78-79 F250 4x4 front axle questons

[Thunderfoot]

For the Ford F250 4x4 from 78-79 am I right in that they are all high pinion front axles, either D44 or D60?
I also seen that they could be Full or Part time, if Full time I assume the front hubs would not be unlockable... How much work is it to make them unlock/lock?

I've found a 78 that is complete and cheep but it is a little ways away and not much info on it, but thinking would be good front to stick under my 69 Highboy. Any info/advice would be good to know, like running a HP with the divorced set up good or bad idea, etc...?

I have new springs with 2 inch lift for my truck as well...

Thanks!

[mlheppl]

You can swap out the full time hubs and put in locking hubs. As for the high pinion? I believe that they're all high pinion axles on 78 & 79 F250's but not positive on this.

[averagef250]

all 77-5-79's have high pinion axles. The fulltime trucks had drive slugs in the hub instead of a lockout. You just remove the drive slug and replace it with a locking hub. If it's fulltime expect to rebuild the axle. They usually had a pretty good workout and less than needed maintainence.

If you can, pull the cover and remove the carrier bearing caps, inspect the caps for signs that the bearing races have spun (shiny area where the bearing sits). I have seen a few fulltime front axles from the 70's that were neglected and spun the carrier races. Once that happens the housing isn't much good. It's much easier to check it when you buy it verses finding out after you bought it and have time and money into it.

[Thunderfoot]

Sounds good, thanks for the info

I emailed the guy to ask if it was full time or not, as I can't quite tell from the pics, and also what ratio it is. I think for $350 it will be a good deal to get and part out. well see what I find out...

[Doug F]

I read somewhere that the 78-79 D44 axles are thinner walled and weaker than the earlier ones. http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44_2.htm

Great info on Ford D44s.

[averagef250]

I read somewhere that the 78-79 D44 axles are thinner walled and weaker than the earlier ones. http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44_2.htm

Great info on Ford D44s.

The 78-79 F250 4x4 44 front axles use thinner tubing than prior years, but the tubes are larger diameter. They're probably the same strength. The 78-79 F150/bronco front fronts were poor though. Those years the cast diamonds became part of the axle tube, a real downer in overall quality to me.

[Doug F]

I stand corrected, the F250 axles stayed tough, the F100/150 axles went lighter weight.

[Spectre]

FYI: I myself and a few others have been running 78-79 F150/Bronco Dana 44's for years.

We're all pushing 40" boggers with no problems.. Axle tubes have held up fine..