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Front D44 with 5x4.5 BP

S

spaghettixj

NAXJA Forum User
Location
ITALY
Hi guys.
Probably already discussed but....
Is it possible to find or build a HP Dana44 with 5x4.5 bolt pattern?
I mean a real 44, not with dana30 knuckle like the Rubicon one.
Thanks in advance, Diego.
 
I'm guessing a 5 on 4.5" won't work on a dana 44 because the hubs would be too large. Just a guess, but that'd make it about impossible.
 
dodge might have made some 5x4.5 dana 44 parts, but the hubs wouldn't even have lockouts.
Dodge 1/2 ton 1975 - 1980, but this is just internet rumor
 
kubtastic said:
dodge might have made some 5x4.5 dana 44 parts, but the hubs wouldn't even have lockouts.
Dodge 1/2 ton 1975 - 1980, but this is just internet rumor
Click to expand...

It' not a rumor - Dodge half ton 4x4s had the small pattern that era. The wheel bearings are notoriously weak.
 
To get a 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern on a D44 you have to use D30 outers. If you used the 30 spline unit bearings and stubs from a Superior Super 30 kit (1.31" dia) you would actually have a stronger axle combination than using all D44 stuff, since D44 stubs are 19 splines and about 1.25" dia. Should work real well for 35's, though it would be nice to gave the bigger D44 brakes if it's driven a lot on the road, but if you wanted to run anything bigger the unit bearings might not last as long. Currie builds a lot of front D44's using the TJ D30 outers and a Warn 30 spline 5 on 5.5 hub kit.

Most people just get new alloy rear axles with the 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern, but the 30 spline Superior stuff is not a bad choice.
 
If you were going to keep a rear Ford 8.8 or XJ dana 44 axle with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern in the back, you could then get some wheel spacer/adapters to go from 5 on 4.5 to 5 on 5.5 to match the hp44 front end. This will also give you a few more inches of width in the back. Goatman has some good points about the Superior dana 30 30 spline kit, but the 5 on 5.5 is a better, stronger, and very common bolt pattern seen on CJs, Scouts, Fords 1/2 tons.
 
kubtastic said:
dodge might made some 5x4.5 dana 44 parts, but the hubs wouldn't even have lockouts.
Dodge 1/2 ton 1975 - 1980, but this is just internet rumor
Click to expand...


Ditto.
 
The FT Dodge outers with that bolt patter were a 30 spline outer. They had bigger 12" discs and the bearing problem with them wasn't that they were weak, it was a neglect thing. The grease zerk was in a blind spot, you never saw it unless you looked for it. You need knuckles and everything outboard of the U-joint.
 
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