Dana 44 IFS??

Inc · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 7:02 pm

I saw a guy that had an old ford truck and in the info about the truck it said: Dana 44 IFS. Did this guy have an independent front suspension with a Dana 44 instead of the 30 like we have? If not, what does the Dana 44 IFS mean? If he did have an IFS setup, why don't more people around here go that route? I have never heard of the Dana 44 IFS and am ashamed to say I have no idea what it is. Sounds cool though.

I would very much appreciate some enlightenment on the subject. Thanks to all those with helpful replies.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 7:34 pm

There are a 100 different variations of the Dana44 out there in many different vehicles from Ford, Jeep even Izuzus have them BUT just because its a Dana 44 does not mean it can be retrofitted "easily" into say one of our KJs.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 7:34 pm

Yes it is most likely a setup similar to our IFS but with a decent D44 instead of our pathetic D30a. It probably holds up pretty well, bet he doesn't have to worry about grenading his diff with a little skinny pedal, or at least nowhere near as much as we do. I don't know the technical but I think I've heard that the D44 is a little stronger than the Chrysler 8.25", so it could probably handle 35s alright.
Problem is, you couldn't just swap out diffs. Custom CV half-shafts ($$), maybe custom wheel bearings/hubs ($$$)? New front driveshaft ($), custom diff bracketry ($$). I mean, sure you wouldn't replace any of the suspension, but all the custom stuff...just to stay IFS! :roll:

IF I had a IFS D44 lying around (never even seen one) and a friend who could make custom shafts and fabricate the bracketry, I probably would have done it already just to be unique. 35s look good on anything :twisted:

Inc · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 7:39 pm

Yeah I figured it might not be cost effective enough to warrant doing it. You might as well go SFA and spend some real $$. :twisted:

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 7:41 pm

what we need to do is find a way to get paid for sitting on here all the time, then we could do all kinds of things to our KJs :twisted:

Inc · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 7:42 pm

tommudd wrote:

what we need to do is find a way to get paid for sitting on here all the time, then we could do all kinds of things to our KJs :twisted:

I try to figure that out every day.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 8:21 pm

incubusmike wrote:

I saw a guy that had an old ford truck and in the info about the truck it said: Dana 44 IFS. Did this guy have an independent front suspension with a Dana 44 instead of the 30 like we have? If not, what does the Dana 44 IFS mean? If he did have an IFS setup, why don't more people around here go that route? I have never heard of the Dana 44 IFS and am ashamed to say I have no idea what it is. Sounds cool though.

I would very much appreciate some enlightenment on the subject. Thanks to all those with helpful replies.

What year Ford? If it is a '97 or newer then yes they have IFS,pre-'97 they are TTB and will not work in a KJ without some major fabbing inwhich doing a SFA would be cheaper and easier.

You also got to think of the room available where are D30A sits,not alot of room unless you drop the diff alot which equeals less ground clearence which kinda defeats the purpose.

Oh and the newer Ford IFS diff's are aluminum also,to bad it would be very hard to modify a H1 diff to work,there cheap and very strong even though they are made out of aluminum to(modeled after the AMC20 axle).

Inc · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 8:27 pm

It was old. Not sure on the year. I think I saw TTB somewhere on there as well. What is that? :oops:

I have seen some old 66-77 box broncos that have mentioned it as well. So all in all it sounds like a no go anyway.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 8:33 pm

incubusmike wrote:

It was old. Not sure on the year. I think I saw TTB somewhere on there as well. What is that? :oops:

I have seen some old 66-77 box broncos that have mentioned it as well. So all in all it sounds like a no go anyway.

This is a pic of a TTB suspesion(minuse the front springs) from a early Ford.

And there is many versions,some use a D44,8.8,8",or D35 housing/gears.

Inc · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 8:36 pm

Didn't someone post a "sexy" pic of this kind of setup in the SFA area? I remember there being a lot of downsides to them.

jason thompson · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 9:57 pm

incubusmike wrote:

Didn't someone post a "sexy" pic of this kind of setup in the SFA area? I remember there being a lot of downsides to them.

Yeah they suck
also I could tell you what diff came in what american made car or truck but you need to tell me which one you want to know about
I have a book with most of them listed

InCommando · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 10:23 pm

Okay, if you guys do not stop referring to TTB Fords as "old" or "early" Tom and I will hunt you down and beat you with a Haynes manual in your sleep.

Early Broncos ( Box or EB's) used D44 fronts, but they were solid axle. Gen 2's ( '78 & '79) used a solid front, as well. IIRC, the first TTB's started in '80 WHICH IS NOT OLD!

An OLD ford is pre-68, Mkay? Got that?

I thought the correct lift measurement was from the pinch weld to the ground?

( The earliest IFS civilian, American 4x4 I know of was the '63 Wagoneer, which had an optional IFS using a D27 centersection)

tommudd · **Posted:** Sat May 31, 2008 10:45 pm

InCommando wrote:

Okay, if you guys do not stop referring to TTB Fords as "old" or "early" Tom and I will hunt you down and beat you with a Haynes manual in your sleep.

Early Broncos ( Box or EB's) used D44 fronts, but they were solid axle. Gen 2's ( '78 & '79) used a solid front, as well. IIRC, the first TTB's started in '80 WHICH IS NOT OLD!

An OLD ford is pre-68, Mkay? Got that?

I thought the correct lift measurement was from the pinch weld to the ground?

( The earliest IFS civilian, American 4x4 I know of was the '63 Wagoneer, which had an optional IFS using a D27 centersection)

Sorry not using any of my manuals most are older than the average age on here :lol:

I like "bob tail" Broncos the best
No 1980 is not OLD, not at all....its ....what were we talking about again :roll:

Correct lift measurement according to a "source" at ARB was or is from the middle of the axle/center of wheel to the bottom of the flare. Of course that can even vary somewhat due to the flare moving up and down some!

USPLibby · **Joined:** Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:29 am **Posts:** 377

I believe that these guys stuck in a D44 center section into this Liberator.

I don't know what they had to modify to do so but I guess they had to do it to support those big 35's.

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Inc · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 1:56 am

I meant "old" as in gets better with age... you know like wine and cheese. :wink:

I'd really like to see and hear what they did to get the Liberator to run an IFS with 35's. That thing is still really cool even though I've seen it a thousand times.
I know there are huge advantages to running a SFA over an IFS but I really like the fact my KJ is IFS. I like proving people wrong.
Yes maybe your SFA jeep made it up the hill easier, but I like a good challenge.

tommudd · **Posted:** Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:02 am

the way to run 35s....larger rear wheel wells for one, for two look at the spindles on the Liberator, notice anything different than yours? just look at the pictures real close they will reveal the secrets...... :twisted:

KJNick · **Joined:** Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:00 pm **Posts:** 56

The Liberator used the front axle from a Grand Cherokee -

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:31 pm

Those don't look like 35" tires on the liberator. with only a 4" lift and custom fenders, 33" tops.

Inc · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:36 pm

They are def. 35s. It is hard to tell because there is nothing there for reference. If my kj was there on its tiny 31s it would look like my jeep was stock sitting next to a frankenlifted kj.

Sport · **Posted:** Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:50 pm

how would they get them to fit with only 4" of lift

Dana 44 IFS??

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