Ok, so I'm taking the plunge and buying a D44 from a 79 F150 that includes all steering linking, radius arms, basically everything all cleaned and disassembled with new u-joints, barrings, shaft seals, and ball joints for $250. First question is that a good deal? I'm planning all the geometry and mounting out in my head and have some questions on how I will overcome certain things.

-Will I be able to reuse my brake calipers (the axle comes with disks)?
-will I have to get a custom built drive shaft?
-will I be able to reuse my current steering box?
-what is the minimum I will be able to lift to have the axle housing not hit the frame(or anything else) at full articulation?
-I am currently planning on spring/shocks, is the extra difficulty of springs and shocks worth the added off road performance over leafs for rocky mountain terrain?
-Is the Farmboy Fabrications kit for just leafs or for springs/shocks too?

Also, I have been and currently am trying to do as much research as possible. Does anyone have any good resources on this build?

Thank you everyone so much for any help!

 

thats a pretty good deal on the axle. the only issue with it is the year. since its a 79 you will have the run coil springs and radius arms. the radius arm wedges are cast on so you will not be able to cut them off.

you will be able to use your current steering box. you may need a drop pitman arm depending on how much lift you will be running. from my research the minimum lift is somewhere between 6-8 inches

the farmboy fab kit is for leaf springs.

 

look up my build thread. you will want 8" of lift to properly clear the front crossmember. BUT you can cut that out and make a new on that is higher clearance. Then all you wil need to make sure is that the diff will not come into contact with the oil pan on extreme flex.

Farmboy fabrications kit is well worth the money, and is fairly flexible for a leaf sprung setup. You can also get a drop pitman arm from Farmboy Fab, they dont make drop pitman arms for 97-03 F150's so you have to match the splines to one. Farmboy has this.

I wouldnt run rad arms and coils... nor would i run a D44. But thats up to you. Id run a well built Ford 9" Front before ever running a D44. Unless you can find a 3/4ton D44 HD

The stock calipers MIGHT work, you will have to check the caliper thickness compared to your calipers.

drive shafts may have to be lengthen... may not.

what tire size and type are you planning on

 

I'm only planning on 36's 37's tops. I just figured I would get much better flex, it would be cheaper and stronger then getting a 6" lift. I want to use to the truck for rough mountain off road trails that are very rocky.

 

because you are in that type of area is the main reason i say NOT to run a D44

 

the 79 d44 has cast wedges, the tubes do not run all the way to the C's. No good way to run leaves. I've seen people build leaf mounts for them but I'm not a fan. Other option is retubing. Find a new axle if you're going to run leaves.



I have a stock 79 d44 in my explorer, I built it to use coils though. I still expect breakage!

 

A build front 9" would be very sweet. You can have good strong axle, without the clearance issues that a d60 and 35"s would give you. Downside...gonna cost a lot more than 250!!!

 

If you're going to keep the amount of lift minimal, say between 6-8'', i would cut the factory frame IFS crossmember out, and weld in a low profile straight one so you don't have to worry about whether or not you'll be able to articulate fully.

 

I would recommend doing that in a different order so things have less chance of shifting

 

lol... yeah the frame wouldn't probably pop apart if you don't weld a new one in before cutting the IFS one out.

 

Likelihood, no. chances are there and would blow if there was a shift in the frame.

 

i meant to say you were correct. there is potential for the frame to shift significantly, i typed what i was thinking in the wrong sequence.

 

Well I am for sure going with coil springs and radius arm set-up. After spending a ton of time on FSB my main concerns are getting all the geometry and alignment right, mounting the coil/shock mounts and radius arm mounts. This will be a long project but I can't wait. Also, about the D44 I am not a very rough driver and plan on putting some alloy/chromo shafts in it and likely having only 35's or 36's. You still think with that set-up I'll blow the axle?

 

On the bold statement. No you wont blow the axle with that size tire, but the stock IFS with a quality lift can handle 36" tires. I know i did it. I beat the living **** out of my truck with a 3" Body Lift, torsion bars cranked 36" Super Swamper TSL's and it held togther for awhile and i honestly dont see anyone putting their trucks though what i did to mine ever single weekend sometimes two-three times a week.

but anyway, as far as the rad arms and coils... you have lost me why you would want to go that route. Theres nothing available to do that so everything will be custom. If you were to go leaf sprung you have a company that offers the front crossmember, trick shackle, pitman arm, steering and shackle flip for the rear for a reasonable price. Farmboy Farbrications kit is more than flexible enough to do anything you plan on doing with the bed of the truck still on. Theres only so much your gonna flex these things before the bed hits the cab, ive already pushed mines limits and got the marks to prove it... painted over now.

 

I would just throw some large tires on the IFS but my main goal with the whole thing is increased articulation. From people who I have talked to and FSB I have heard that the spring and coil set up is a lot better for flex, am I wrong? If I can get as good, or almost as good flex from a leaf set up up front I would definitely consider that.