Dana 44 8 Lug swap

[bigchevytruckdriver2]

Mr N's site says, "Chevy & FSJ Spindle, smaller for swapping 73-76.5, always with flat top knuckles. See above chart for years." I have both sets of spindles but want to run the 3/4 ton spindles PN 706570X. Unless I am reading this wrong it says I can't or shouldn't. Looks like it will all go together with the 3/4 ton spindle out bolting to my Half ton crap. Just don't wanna buy all new bearings, seals, etc.. just to find out when I swap there is a problem.

Read a bunch of posts (not claiming every single one) but some are regarding just 8 lug swap, some are talking about crossover steering, and when it comes to this some contradict one another or don't mention both together.

 

[big dan]

FWIW, Ive got two trucks using factory chevy flattops for crossover. One is a 3/4 ton 86 and the other is a 1/2 ton 85 with 3/4 hubs and brakes from a 79. I used the original spindles from both trucks, including the 1/2 spindles with 3/4 ton hubs.

Any chevy half or 3/4 ton 4x4 from 77-newer used the same spindles and the only difference in the older spindles is the bearing size. The knuckle bolt pattern is the same on all of them.

You should be able to use whichever set of spindles you want as long as the hubs and bearings match the spindle.

 

[Stomis]

Mr N's site says, "Chevy & FSJ Spindle, smaller for swapping 73-76.5, always with flat top knuckles. See above chart for years." I have both sets of spindles but want to run the 3/4 ton spindles PN 706570X. Unless I am reading this wrong it says I can't or shouldn't. Looks like it will all go together with the 3/4 ton spindle out bolting to my Half ton crap. Just don't wanna buy all new bearings, seals, etc.. just to find out when I swap there is a problem.

Read a bunch of posts (not claiming every single one) but some are regarding just 8 lug swap, some are talking about crossover steering, and when it comes to this some contradict one another or don't mention both together.

It sounds like what they are referencing is the number of bolts the spindle takes to the knuckle. As long as you seek an 8 lug chevy donor and keep the spindle, hub, and calipers/brackets together it will work no issue going on to any other chevy or fullsize jeep axle.

 

[imiceman44]

The reference is to those years havig flat top knuckles, not that you can only use these spindles with the flat top knuckles.
When you want to use the later big bearing spindles, you need to use the big bearing hubs with them, but anything from the spindle out can be used between all the years of axles as long as they are the 6 bolt spindles that came on Chevy and Jeep axles.
Just make sure you shafts are also the bigger ones because the shafts need to fit right inside the spindle inner bearing or the shaft will wobble and ruin the bearings and possibly bind the Ujoints.

Mr N's site says, "Chevy & FSJ Spindle, smaller for swapping 73-76.5, always with flat top knuckles. See above chart for years." I have both sets of spindles but want to run the 3/4 ton spindles PN 706570X. Unless I am reading this wrong it says I can't or shouldn't. Looks like it will all go together with the 3/4 ton spindle out bolting to my Half ton crap. Just don't wanna buy all new bearings, seals, etc.. just to find out when I swap there is a problem.

Read a bunch of posts (not claiming every single one) but some are regarding just 8 lug swap, some are talking about crossover steering, and when it comes to this some contradict one another or don't mention both together.

 

[Vombrown]

I know this is an old thread but I have some questions in this space as I am about to swap over to 8 lug on a dana 44. What I have on hand is two dana 44 axles. One is an 85 model, the other a 72. If I use the 85 model will I need to use a 3/4 ton backing plate for the 8 lug swap or are the calipers the same? I will be using new rotors and hubs.

 

[MTBLAZER89]

I know this is an old thread but I have some questions in this space as I am about to swap over to 8 lug on a dana 44. What I have on hand is two dana 44 axles. One is an 85 model, the other a 72. If I use the 85 model will I need to use a 3/4 ton backing plate for the 8 lug swap or are the calipers the same? I will be using new rotors and hubs.

There is no '85 model Dana 44, but regardless yes you'll need to use the 3/4 ton backing plate for the 8 lug swap. The calipers will work either way. The difference is in the backing plate.

 

[dremu]

1/2- and 3/4-ton calipers are the same size, i.e. will interchange physically, but the piston size differs. Also, later calipers may have a metric banjo bolt whereas the older one would be inch. I'd use the larger piston calipers if possible. (There's actually three piston diameters, IIRC.)

Further, the '85 axle might be a GM corporate 10-bolt; the spindles and out are interchangeable with a Dana 44, but the shafts and center stuff aren't.

-- A

 

[Vombrown]

I was guessing at the year but it is a d44. I was this king it was 80s. 85 was just a guess... I know that my 72 has a 44 in the front and its the one i will be swapping to 8 lug. Deciding if the newer spindles would be what I needed for this swap. Then figuring out what I needed to get from the salvage yard. They have a truck out there with an 8 lug 44 in it. I am certain its a dully though. Should have everything I need. I won't use the rotors or hubs but everything else should work then.