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Axle identification

26K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  wycowboy 
#1 ·
I have a 1987 Ram charger that belonged to the City of Redding. Stripped bare bones Beast. 4WD. How do I identify the front and rear axles? ??? ??? ???
 
#2 ·
Dana 44 Front / Chrysler 9.25" Rear
 
#4 ·
Still a dana 44 front and probably a 9 1/4 rear but it could also be an 8 3/4 or even, if you are extremely unlucky an 8 1/4.

Chris
 
#5 ·
Kenneth Turcotte said:
Hey ChrisKD what would a 1978 power wagon 1/2 ton have for axles?

(sorry troutman) i just though i would ask cause i was wondering about mine
Dana 44 Front / and the Rear can be 1 of 3.

Chrysler 8-1/4"
Chrysler 8-3/4"
or Chrysler 9-1/4"

I've seen all 3 in 1970's Trucks. Including 4x4's

ID'ing them is easy. The 8-1/4" has a Round/Oval Differential Cover, The 8-3/4 has No Differential Cover (Front Load "Chunk") and the 9-1/4" has a Stop Sign Shaped Differential Cover

EDIT :

Woops, wycowboy beat me to the punch.

Oh well, i might as well add. Given the 3 Axles, i'd prefer the 8-3/4" over the rest. It's prefered in the Muscle Car crowd for a reason, Brute Strength, especially if you've got a "489" Case/Chunk
 
#7 ·
Kenneth Turcotte said:
based on that info mines an 8 1/4 so does that mean its not powerful?, how hard would it be to get 2 dana 60's under it?
The 8-1/4 is fine if you don't plan on off-roading it.

Dodge Dana 60's are a Bolt In Swap if you have the neccesary parts. IIRC you'll need Driveshafts (or have your original shafts modified), Spring/U-Bolt Plates, E-Brake Cables and New U-Bolts
 
#8 ·
The 8 3/4" will be rare in any later '70s trucks.  Most commonly found in '72-'74 model trucks though I have seen two '75 model US Forestry trucks that were 2WD that had 8 3/4" rears.

As far as swapping in D60s, it's easy for the most part but finding a front D60 can be a big pain and the pain in the wallet is even bigger.
 
#10 ·
The Dana 44 is a great axle up to about 35" tires depending on how hard you wheel. I have never broken one but I don't wheel hard or abuse the truck/axles when I do.

Chris
 
#11 ·
I've broken a couple D44s, usually the axle joints and one ring and pinion.  Like Chris said, it's a good axle up to about 35" tires.  Depending on how you wheel, that can go down also.  If you wheel it hard, you should probably consider 33" tires the maximum.  If you use a locker up front you should also consider 33" tires the max.  If you upgrade to alloy axle shafts and high strength joints you can probably bump it back up to 35" tires if you wheel with some sense.  Regardless of tire size or axle size, you should never turn the wheels hard to one side and lay on the throttle or torque up on an obstacle as it's pretty much a sure way to destroy an axle joint which frequently takes out the inner axle, outer stub axle or both.  The sudden release of a broken axle can also wipe out a locker so that is also a possibility.
 
#12 ·
i just bought a 76 ramcharger that is a bicentinal edition that is all complete it just doesnt run.
would anybody know what axles are underneath it?
the motor is a 360 2bbl
tranny is a 727
im not sure what the transfer case is?
would anybody know about a factory mounted electric winch underneath the front of the motor?
any help here would be great before i start oulling everyhting apart and going through it
 
#13 ·
If everything is stock, a '76 model would be full time 4WD and would have the 9 1/4" rear and full time D44 front axle with the 5 on 4.5" bolt circle.  The transfer case is a NP203 full time transfer case.  To my knowledge there was no factory winch mounted under the engine.  There were several Warn and Ramsey kits that were available as accessories over the years but they all mounted to the bumper in one way or another.  I haven't seen any factory installed winches since the early '70s and they were mostly PTO or Ramsey worm drive electric winches.
 
#14 ·
If the winch is "Underneath" the engine, it could be one of those hickey sidewinders that were somewhat popular in the 70's.
 

Attachments

#15 ·
I had forgotten all about those.  Never seen one in person.  That's a damn strong tree, lol.
 
#16 ·
Elwenil said:
I had forgotten all about those. Never seen one in person. That's a damn strong tree, lol.
I remember one of the 4x4 mags back then, had an article about how they did the add, and showed a picture of all the additional off camera bracing they did to the tree. Could you imagine all the extra "do not do this at home" warnings they would have to have on that add today.
 
#17 ·
Well now out of curiosity I have to jump in and ask:

89 Ramcharger, stock. What type of front axle would I have? Also a Dana 44? Is there any type of markings, id plates, etc that would identify the axle? Where does one find out what axles are under which vehicles. I have been through my manual, but can't find anything there.

Thanks!

EDIT: Went digging and found a nice little chart to help identify axles: http://coloradok5.com/axleguide.shtml
 
#18 ·
CAD D44 is the only axle used in an '89 Ramcharger.
 
#19 ·
Just to keep the new questions to a minimum. ALL Ramchargers and Traildusters came with a Dana 44 front axle from the factory. If yours has something else, it was done after it left the factory. Usually there is a number 44 stamped in the webbing to the left lower side of the pumpkin. I have never seen one that didn't have it but I guess there may be some out there without it.

As far as the back axle goes, if it is a 70's model, it may have one of three in it, an 8 1/4, an 8 3/4 or a 9 1/4. The 8 1/4 has a roundish cover on the back side and would be fairly rare in a 4x4 but could, and has, been found there. It is more common in 2wd's. The 8 3/4 does not have a cover on it. The ring and pinion are removed through the front like a Ford 9 inch. Much more common in 4x4's and 2wd's. The 9 1/4 has a stop sign shaped (octagon) cover on it and is, by far, the most common rear diff in 4x4's of all years. It is also the only one I know of in 4x4 RC's from 81 to the end of production.

Trucks are another story all together unless you are talking 1/2 tons. The 1/2 tons (D/W 100 and 150's) are basically the same on axles as the RC's. 3/4 tons (D/W 200 and 250's) usually have a Dana 44HD up front but may have a Dana 60. In the back they will have a Dana 60. 1 ton's (D/W 300 and 350's) will be a Dana 60 up front and either a Dana 60 or 70 in the rear. A lot of this depends on engine and other possible options, especially on the 3/4 and 1 tons.

Now, haveing typed all this, someone will start disputing it because I missed some obscure model in there somewhere. This is intended as a general guide not a bible.

Chris
 
#22 ·
88_mopar said:
Nah Chris that was a good breakdown! 'Cept them d-series didn't come with any axles up front. Lol ;D
Sure they did. They just weren't "drive" axles ;D

Chris
 
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