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Dana 44 differences.

blazinzuk said:
I haven't taken it apart but my 73 looks identical to Joshes

@bigblock72



.

I need to get mine apart and measure the spindle to see if it's a big bearing or small bearing
Click to expand...


That's definitely the same as Josh's, I don't know what would else would be different since the all of the big bearing (mid 72 and newer) hubs are the same and all of the rotors are the same from 71-91.o_0
 
Little hub little bearing was 71-77 post closed knuckle. 78-91 went to bigger outer bearing and bigger hub to fit the larger bearing on the outer end. 1/2 3/4 ton from 77-91 used same hub and bearing assybly size. Backing plate on 3/4 ton was one inch bigger to fit the one inch larger diameter rotor. The difference in the caliper mount I believe is because the bigger bearing pushed the hub slightly father out. I've used the same hub lockouts from my stock 72 1/2 ton to 3/4 ton conversion as well. This is from over the years remembering the interchange so most is pretty reliable and if wrong someone correct my brain. Lol
 
When I converted to 3/4 ton I had everything spindles out from a 82 axle. Pretty sure if you use a later backing plate 78-91 on a older axle without changing the spindle and hub it will not fit right as you're finding out. The hub pushes the bearing out farther which is why the backing plate has a larger distance of backspace from the mounting surface. Of the knuckle.
 
I became a bit curious after reading this post and disassembled the Dana 44 (flat top) I had in the shop floor, I got it and a 14ff matching set back set back several months ago. No idea what it came out of.
After taking the 44 apart I have found that it has 2 different caliper brackets on it for some reason??? :doah:one is like the picture on page 1 at the top and the other is the 1 to the right.
Is the top bracket correct?
 
All the brackets are "correct" as in right for a D44. The top one is correct for my '72. Not sure what years the others came from. If you have a mix of them, then your hub and spindles are mixed too. Otherwise no way the caliper will fit over the rotor with pads in it.
 
ashman said:
All the brackets are "correct" as in right for a D44. The top one is correct for my '72. Not sure what years the others came from. If you have a mix of them, then your hub and spindles are mixed too. Otherwise no way the caliper will fit over the rotor with pads in it.
Click to expand...
Well crap! Yep I cleaned them up and it's 2 different ones :doah:
 
doh! Guess it's time to figure out which is best and find one to match. The one to the right in my pic came off of a 3/4 ton if that helps.
 
Looks like I will be hunting for a spindle to if this is a first design 73-76 which is likely. All I have laying around is a 10 bolt out of a 78. Thanks for the help
 
I have a flat top knuckle 8 lug D44 down in Utah and I believe it has the same bracket as the top one in your pic @ashman I am not sure about the bearings and hubs. I need to get it all up here and go through it if I am going to build it or swap parts to my 10 bolt to get crossover.
 
I think in the factory world, 13/16" offset and 3/4" offset are the same. Obviously 3/4t and 1/2T are different because of spacing and rotor dia. Construction differences don't really matter for fitment typically.
The only variation I have to add in here is that disc parts don't always play nice with steering arms on drum brake knuckles since the drum brake spindle bolt pattern was rotated different from a disc brake system's spindle bolt pattern.
 
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