d60 vs d44

NickMaul

NickMaul

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2009
Location
Norfolk, VA
i am interested in upgrading the front axle in my 88 suburban. right now i am doing stock size tires but will probaly bump up to 33's 34's within the next year. and i know that 10 bolts arent really trail worthy with that size tire.

so the delima is a dana 44 or 60. i know dana 44 are cheap and parts are everywhere. but i have no idea how strong they are.

i know dana 60's are extremely expensive. but are strong.

so i have a year to plan this. plan :upgrade axle from 10 bolt. no locker, maybe a limited slip at most. and 33's or 34's tires.

any advice would be killer

nick
 
The dana 44 is not any stronger than a 10-bolt. In fact, everything from the ball-joints out is interchangeable. Some will argue that the 10-bolt r&p is in fact stronger than the dana 44, some will say that the dana 44 housing is stronger than the 10-bolt, both are right. but the strength difference is not worth noting. A dana 60 will hang down very low, especially if you are planning on running smaller tires. I think you should be fine where you are, just match your gearing to your tire size, and make sure you have the 30-spline axle shafts. Most 10-bolts had 28 splines, but i beleive everything after 86 was 30.

but then again a 'burb is pretty heavy.
 
Good idea asking. I see your sig, I would discuss this with your sponsor! JC will lead you the right way.

In case he is busy,......

Strange1 is correct in what he said. But a 60 in the front, since the diff is on the right and close to the knuckle, you can live with the added bulk. Even the 60 has it's short comings. With the outer axle shafts being the weak link. Just about every time you break an axle, it will be a short side, and it will most likely take out the locking hub too.
The Burb is long, heavy and wide. You may want to keep it as a tow rig and find a neater to wheel. If you wheel it long it will soon look like it's been beat to death.
Option two, sell it, and find a Toyota truck, CJ, YJ or TJ and make a DD/trail rig out of it. Lots of after market support for all of them.
 
I have a 44 with chromoly shafts and joints and I run 38's with a 460 in a full size bronco. If you are going to run 33's you will be fine stock. If you start having problems add chromoly shafts and joints - but you shouldn't need to.
 
I agree with Gubni. But i also think that the sheer weight of a burban you will end up upgrading. I ran a dana 44 with chromoly shaft and super joints with 38's and 5.13 gears and a 350, but broke on a regular basis. With the smaller tires i think you are ok. If you have an inkling of going to bigger tires over a 33 or 34 don't waste the money on your dana 44 just buy a 60. And i love the idea of wheeling a full size suburban. We have a guy in our group who wheels a suburban that we swapped in one tons on and 42's it is beat to pieces. But man i love seeing that thing beating its way down a trail.

here is a pic of the burban http://uglyoffroad.org/photos/index.php?album=windrock/dobees-pics&image=europepicscard-752.jpg
 
olejunky said:
I agree with Gubni. But i also think that the sheer weight of a burban you will end up upgrading. I ran a dana 44 with chromoly shaft and super joints with 38's and 5.13 gears and a 350, but broke on a regular basis. With the smaller tires i think you are ok. If you have an inkling of going to bigger tires over a 33 or 34 don't waste the money on your dana 44 just buy a 60. And i love the idea of wheeling a full size suburban. We have a guy in our group who wheels a suburban that we swapped in one tons on and 42's it is beat to pieces. But man i love seeing that thing beating its way down a trail.
here is a pic of the burban http://uglyoffroad.org/photos/index.php?album=windrock/dobees-pics&image=europepicscard-752.jpg
Click to expand...

thats some good advice. thanks everyone for the advice. i do love the idea that a suburban can tackle some hard terrain. but i like camping and rock climbing so i want a rig that i can keep streetable but with some clearance. i also want to carry around all my friends and gear. so i want to keep the suburban as long as i can.
 
I've got a 60 f and 14 bolt out of a milt. truck going up for sale. PM for pricing if interested.
 
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