Numerical values? DANAS??

junior3382 · 02-02-2008, 08:21 AM

In another thread we had joked a little bit about numerical values in vehicles names, like the olds 442, and that those numbers were there for a reason.

Got me thinking....

what do the numbers mean on the Dana axles? 35, 44, 60 etc..... are these measurements? Like the Dana 44 being 44 inches wide?

Just curious.

stumpuller454 · 02-02-2008, 10:35 AM

not likley meaning width cause 44 inches is very narrow and 35 would be for like a lawnmower or something, i wonder if it means pumpkin circumfrence? or total inches counted if you measure around the cover surface? dunno,...

72'CaminoKid · 02-02-2008, 06:28 PM

hmmm. this would be interesting to know. on the jeep forums axles are about the most common things talked about since they are definately the weak link. i'll post up on there and see what comes up

junior3382 · 02-04-2008, 08:48 AM

Did you find anything Camino? And anyone else for that matter.

And Stumpuller, why would it not be width? I mean does not nescesarily have to be from hub to hub, but from u-joint to u-joint, is it more then 60" on the fullsizers, or more then 44" for the mids? And if it meant circumfrance of the pumkin... dude, 60" would be HUGE!!! I mean my waist line is only 34" and I have yet to see a pumkin THAT big! Just a thought though.

I am sure they have to mean something. Other wise, they wiould not have used them for so long right?

mudseeker · 02-04-2008, 09:13 AM

i would be willing to bet it is the spline count on the axle shafts. the bigger the axle, the more splines you can put on the end of it.

junior3382 · 02-04-2008, 09:15 AM

You know, I was thinking that, and You are probably closest. I am still looking over the net for a definitive answer.... if I find it first, I will let y'all know.

75K30 · 02-04-2008, 09:33 AM

I am noy very confident that the number has to do with ahything other than a series or number with no real meanining.
I am sure that it has nothing to do with width because the Dana 44 was found in small jeeps,small broncos, and fullsize trucks. A;; of these have different widths, and use the same diameter axle with 30 splines and only a shaft length difference.
While we are talking about splines, I know this is not the reference because the Dana 60 for example may have as few as 16 splines, and as many as 35 splines, Front and rear configurations varied by year. These differences are considerable, and the axles shafts inside are all different diameters, so this can't be the reference.
A dana 44 has the same spline count as the dana 60 rear.
Center sections can't be it, because the Dana 60, 61, and 70 all share the same cover, but none of the internals are the same. The 70 has a much larger ring gear, and some bearings are a bit larger.
Lets not forget that there are also Dana 44 TTB axles, and thre is a Dana 50, in both solid and TTB versions.
Each of the Dana axles also has different axles with almost the same nomenclature. The Dana 70 alone has 4 different axles all with dimensions that make them unique, and still they are considered 70's.
Kinda think this is one of those things that we may never know for sure.

junior3382 · 02-04-2008, 09:36 AM

there is the guy i was looking for....LOL. If they have no "real" meanings other then series, that is fine. does settle my curiosity though. Still looking online to see if I can find a reference to the numbers though. If I do, I will let you know.

75K30 · 02-04-2008, 10:42 AM

I was lookng also, and I was just on the DANA website with nothing to confirm that the number has anything to do with the size of anything.
I thought that maybe there was something to do with the pinion centerline, or pitch line offset, and nothing seems to hold water. Even some of the axle seals and bearings from one axle will interchange to others so most potential theories are not so great, but i will keep looking. Maybe somethiing interesting will come about.

Hayden · 02-04-2008, 02:02 PM

I'd have to say it measures weight limit value.

44 = 3500 lbs
60 = 5500 lbs
70 = 7500 lbs
80 = 11000 lbs

could mean more also

02-02-2008, 08:21 AM	#1
junior3382 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently, I live in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Posts: 3,040	Numerical values? DANAS?? In another thread we had joked a little bit about numerical values in vehicles names, like the olds 442, and that those numbers were there for a reason. Got me thinking.... what do the numbers mean on the Dana axles? 35, 44, 60 etc..... are these measurements? Like the Dana 44 being 44 inches wide? Just curious. __________________ *Parts have been found, tools are collecting, tensions are rising, the weather is changing...look out.... the SAS is comming!*

