Axle Width Question?

[72longbed]

Who can tell me the difference in overall width (WMS to WMS) between an 8 lug Dana 44 front axle (Big Spindle, Disk Brake) and an HO72 rear axle (8 lug 9/16 studs, leaf spring type)??

I'll bet a few of my fellow 4x4 enthusiasts know this info as well as their wife's birth date? LOL!! (maybe better?)

Thanks,
72longbed

[yellow70GMC]

should be 3 inches

[72longbed]

Yellow70,
Thanks, where do you get your numbers to know that there is a 3 inch difference? I can't seem to find any data on the measurements I'm looking for.

Thanks,
72longbed

[yellow70GMC]

All the straight axle chevy trucks from 67-91 have a 3" difference between the front and rear axles. You're talking about total track width from lug surface to lug surface, correct?

[yellow70GMC]

I'm also assuming that an HO72 is the same width as the 12 bolt, 14 bolt, and 10 bolt. I could be wrong, i've never owned a truck with an HO72. But the 12b, 14b, and 10b are all the same.

[72longbed]

Ok .... so what is that width of the front or rear or both? Is it 65", is it 68"?

I'm looking for a printed guide to the Dana HD 44 1971/72 that specs the WMS (wheel mounting surface) width. It would also be good to find a similar resource for the HO72 and HO52. I have an HO72 under my truck but I don't know what it came out of. It's not stock to my truck.

I guess I could try to get an accurate measurement from under the truck once we get out of this deep freeze we're having here.

I want to make the rear axle wider with spacers/adapters so it is the same width as the Dana 44, and need to know what thickness I'll need in the rear.

Thanks,
72longbed

[b454rat]

Fronts are usually 69" or so, rears are aboot 65". Get a rear from a van, same width as the front.

[72longbed]

Thanks b454rat ... but I won't be changing that rear. I'm one of the old school'er types who knows that the HO72 is about a bullet proof as you can get from a factory rear. With the locker in there, and the matching ratio to the HD Dana 44 up front ... I'm happy. I will make it a bit wider to fill out those wheel wells out back.

I'll do some more research to see if I can find a list of GM axle widths somewhere?

72

[b454rat]

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Dana44.htm

Its somewhere in here, can't remember where. But most GM axles are either 67" for 1/2 or 69" for 3/4 and 1 ton.

[yellow70GMC]

You could use wheel spacers on the rear to make up the difference, i've known a few people who have used 1 1/2 spacers on each rear wheel and it looked perfect. The only problem is it will put additional pressure on the outer wheel bearings.