dana 44 front axle changes? differences?

[MrSmokey]

so, unfortunately i trashed my nice non rusty axle housing, the seat for the lower trunnion bearing is ripped apart. worst part is i have all the pieces to rebuild the thing already sitting here on the counter, i was just putting it off till the leaf springs got here... too little to late i guess. now i get to use a crusty axle.

truck is a 72, i just stuck the one in from my parts truck, a 70, and the pumpkin casting is different, most recognizable difference is the one out of the 70 has a larger gusset from the axle to the pinion, and one of the leaf spring retaining u bolts goes through it, the 72s just has a short gusset, bolt does not go through.

i did not look at the ratios on the other truck, (a manual as well, but a 300 6) as i did not want to dig that out the snow drift too, i am already pressed for time to get the thing together, truck is sideways on an icy steep hill. it intersects the road up to my house there and i was plowing snow.

i rotated the pinion and counted, and they seemed close, and the one from the 70 fit in the same, if the ratios are close i'll run it, its the only one i can get at, and i already own it. i'll use it.

i was taking a brake for my frozen toes typing this, and a going back out.

anyone know what the axle differences are, ratios?
thanks guys
ill get a pic of the axle differences

[MrSmokey]

spindles are also different, as i tried to swap them along with the backing plates as i had recently done the brakes and bearings. spindles and backing plates on 72 take larger diameter bolts to the knuckle, the 70s are smaller.i cannot get the 70 backing plate off the spindle rusty... i would rather keep at least the spindles and knuckles of the same size together, switching the backing plate does not bother me much.

the truck was a 250, but could this be a 100 axle?

[MrSmokey]

never mind that, seems the 100s were all 5 lug... and different

[fordman]

http://www.fordification.com/tech/schematics.htm

[sideoilerfe]

I had the same breakage on mine. Those 44's with the small knuckles are crap for these heavy F250's. Sounds like your "new" diff is the one with the larger knuckles. Those are much stronger. There were 2 closed knuckle Dana 44's. The bigger knuckle one 3500LB is the better one. The hubs are better as well.