02-02-2008, 06:28 PM	#3
72'CaminoKid Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,329	hmmm. this would be interesting to know. on the jeep forums axles are about the most common things talked about since they are definately the weak link. i'll post up on there and see what comes up __________________ 99 suburban xlt 96 silverado 91 wrangler (my baby ) 08 Honday shadow 750 (my mistress)

02-04-2008, 08:48 AM	#4
junior3382 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently, I live in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Posts: 3,040	Did you find anything Camino? And anyone else for that matter. And Stumpuller, why would it not be width? I mean does not nescesarily have to be from hub to hub, but from u-joint to u-joint, is it more then 60" on the fullsizers, or more then 44" for the mids? And if it meant circumfrance of the pumkin... dude, 60" would be HUGE!!! I mean my waist line is only 34" and I have yet to see a pumkin THAT big! Just a thought though. I am sure they have to mean something. Other wise, they wiould not have used them for so long right? __________________ *Parts have been found, tools are collecting, tensions are rising, the weather is changing...look out.... the SAS is comming!*

02-04-2008, 09:13 AM	#5
mudseeker mod-o-tator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: michigan Posts: 4,503	i would be willing to bet it is the spline count on the axle shafts. the bigger the axle, the more splines you can put on the end of it. __________________ member map add yourself alldatadiy why is it, when i push one for english, i still can't understand the person on the other end?

02-04-2008, 09:15 AM	#6
junior3382 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently, I live in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Posts: 3,040	You know, I was thinking that, and You are probably closest. I am still looking over the net for a definitive answer.... if I find it first, I will let y'all know. __________________ *Parts have been found, tools are collecting, tensions are rising, the weather is changing...look out.... the SAS is comming!*

02-02-2008, 10:35 AM	#2
stumpuller454 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Really FAR NORTH! Posts: 1,031	not likley meaning width cause 44 inches is very narrow and 35 would be for like a lawnmower or something, i wonder if it means pumpkin circumfrence? or total inches counted if you measure around the cover surface? dunno,...

02-04-2008, 09:33 AM	#7
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,628	I am noy very confident that the number has to do with ahything other than a series or number with no real meanining. I am sure that it has nothing to do with width because the Dana 44 was found in small jeeps,small broncos, and fullsize trucks. A;; of these have different widths, and use the same diameter axle with 30 splines and only a shaft length difference. While we are talking about splines, I know this is not the reference because the Dana 60 for example may have as few as 16 splines, and as many as 35 splines, Front and rear configurations varied by year. These differences are considerable, and the axles shafts inside are all different diameters, so this can't be the reference. A dana 44 has the same spline count as the dana 60 rear. Center sections can't be it, because the Dana 60, 61, and 70 all share the same cover, but none of the internals are the same. The 70 has a much larger ring gear, and some bearings are a bit larger. Lets not forget that there are also Dana 44 TTB axles, and thre is a Dana 50, in both solid and TTB versions. Each of the Dana axles also has different axles with almost the same nomenclature. The Dana 70 alone has 4 different axles all with dimensions that make them unique, and still they are considered 70's. Kinda think this is one of those things that we may never know for sure.

02-04-2008, 09:36 AM	#8
junior3382 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Currently, I live in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. Posts: 3,040	there is the guy i was looking for....LOL. If they have no "real" meanings other then series, that is fine. does settle my curiosity though. Still looking online to see if I can find a reference to the numbers though. If I do, I will let you know. __________________ *Parts have been found, tools are collecting, tensions are rising, the weather is changing...look out.... the SAS is comming!*

02-04-2008, 10:42 AM	#9
75K30 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 2,628	I was lookng also, and I was just on the DANA website with nothing to confirm that the number has anything to do with the size of anything. I thought that maybe there was something to do with the pinion centerline, or pitch line offset, and nothing seems to hold water. Even some of the axle seals and bearings from one axle will interchange to others so most potential theories are not so great, but i will keep looking. Maybe somethiing interesting will come about.

02-04-2008, 02:02 PM	#10
Hayden Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Bay City,Michigan Posts: 365	I'd have to say it measures weight limit value. 44 = 3500 lbs 60 = 5500 lbs 70 = 7500 lbs 80 = 11000 lbs could mean more also __________________ There Is No Replacement For Displacement

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