front axle identification help

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

75k20

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2022
Posts
61
Reaction score
11
Location
Commie-fornia
First Name
John
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
k20
Engine Size
350
i need help identifying my front axle. is it a dana 44 or 60?

i have disc brakes if that helps. i am missing my front passenger axle shaft and i need to find which part to order. if you have a part number for me that would help greatly.
 

Attachments

  • B1B68A16-0BA0-4F58-84FA-EA19A7ADB061.jpeg
    B1B68A16-0BA0-4F58-84FA-EA19A7ADB061.jpeg
    199.6 KB · Views: 357
  • 43678202-05DA-48FF-BFBC-5B74E1999C74.jpeg
    43678202-05DA-48FF-BFBC-5B74E1999C74.jpeg
    233.7 KB · Views: 226
  • A6B0B5FE-8F5A-48E9-BB7C-B7727E3DD6EF.jpeg
    A6B0B5FE-8F5A-48E9-BB7C-B7727E3DD6EF.jpeg
    204.8 KB · Views: 223

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
3,155
Reaction score
7,324
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
You must be registered for see images attach


I believe you have the Dana 44 front axle.

Edit: What @Blackbeard44 said....
 

Blackbeard44

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2020
Posts
280
Reaction score
258
Location
Washington State
First Name
andy
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
6.0 LS
to the right of the drain plug and down twords the bottom of the housing if it has a 60 stamped like the pic here, it will be a Dana60
 

Attachments

  • photo0 (7).jpeg
    photo0 (7).jpeg
    82.5 KB · Views: 187

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,464
Reaction score
5,630
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
That looks like a 44 to me. A 75 K20 would only have a D60 if someone swapped it in after the fact, what makes you think it might be a 60?
 

Blackbeard44

Full Access Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2020
Posts
280
Reaction score
258
Location
Washington State
First Name
andy
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
6.0 LS
if your looking to replace an axle I would remove the cover and verify there isnt debris in there, and count splines just to make sure you order the correct one, GM dana 60's have king pins instead of balljoints, I'm going with Bextreme04 on this one and think its more than likely a dana 44
 

75k20

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2022
Posts
61
Reaction score
11
Location
Commie-fornia
First Name
John
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
k20
Engine Size
350
That looks like a 44 to me. A 75 K20 would only have a D60 if someone swapped it in after the fact, what makes you think it might be a 60?

just beciase the previous owner said it used to be a dually and 454 from factory. but it’s a short bed so it doesn’t make sense. i had assumed it was a dana 44 but couldn’t tell
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,464
Reaction score
5,630
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
just beciase the previous owner said it used to be a dually and 454 from factory. but it’s a short bed so it doesn’t make sense. i had assumed it was a dana 44 but couldn’t tell
Sounds like someone has done a whole lot of nonsense to it then. You couldn't get a 3/4 ton dually from the factory... or a short bed.
 

75k20

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2022
Posts
61
Reaction score
11
Location
Commie-fornia
First Name
John
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
k20
Engine Size
350
Sounds like someone has done a whole lot of nonsense to it then. You couldn't get a 3/4 ton dually from the factory... or a short bed.

yes there’s a lot of questionable things with this truck. but for now i need to get an axle shaft. do you know a part number i can use? is it bad to drive it without it?

you can see it in the first picture missing
 

dvdswan

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2014
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
2,038
Location
Port Orchard, WA
First Name
Dave
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Its a Dana 44, if it were a Dana 60 you would have kingpins for the upper ball joints.

IIRC, GM started using them in 76 or 77. Before that it was a Dana 44.

You must be registered for see images attach
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,875
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
you may see a number somewhat like this, it would be the case of the first 2 numbers. likely a 44
 

Attachments

  • IMG_3431.JPG
    IMG_3431.JPG
    105.2 KB · Views: 105

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,875
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
yes there’s a lot of questionable things with this truck. but for now i need to get an axle shaft. do you know a part number i can use? is it bad to drive it without it?

you can see it in the first picture missing
WHAT YEAR? DONT Repeat my mistake..
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach

i broke an axle shaft and I replaced my 1980 dana 44 with a 1977 axle shaft. Its slightly smaller and less splines... Its worked as far as 4wd but fuckkkkkkk

the shaft sitting in that drawer is for a ford type d44 i think. i originally ebayed it but it wasnt a match
 

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,464
Reaction score
5,630
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Its going to cost more for a new axle than it would to just get an entire used front diff honestly. I'd try to hit junkyards and used parts sellers in your area. The axles are all the same on all 1/2-3/4 ton 4x4 squares. You can usually get an entire front Dana 44 for $150 or less in my experience. You can find new inner shaft for about $75.. its Dana PN#6273942. The outer part of that shaft is Dana PN# 41677 and is about $50-60. Then you need the U-joint which will be a Dana PN# 5-760X
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,875
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
i need help identifying my front axle. is it a dana 44 or 60?

i have disc brakes if that helps. i am missing my front passenger axle shaft and i need to find which part to order. if you have a part number for me that would help greatly.
your axle looks like its from something not a GM
heres a rear d60(so you know variety exists)
You must be registered for see images attach

your d6_ (I can see a 6 at least) looks like maybe it came from another make?
You must be registered for see images attach

heres is passenger side of my 1980 d44

You must be registered for see images attach

heres driver side of a 77 d44
You must be registered for see images attach

heres center of a 77 d44


heres the rear of the 1980 d44. is your driveshaft come in low? I heard that not all d44/d60 etc are low pinions, that may be soemthing different
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
You must be registered for see images attach
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,875
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Its going to cost more for a new axle than it would to just get an entire used front diff honestly. I'd try to hit junkyards and used parts sellers in your area. The axles are all the same on all 1/2-3/4 ton 4x4 squares. You can usually get an entire front Dana 44 for $150 or less in my experience. You can find new inner shaft for about $75.. its Dana PN#6273942. The outer part of that shaft is Dana PN# 41677 and is about $50-60. Then you need the U-joint which will be a Dana PN# 5-760X
not all the same. similar yes. there is the break in shaft designs
 
Top