Should I buy these axles?

[Reidminer]

Hi everyone, so I have a chance at what seems to be a pretty decent deal. I was browsing my local listings and I found a guy parting out a rig he didn’t finish building. What caught my eye is a Dana 44 front and ford 9” rear axle, 4.10 gears...for $800.
If I check them out in person, what should I be looking at to tell if it’s in good shape and such?
If they are in good shape, I feel like this is a pretty great deal, right? It wasn’t in my build plan to swap to Dana 44’s for another 2 years but hell...for $800 just to have them ready and waiting...

https://utica.craigslist.org/pts/d/greig-jeep-parts/7086481789.html

 

[Stevemack]

Something tells me they’re from a leaf spring vehicle.
If so, it’s not a simple bolt in job. You’ll need to cut things off, measure out and weld new brackets. If paying someone, it’ll get pricey.

Also, you’ll need to know if the front axle is driver drop or passenger drop. You may not be able to use it.

It may turn out to be a bigger headache then it seems.

 

[CharlesHS]

$800 for a Dana 44 front and Ford 9" rear and 4.10s....
Do you know if the carriers are open, limited slip or lockers ?
Even if they are open... here in SoCal that would be a killer deal.... almost too good to be true...
I would be very cautious in buying....

As Stevemack said... there are lots of things to consider.

You should contact MrBlaine to get his opinions on what to look for....

 

[tworley]

Definitely leaf set up, you can see both in the first picture

 

[Stevemack]

I believe the pics were for ”attention only”, he states that at the bottom of his ad. And the pics are of 3 different vehicles it seems.

 

[Reidminer]

Something tells me they’re from a leaf spring vehicle.
If so, it’s not a simple bolt in job. You’ll need to cut things off, measure out and weld new brackets. If paying someone, it’ll get pricey.

Also, you’ll need to know if the front axle is driver drop or passenger drop. You may not be able to use it.

It may turn out to be a bigger headache then it seems.

As far as I can see in pics, it looks like its on leaf springs. I know in almost any case of buying used axles it’ll never be a bolt it job. My plan would be to build trusses and axles shafts etc to beef it up before I installed anyway. I’m learning welding, my dad has welded his whole life and my brother is a welder as a job so any fabrication work we should be able to do, just not like regearing. So if I plan on taking my time building these up and getting them ready to install, would it be a good idea? If they’re in great shape(other than coming off leaf springs) I could sit on them for two years, do all I want to them, spread out so not to break the bank, ya know?

 

[Reidminer]

I

$800 for a Dana 44 front and Ford 9" rear and 4.10s....
Do you know if the carriers are open, limited slip or lockers ?
Even if they are open... here in SoCal that would be a killer deal.... almost too good to be true...
I would be very cautious in buying....

As Stevemack said... there are lots of things to consider.

You should contact MrBlaine to get his opinions on what to look for....

asked about the carriers and lockers, waiting on a reply. And yeah that’s why I’m asking y’all! If it’s a decent deal, I’ll buy em, sit on them and build them how I want at my leisure lol

 

[Bill M.]

Since none of the sellers picture are of his rig or the parts he is selling, I think I smell a rat.

 

[Reidminer]

Since none of the sellers picture are of his rig or the parts he is selling, I think I smell a rat.

Haha yea as I look closer I think you’re right. He’s responded a few times so we’ll see where it goes

 

[Reidminer]

“Also, you’ll need to know if the front axle is driver drop or passenger drop. You may not be able to use it.”


what do you mean by this? I have no clue lol

 

[Wildman]

“Also, you’ll need to know if the front axle is driver drop or passenger drop. You may not be able to use it.”


what do you mean by this? I have no clue lol

Your TJ uses a axle with the differential on the drivers side. Ford used a axle that had the differential on the drivers side also. Some full size Jeep had the differential on the passenger side as did older Chevys.

Just know this isn't a buy it and bolt it in deal. Are you going to run the axles at stock width or narrow them to TJ width? You'll need brackets for both the front and rear axles & they cost $4-500 for each axle.

 

[Reidminer]

Your TJ uses a axle with the differential on the drivers side. Ford used a axle that had the differential on the drivers side also. Some full size Jeep had the differential on the passenger side as did older Chevys.

Just know this isn't a buy it and bolt it in deal. Are you going to run the axles at stock width or narrow them to TJ width? You'll need brackets for both the front and rear axles & they cost $4-500 for each axle.

Gotcha okay, thanks for the explanation! I’ll have to ask him what the Dana 44 front axle came off of, and ask him about the rear of course. I definitely know this isn’t a plug and play situation lol, I’m still researching and reading up on building axles for jeeps and figuring out what could be fabricated by my dad or brother(or me learning) and what would have to be outsourced. Again, if the deal of these axles is good enough, I know it might be a couple years until they’re done, but it’s either start now or later for me...basically when an axle deal pops up that is great I might as well pull the trigger ya know

 

[Sea Cot]

Bolt pattern is likely 5x5.5" for both axles. It'd be quite unusual if the rear had custom or Grenada shafts, and the front was the Dodge knuckles & unit bearing w/ 5x4.5" pattern.

