Dana 44 question

[Kelly1966]

I have a 1968 GMC 1500, it has a Dana 44/with leaf springs with 373’s. What year and type of factory posi unit will work, or after market. The reason I ask is all I find are for Jeeps and I know the newer ones will not work. Thanks!

[chewychevy67]

I got an auburn unit for mine. It looks exactly like the one i removed from it that was worn. It's a 3:54 ratio but I'm sure there's a selection for your gear set up. It's been so long I can't remember any more details but there are definitely ones out there that work.

[truckster]

Are you looking for a LSD for your front? I know Eaton has several types available. I just installed a TrueTrac in the rear on mine.

[Dashman]

I don't know GMCs or what 1500 means. Mine is a Chevy K10, and this is what I put into the Dana 44 front: Eaton 913A592 Detroit Truetrac. If yours is a rear end, then at least you know of one manufacturer that makes them for older Dana 44s.

[Kelly1966]

Mines just a 2wd, GMC C1500 is just a Chevy C10 with a better grill😏

[truckster]

If it's a 2WD it's not a Dana 44, unless someone has changed it. It's probably got a GM 12 bolt.

Are there 10 bolts or 12?

[chewychevy67]

66-68 gmc's(possibly earlier but not positive) 2wd were optional with dana 44 rear diffs. My 67 gmc has one as well. I have only seen them on leaf spring trucks but I'm sure it's possible to have it on a coil spring truck.

[Bob B.]

Dana 44's are common REAR axles on GMC 1/2 ton trucks up to '68, both 4X2 and 4X4.. A non-floating Dana 60-35 was optional. I think there are a few options for the older Dana 44's, you might want to check the axle shaft spline count as that's one of the things that change with year and application. For street and mild off-roading I like the Eaton Detroit True-Trac.

[Joyridin]

I believe the 1969 and earlier Dana 44's used a 19 spline axle shaft, and the 1970 and later went to a 30 spline axle shaft. I am not 100% sure about the input shaft. I know they changed the spline count on it but I do not know the numbers.

[Kelly1966]

Thanks for all the input. It is a Dana 44, when I first got the truck, the spider gears were bad and I replaced them, I had a lot going on then and don’t remember the spline count, thinking back, I should have did the posi unit then. My 2 other trucks have the coil spring gm 12 bolt, both c10’s. Since I have the truck apart in my shop, I can easily verify the spline count this weekend and go forward. It is a numbers matching truck the unfortunately had it’s small block decided it didn’t want to be a complete assembly anymore and so now a few upgrades. My other trucks are LS equipped so this one is getting a stock 454 but I didn’t want a peg leg diff. Again thanks for the help and any more y’all want to give.

[Mike C]

Lots of choices for a ‘44. I would be doing a TruTrac if it were mine. TrakLok, PowerLock, Eaton, Yukon, Auburn, several selectable lockers. Goes on and on. But for a street truck, I think the TruTrac is the way to go. I have one in both ends of my ‘74 CJ-6 and another in my ‘52 M38A1 in the front. They are awesome.