I have lots of front end problems that should be attended to. I told myself a long time ago when my front end got to this point I was going to do a SAS with a Dana 44.

Well that time has come. I am going to do a Dana 44 SAS. I have decided to go full width because I have an Explorer rear already so once I add the adapters for the rear to go to the D44 bolt pattern I should be around the same width front and rear.

Now I have a few questions. How's $100 for a D44 from a 78 Bronco. I am going to completely give the axle a once over. Clean it all up replace bearings, seals, gears, u-joints, and ball joints. It has the steering linkage attached but other than that it is an axle from wheel to wheel.

Or would it be better to go to the junkyard with a couple of friends and rip one out of a truck and take everything axle, springs, radius arms, steering linkage. I know of a few junkyards that almost always have an old bronco or f150. I don't like doing all that work in a junkyard but would it be worth it to get all those parts.

 

100 bucks sounds good to me.

all the steering is no good IMO. get a Chevy 1ton TRE kit for 250 bucks and make your own, with the steering on top of the knuckle.

radius arms... going to extend them and run JJ on the ends? I would. I have a set if you want to buy them. I can extend them to the length you want and welled the DOM on with JJs already on them.

How tall? We put SuperRide or something 4" F150 lift coils on Evans and that rides SUPER smooth and handles the weight of the truck really well. I can get a link if you want.

So all that is really left is steering box and intermediate shaft, I have a writeup on all that here.

 

damnit

i need to hurry up and get some money i guess.


100 for an axle is good, I paid $250.

 

You better!

 

Thanks fellas. I will get that axle then.

I will be in contact with you about the radius arms Zach. I love your work and trust you will do it right. We can talk more about that a little later. I want to get the axle here first and take the thing apart to see what kind of shape it is in before I go spending any more money.

I am also going to go with 4" F150 coils I believe that is what Griggs put in his truck and I love the feel of his truck it is awesome. His SAS with 35's rides better than my truck stock with stock tires.

 

These springs are beautiful... IDK what Griggs is running but these are NICE

http://broncograveyard.com/bronco/i-...n_the_usa_.htm

 

Those look great. Should keep me withing my budget but springs are prolly one of the last things I am going to buy.

 

how do you plan to build everything and making sure everything lines up how you want it?

 

I haven't figured any of that out yet. I am really still brainstorming this all through. I will be doing lots of research for the next month or two. Reading up on everything I can so I understand how to do most of it. I plan on talking lots to Zach.

Griggs told me last year he would help me if I decided to do it this year. So I am going to be giving him a call soon. First because I haven't heard from him in a couple months. Second because I need his help.

Right now I am going to try and get a few parts every month so the wallet doesn't empty too fast. I know this project is going to cost over 1k and I haven't spent that much on any one project before.


I did rebuild the rear axle I have and put that in my truck myself. I know setting up the front takes a little more effort but I want to do this so I will figure it out.

I rebuilt the rear slowly then put it in by myself in one weekend. The hardest part was getting the pinion angle correct to weld the spring perches on in the right spots. I have also gone to chevy springs but that also is not too difficult and you can't really mess up where to move the spring hangers to since two of the holes are there for you. I did the spring swap in a couple hours by myself.

I love working by myself on my truck but this project I am going to consult and get help from anyone I can. I also have my sister's boyfriend as a source since he did a D44 rebuild and install on his jeep. I am going to drag him down to help me at least once on this project.

 

well over a grand man

i thought it was gonna be ~1500 for me, I'm at about 3,000 and still have a list.

 

hehe I think I told you that a few times Matt.

When we did Evan's SAS it turned out great, I dont think he has messed with it once besides some cheap balljoints he bought at first and they wore out.

 

yea yea yea

I'm still on the ball joints that were on the axle, but had i had the time and money up front i would have replaced them just because.

 

Well the budget for the axle has lost some before I even get anything going.

My driversside bearing is shot. I couldn't make it home I just had to walk about 3 miles to get home. The truck is in a parking lot. I jacked it up and tried to give the wheel a spin and it won't even make it 1 revolution.

 

If you have a trailer available to you I can tow you home if you need it. I'm leaving a little bit later in the morning for work, so give a call.

 

John thanks for the offer. I still haven't gotten it home. It is sitting in the parking lot where I left it thursday. I am going in a few minutes to finish fixing it. My AMV hub broke and some of the parts are stuck inside the inner hub assembly. I can't get them off the end of the axle shaft. I didn't have all the necessary tools last night and I ran out of sunlight. I should be okay in getting it done and hope to have the truck home by 2pm.

 

Sounds like a fun time, good luck. The offer still stands if you find that you need it.

 

But how are these springs going to flex? They are set up for an F150 with the added weight of a V8 etc?

 

N3elz has F150 superlift 4" springs on his and they flex amazing.

Coil will flex 10X better than torsion bar.

 

I put about 1400 in to the front end of mine and i also have those coils above they ride nice but they dont flex at all the front dosent hardly move idk if it is my radius arm setup (which i think it is cause everyone else likes them) but ya i would for sure extend those arms before you do it i wish i did but oh well itl be done before may 28.
Heres my junk

 

Those stock radius arms kill the flex for sure. You should look into the cage arms, or james duff arms.

 

yup^^

he is right, you need to ditch those stock radius arms. horrible. get a Heim or JJ on the end of those and extend them atleast 8"

 

Yup and if its the same as my truck then you shouldnt have to make a new tranny mount as soon as it starts to get warmer out im extending mine about a foot and boxing the whole thing and a JJ on the end

 

Whats a JJ?

 

johnie Joint I assume. www.currieenterprises.com

http://www.currieenterprises.com/ces...nnyjoints.aspx

 

johnny joint, made by currie enterprises: http://www.currieenterprises.com/ces...nnyjoints.aspx