The ad is incredibly vague and you need to inquire donor vehicle for each application. There are many variations of the 9" Ford, some are more desirable than others. Desirability for OEM 9" comes down to axle bearing size (big/small), width, and sometimes disc brakes for the Lincoln Versailles models.

If the Dana 44 is Ford 1/2-ton, then best case would be the high pinion F150 pre-77(?) with welded radius arm mounts. Next best would be '71.5-77 early Bronco (street value instead of ease of swapping in TJ), least desirable is 78-79 with the cast radius arm mounts.

If I were to bet on what the donor vehicles are, I'd go with 78-79 Bronco/F150 w/ cast wedges and big-bearing 9" rear. If that were the case and the axles are totally stock and in original condition, then $800 isn't really a deal for your application.

 

[Wildman]

Gotcha okay, thanks for the explanation! I’ll have to ask him what the Dana 44 front axle came off of, and ask him about the rear of course. I definitely know this isn’t a plug and play situation lol, I’m still researching and reading up on building axles for jeeps and figuring out what could be fabricated by my dad or brother(or me learning) and what would have to be outsourced. Again, if the deal of these axles is good enough, I know it might be a couple years until they’re done, but it’s either start now or later for me...basically when an axle deal pops up that is great I might as well pull the trigger ya know

I'm gunna ASSUME based on his ad that he was building a Ford Ranger truggy.

As Sea Cot said the Dana 44 front axle was used on Ford 1/4,1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks thru the years but it depends on the year of the rig that the axle came out of.
Read the Dana 44 articles in this link to get more information on what you need to look out for.
https://web.archive.org/web/20060520174647/http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html
A Ford 9" also comes in many forms and you need to research more about them. Now one thing about a 9" axle is that it has a lower pinion than many other axles. This isn't a HUGE issue but you need to know this.

If you want to know what it takes to make it fit in a TJ with stock width measurements read this.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...-front-axle-to-waggy-width.19445/#post-546016
A 9" axle page.

https://web.archive.org/web/2008051...cle.com/archives/2002/02/nineinch/index.shtml
More tech pages.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080125015840/http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Links/Links.htm

 

[Reidminer]

Bolt pattern is likely 5x5.5" for both axles. It'd be quite unusual if the rear had custom or Grenada shafts, and the front was the Dodge knuckles & unit bearing w/ 5x4.5" pattern.

The ad is incredibly vague and you need to inquire donor vehicle for each application. There are many variations of the 9" Ford, some are more desirable than others. Desirability for OEM 9" comes down to axle bearing size (big/small), width, and sometimes disc brakes for the Lincoln Versailles models.

If the Dana 44 is Ford 1/2-ton, then best case would be the high pinion F150 pre-77(?) with welded radius arm mounts. Next best would be '71.5-77 early Bronco (street value instead of ease of swapping in TJ), least desirable is 78-79 with the cast radius arm mounts.

If I were to bet on what the donor vehicles are, I'd go with 78-79 Bronco/F150 w/ cast wedges and big-bearing 9" rear. If that were the case and the axles are totally stock and in original condition, then $800 isn't really a deal for your application.

Damn, that you so much for the info, yeah the guy had been responding on and off since I hit him up this morning. I’ll see what info I get from him and keep all this in mind. Thanks again

 

[Reidminer]

I'm gunna ASSUME based on his ad that he was building a Ford Ranger truggy.

As Sea Cot said the Dana 44 front axle was used on Ford 1/4,1/2 & 3/4 ton trucks thru the years but it depends on the year of the rig that the axle came out of.
Read the Dana 44 articles in this link to get more information on what you need to look out for.
https://web.archive.org/web/20060520174647/http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html
A Ford 9" also comes in many forms and you need to research more about them. Now one thing about a 9" axle is that it has a lower pinion than many other axles. This isn't a HUGE issue but you need to know this.

If you want to know what it takes to make it fit in a TJ with stock width measurements read this.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...-front-axle-to-waggy-width.19445/#post-546016
A 9" axle page.

https://web.archive.org/web/2008051...cle.com/archives/2002/02/nineinch/index.shtml
More tech pages.

https://web.archive.org/web/20080125015840/http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Links/Links.htm

Same with Sea cot, thank you so much for the info, and articles. Whether or not this guy gives me all the info I need, you’ve given me a bunch of stuff to read up on, super helpful! Whenever I find the right axles I’ll be prepared. I’ll keep ya updated if he gives me more info!