IFS dana 44 VS. dana 50

[lbzbuick]

Do f250's with a diesel always have a dana 50 or do some have a dana 44?
What are the differances between the 2?
How can you tell one from the other?
I heard someone say they had a factory truck with a front limited slip diff, did they ever come from the factory with those in the front?

 

[91idi]

Super cabs had the 50.
the limited slip is an option my 86 has it

 

[SparkandFire]

My '85 single cab f250 diesel truck has a D44HD front axle.
My '94 super cab f250 diesel truck has a D50 front axle.

Sitting side by side the differences are obvious. The hubs on the D44 are tiny compared to the D50.

I haven't heard of a factory LS front axle before on these. Anything is possible though...

As a side note, the '86 single cab f250 diesel truck I had came with a D50 front axle. Ford had some real consistency to their equipment choices, didn't they...

 

[Jake_IN]

My 91 has a Dana 50, oh wait its a Dana 44HD, no its a Dana 50 (argument insues).....

I just let whoever looks at it decide what it is. All i know is that despite my front axle being rated for a little over 3900 pounds i have to buy the 4600 pound balljoint.

 

[Dieselcrawler]

As stated, 44 will have small hubs. 50 will have large hub like a 60.
As for to tell if it has a limited slip, look at the tag on the axle. It will say 3.55 for open and 3.55L or 3.55LS if it is a limited slip

 

[flareside_thun]

Every tag I've seen on these trucks said 3 55 for an open or 3L55 for a limited slip.

 

[Mulochico]

If you are unsure of which axle, take the part #'s off of the tag (just above the gear ratio) then go to Dana's website. They have a page to look it up to be sure.

 

[Dieselcrawler]

Flareside is correct. I was wrong on the tags

 

[Agnem]

The Dana 44HD may have smaller hubs, but it is much larger in general than it's non HD cousin. The knuckle spacing and axle dimensions are very similiar. The 44HD has slighly smaller bearings, but the disc and brake configuration is the same.

 

[Optikalillushun]

80-91 is was a crap shoot as what got the D44 n D50 in regular cab flavor. All supercabs were D50, as was all 92+ F250s regardless of cab size. D44 hubs are 3 1/4" and D50 are 4", same as a D60. In mid 94 Ford changed the rotor size on the D50 and around the same time switched from the slide caliper trainer to the bolt style on all front axles.

Front LSD was optional all most trucks since the 80s, to determine a LSD from the door tag it'll have a letter and number. For the front, next to the rear ale tag it'll also have a letter or number (i forget off hand). I have more to add but i gotta run...

 

[Jake_IN]

What about U-joints? I'd heard that only the Dana 50 used the c-clips on the outside and the 44 and 44HD had internal C-clips.

 

[riotwarrior]

here is a ? now...will a D44HD 8lug hub knuckle out fit a D44 5lug hub knuckle out...so one could just change knuckles out n make a pseudo, hybrid D44D44HD

 

[Agnem]

I studied that question extensively when converting the Moosestang (Bronco) from 5 to 8 lug. There is like zero parts interchangeability between a D44 and a D44HD.

 

[riotwarrior]

I studied that question extensively when converting the Moosestang (Bronco) from 5 to 8 lug. There is like zero parts interchangeability between a D44 and a D44HD.

But Mel...that's chicken wing models right? Ford did use 8 Lug solid axle and those are same ball joint spacing as chev..thus those should theoreticaly then be able to be used?????

Just to clarify...my original question was directed at chicken wing D44's only...now we can discuss other options!

 

[Dieselcrawler]

mel is correct, thats the reason he used chevy parts to convert it. the 78-79 44 8 lug hubs will not work on a newer 44, i tried on a 94 f150.