weak link in my dana 44

[zukijames]

im going to be running 40 inch mtr (old style) with 5.89 dutchman axle shafts ctm joints and full detroits

is the pinion gear going to be my weak spot?

 

[I Lean]

Are you running hubs? If so, that'd be your first breakage, I'd guess.

Wait...still running a 1.3? I'll change my vote to the crankshaft then.

 

[zukijames]

lol it will be a build 22r with dual cases 4.7s in back.

but under a zuk so still fairly light.. so hubs then pinion .. only 21 spline t cases kinda worried there

 

[Jinx]

I would say Pinion or Knuckle...

I have seen the knuckle split between the ball joint and the spindle,

Also just the ball joints fail...

Both are ugly on the trail...

 

[Bart]

I would vote hubs, then ring gear, then knuckle. Ball joints will fail eventually.

 

[Cody]

The only things I didn't break on the 44:

pinion, knuckles, dif cover, lock right.

everything else broke, and most many times (dozens of joints, shafts, hubs etc) The tube broke, ball joints went, etc.

That was a v8 rig that weighed north of 4000 lbs though. I would ordinarily discourage 40's with that axle, but with substantially less motor and substantially less weight, I think you'll be ok.

 

[drtsqrl]

I don't know much about Dutchman front shafts, but my vote would be the 19-spline outers. I broke two of them (both Warn shafts), one with 40" MTRs and one with my 38" Swampers. Upgraded to 30 spline outers, no problems so far. I would say hubs would be the second to go. BTW, I'm running Warn shafts, CTM's, Detroits, and Warn Premium 30 spline hubs.

 

[Gravy]

19spline outers?
hubs. then outer. then 21 spline tcase.
cheap way to do it would be get some 19spline drive slugs out of a full time waggy.

If you're keep on top of balljoints they don't usually fail until you break an axle at the yoke.

5.89's maybe a pinion.

but you can upgrade balljoints to dynatrac ones. crane has knuckles.
you can have Bobby Long Cryo treat your ring and pinion for a song.

RCV's aren't that much more than dutchman's and ctm's. and get some 30 spline drive flanges

these days you can build an expensive 44 that will hold up to serious abuse

 

[I Lean]

Ya'll keep in mind this is under a Sami, so even with the ridicu-heavy nature of the 22RE, it'll still probably only weigh 2500 lbs. That'll make a HUGE difference in the perceived strength of stuffs.

 

[Bart]

I don't know much about Dutchman front shafts, but my vote would be the 19-spline outers. I broke two of them (both Warn shafts), one with 40" MTRs and one with my 38" Swampers. Upgraded to 30 spline outers, no problems so far. I would say hubs would be the second to go. BTW, I'm running Warn shafts, CTM's, Detroits, and Warn Premium 30 spline hubs.

Good call on the outers, I forgot about them. I used to take 3 of them with new u-joints to every comp, then one inner for each side. I could change in a side in 15 minutes because I had lots of practice.

 

[BCGPER]

In your case, the weak link in the 44 was the loose nut behind the wheel..

 

[zukijames]

I already have the ctms and dutchmans so I'll run it tell they blow up lol

19spline outers?
hubs. then outer. then 21 spline tcase.
cheap way to do it would be get some 19spline drive slugs out of a full time waggy.

If you're keep on top of balljoints they don't usually fail until you break an axle at the yoke.

5.89's maybe a pinion.

but you can upgrade balljoints to dynatrac ones. crane has knuckles.
you can have Bobby Long Cryo treat your ring and pinion for a song.

RCV's aren't that much more than dutchman's and ctm's. and get some 30 spline drive flanges

these days you can build an expensive 44 that will hold up to serious abuse