8 lug D44

[Blazeboi1]

Hey gentlemen, got a question for y'all....I have an 8 lug dana 44 front axle from a 71 Chevy with drum brakes. I want y'all's advice on this. I want to change to discs. I currently have a 10 bolt 6 lug. Can I take the drums off and install discs onto the bearing body(like a 14 bolt FF rear) or do I have to change the whole spindle and bearing body setup? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[dremu]

I *believe* that the knuckles are different between disc and drum fronts, so none of your parts will interchange.

At the very least that's early enough to use the external hubs, right, so the spindles and such won't cross.

-- A

 

[Muddytazz]

If memory serves me you have to change with another 8 lug axle. The discs have the lug pattern in them. So you'll need another 8 lug front axle from the spindle out.

 

[Apocalypse]

cant remember will a later model dana 44 fit the old first gen body? If so might be easier to just swap them out. They made a dana 44 8 lug disk brake front so it might be easier to start there with your swap.

 

[Merv]

I did a swap like this on my International. I swapped chevy disc dana44 stuff onto the I.H drum axle. Knuckles out,( and yes the knuckles are different between disc and drum) used everything . Even had to change stub shafts.

Beings yours is all Chevy i doubt you would have to change stub shafts. But it's older so you never know.

 

[76zimmer]

I did a disc swap from a 10 bolt, to a D27 closed knuckle on my Jeepster. I had to turn the hub face down where the backing plate bolted to it, so it was flat to accept the disc. after that the caliper mounts, and calipers, and discs all worked out great. I think you just need to get a 8 lug disc, and machine the hub to accept it.

 

[Jimmy4matt]

You might be time and money ahead to buy a complete chevy 8 lug dana 44. I think you'll need the knuckles, spindles, rotors, bearings, brake backing plate/ caliper mount, and calipers to do the swap. Also a disc master cylinder would be a good call too. Have fun.