Thanks guys. Yeah i know i'll have to do the 44 too. Since i shelled it the same day as the 9 inch i'll be repairing that too. with directions i know I can do the 9 but i'll be taking in the 44 probably.
Once you've done the 9", the Dana 44 will seem a lot less intimidating. It's basically the same process to set up the gears (adjust pinion depth, set backlash, check pattern...). It's just that the Dana 44 is an extreme PIA to do what can be done on the 9" in seconds (well, maybe minutes..). Same tools (torque wrench and dial indicator), just a little different process. Oh, and the setup bearings are a must. I made my own out of the old bearings. Here's a link to the Dana setup I used when I set up my Dana 44. Yes, it's a Dana 60, but the setup is identical.
http://pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Gear_Setup/
I had only ever set up gears once, and that was 40 years ago on an 8". I had originally planned on letting a shop set up the gears. But when I got quotes of $900 and $1100 to do the setup, I decided that it might be worth my time to attempt the setup myself. I really was amazed at how easy the 9" was to set up. And the experience I got with the 9" carried over to the Dana44 in knowing what to change to get the gear contact pattern correct.
Tip: It's worth the time to get the Dana 44 out from under the Bronco, and do the setup on jackstands!!!