier imo)
can be built for anything
D44- WIDER! So unless your going to do a rear D44 or MASSIVE wheel spacers watch out!
Stong aftermarket support
interchangeable with chevy-ford-dodge-heep-etc.
cheaper-available everwhere
not oe
purists would h8 you
steering (possibility?)

My uncle runs 35's, chevy 350, and stock birfs. If your not going to purposely sink your tires in holes jsut there size, then there is no need to worry. Rocks could advance breakage trumendously.

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Good post. If that doesnt steer you to keepin' it yota I dont know what will! :D
 
Let me throw my $0.02 on your response

liljlandon said:
Alright:
8"-Parts available local most anywhere
-stronger aftermarket axles
-easy fix when breakage occurs
Click to expand...
Fixing a toyota front, or a d44 front is a mute point. They are both very similar to work on. Biggest difference is that the 3rd does not drop out. BUT the axle housing is much stronger on most d44's

-keep toyota
-removable 3rd (much easier imo)
can be built for anything
D44- WIDER! So unless your going to do a rear D44 or MASSIVE wheel spacers watch out!
Click to expand...
d44 fronts can be found from 58" wide (scout II), to 67" wide (chevy 3/4 ton). There are alot of options on what to grab the axle out of. I think the talk was about running a wagoneer front, which are 58.5 or 61 depending on the year/options. Meaning it will be .5 or 3" wider than the toy rear. Not a big issue.
Stong aftermarket support
interchangeable with chevy-ford-dodge-heep-etc.
cheaper-available everwhere
not oe
purists would h8 you
Click to expand...
Great points
steering (possibility?)
Click to expand...
Steering is easy with a dana axle. Buy a highsteer kit, run 3/4 ton chevy drag link ends, and buy a toyota pitman arm with the same taper. They are less common, but still avaliable.

My hold back would be with the brakes. With a dana axle, you probably will have to run a different master cyl/purporting valve, vs with a mini truck axle, you could run fj60 rotors, and keep your current calipers. Brake lines would seem like they would be an issue, but G&J Aircraft in Ontario, ca will make you custom stainless soft lines to go from the frame to the caliper. Not a big issue.

Its hit or miss IMHO between a d44 and a yota axle. The axle Im building is a diamond front, but I am 3x as much into it as my buddys wagonner d44 front, with negligible strength differences.

Stuff I have broken on my yota axle:
Steering studs
bent 4 housings
3 diffs.

Stuff guys in my club break:
Toyota guy(1):
steering arm studs
hub studs
cracked housing (all the after-market braces caused the axle to get weak, and cracked near the diff)

D44 guys (2):
Hubs. Every Trip, 2-3 hubs.
 
Here in Quebec we do some big rock and all the guy start with birf eliminator, 30 spline, boby lonf stuff and still breaking then came the d44and that wasn't enought (i know if they are smother on gas bla bla bla....) But the real fun is at the end of the day everything is ok! No ?
You want to do a swap go Dana 60! The $$ will be the same but on a shorter time! If not keep toy axel and up grade!

Me i just start doing big trail . All the truck i built was to good (my opinion) to go on rock ! But now i found an old 83 hilux and i have some fj40 axel here so i will see if is a good swap next year.
Some one have aleready try this set up?

Btw 4 bagner (ecotec) can run dana60 44'' on hummer beadlock plus rear steer ,a found you some link (Quebec rockcrawling) all the way!:flipoff2:
1-YouTube - Rigaud RockCrawl 2007
2-YouTube - Runner River 2007 at 1:50
3-YouTube - Jimmorock HillFest 2008

and one more YouTube - PJF PARK 2 août 2008


So let me know if some one have try fj40 axel under toy truck!

Marc........
 
That 8" looks like its been through hell!
Id pull the 3rd, make sure its alrigt, but i dont think it will be given those pics! In that case, if this is your final for the two, id go 44, but you better do something about you ass end now!
 
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