Will my D35 spring plates work on my D44?

[91coMANche]

I am gearing up to put my Dana 44 in my 1991. I know I'll need some new 2.75x8x9/16 U-bolts and to have my driveshaft shortened 1". What I need to know now is whether I will need to source new spring plates?

[btm24]

what did the D44 come out of?

 

Brandon

[91coMANche]

A brother truck.

[HOrnbrod]

Then you can reuse them.

[91coMANche]

I can reuse the Dana 35 ones? I don't have Dana 44 ones from the parts MJ.

[HOrnbrod]

I can reuse the Dana 35 ones? I don't have Dana 44 ones from the parts MJ.

 

I reused them from my D35 axle. They are the same p/ns for either axle and all springs, including my MT springs. Don't know if you have a LWB or SWB, but in either case they will work, you just swap sides with the plates because of the difference in the shock mounts. If you use 9/16" u-bolts you may have to drill them out though. I used 1/2" u-bolts.

[Eagle]

I'm pretty sure the holes are elongated so the same plates work with both axles.

 

The stock plates will NOT work with the Chrysler 8-1/4 axle, though.

[91coMANche]

Sounds good thanks folks. I will get 1/2" U-bolts then.

[91coMANche]

So the Carquest only has 2 7/8" x 1/2" x 8" u-bolts. Will 2 7/8" work with my D44 or will it be too big?

[flint54]

RE: "The stock plates will NOT work with the Chrysler 8-1/4 axle, though."

 

I must have gotten lucky because my stock plates on the original D35

worked beautifully on the Chrysler 8.25 swap. The original holes were

enough to accept the wider 3" diameter U-bolts. I confirmed this was

not an oddity after ruining one of the shock stud threads and hunting

all over Texas for a replacement plate. That plate also fit the 8.25 just

fine.