Making a high pinion 44

DirtDonk · Feb 18, 2019

Most '70 model front ends (is that what is still in yours?) with 3-4 inches of lift and 7° bushings installed would likely have caster numbers between 1.5 and 2.5 degrees positive.
That should not be too darty, but is certainly not optimal and most could use another 4 degrees of correction.

How is yours set up now? How much lift, what size tires and wheels, and is it power steering?

Paul

DirtDonk · Feb 18, 2019

Didn't mean to sidetrack the conversation, so we can continue elsewhere if it gets too in-depth. But the basics are pretty well discussed. You may just have to have yours measured on a rack to see exactly where it rides currently.

Paul

Seventee · Feb 19, 2019

FWIW, I have a '78 high pinion 44 that I narrowed myself. I didn't rotate anything in the process. With 3.5" lift and 4 degree bushings, I ended up with about 4 degrees of caster.

EB70 · Feb 19, 2019

OK I don't want to sidetrack here. I will post up when I get more serious about it.

71-72 Front 44, with 7 degree bushings, PS and 37" tires.

I know with the tire size people say it can't drive nice etc. but I have ran these on many other rigs and it drives great.

Hijack over. I will post when I get more into it.

redfishtony · Apr 27, 2019

Bax, I'm fixing to start on a 77 F150 D44. My question is, would it be easier to remove the tubes from the center rather than cutting the C's off. I also notice you have aftermarket arms where I was planning to use my stock ones if possible. Trying to cut cost if possible. Will I have to get different arms? Great thread BTW. Thanks, TW

bigmuddy · Apr 27, 2019

Someone correct me here but running 7 deg on the dana 44 isn't really a problem ( mine drove good) However with the addition of the long arms and the ZF tranny moving the driveshaft back farther it gave me a bad pinion to d shaft angle. My fix was to use a modified front driveshaft joint that was bigger trunions on one opposite sides and then smaller on the opposing opposite sides, which allows the front driveshaft to rotate without binding. Not good for high speed, snow/sand but does work fine for rock crawling. One day I will find a high pinion and do it correctly! Nice job guys!

Broncobowsher · Apr 27, 2019

Probably running more than 7 now. Long arms usually have a correction built in. The change to long arms is what did it.

sykanr0ng · Apr 27, 2019

I would expect making the driveshaft longer / attach farther back would reduce the angle of the driveshaft.
So something else changed, either the long arms had caster correction built in or the adapter clocked the transfer case up a lot.

bigmuddy · Apr 27, 2019

Bowsher is right it was the longarms. Drives really really good right now and I don't offroad that much anymore. Changing to a hi pinion front is on the long slow list, unless one falls in my lap.

bax · Jun 14, 2020

This axle is all done and I have been driving it around for about 5 months. Tire wear is much better. the driving habits are much better. It was well worth the effort. I even picked up another axle housing just to have. I ended having the alignment professionally done. After a few adjustments everything was good. Very happy with the set up. I ended up putting new everything into the axle. Power lock , gear, axle shafts, the good u joints. Bearings seals, new hubs, new brake parts. So I was able to leave my original bronco axle intact. I did end up using the WH riser track bar
bracket. Good stuff. With all this in place I was able to take off my frame mounted drop track bar bracket. Plus my drop pitman arm. I went back to a flat stock one.getting rid of these helps reduce the stress / leverage the extended pieces put on the frame and sector shaft. My adjustable track bar still fit. I had to shorten it about 3/8'' to get it where it needed to be. I have great geometry under the truck now and I will do this on every bronco that I will ever own.

bronconut73 · Jun 14, 2020

Now that is some nice Sunday morning news Bax.

bax · Jun 14, 2020

bronconut73 said:
Now that is some nice Sunday morning news Bax.

I saved it for fathers day

Seventee · Jun 15, 2020

bax said:
I saved it for fathers day

So you're going to tell us all about it next Sunday?

bax · Jun 15, 2020

Seventee said:
So you're going to tell us all about it next Sunday?

Yeah. Thats what I was figuring.

Making a high pinion 44

DirtDonk

Bronco Guru

DirtDonk

Bronco Guru

Seventee

Sr. Member

EB70

Sr. Member

redfishtony

Full Member

bigmuddy

Bronco Guru

Broncobowsher

Total hack

sykanr0ng

Bronco Guru

bigmuddy

Bronco Guru

bax

Old Member

bronconut73

Bronco Guru

bax

Old Member

Seventee

Sr. Member

bax

Old Member

Similar threads