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Front axle swap ...

M

mydnyte

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I just bought a 77 K20 with the cheyenne\camper special package. It has a SB400/T400/NP203 (203 has had the Doug nash part time kit done and warn hubs). The a*s end is a corp 14 bolt limited slip with 1 ton brakes. The front end has an open Dana 44. When I say "open" I REALLY mean open. As in I shattered the carrier which in turn lunched the ring and pinion.

Here is my question. I found a used corp 12 bolt front end in a bone yard for the same price the parts to fix the 44 will run me. Is this a simple swap? What if anything will need to be changed to do this swap? Please be specific here.

Thankyou all in advance.

Clifford.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I found a used corp 12 bolt front end

[/ QUOTE ] Could you post pictures of that ??? It must be a ultra rare item because I've never heard of one. If you have the funds, a Dana 60 is the prefered front axle. BTW, the factory front axle for a 77 K20 should be a Dana 44.
 
Do you mean corporate 10 bolt front? There was never a corp. 12 bolt front made. There are corp. 12 bolt rears but no fronts.

Harley
 
I know the factory front end in 77 was a D44. I am saying is the axle you are talking about replacing it with a corporate 10 bolt? There is no such thing as a corporate 12 bolt front axle.

Harley
 
[ QUOTE ]
http://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/facts/axles/axlefacts.htm

Scroll down a ways.

The factory front end in my 77 is in fact a dana 44.

Aside from the question of the 12 bolt, will a dana 60 bolt right in if I choose to go that route?

[/ QUOTE ]

D60 is pretty near a direct bolt in deal. Your brake lines would need changing from the 7/16" banjo bolt type you have to the 10 mm banjo type that bolts up to the D60.

From your link: GM CORPORATE 12-BOLT
The stronger 12-bolt, with an 8 7/8-inch-diameter ring gear, can be found in various 1964-82 GM 1/2- and 3/4-ton front- and rearends.[

This information is incorrect. As stated already there never was a 12 bolt front. D44, Corp 10 bolt and D60 were the only three front ends used.

Rene
 
The man at the bone yard must have thought that I was looking for a rear end then, thanks for setting that right.

If I were to go to a Dana 60 from a 44 would I have to change the front yoke on the drive shaft or use a different type of U-joint? Would the drive shaft have to be modified?

If the Dana 60 thing doesnt pan out then is there a stronger carrier I can use without going to a locker? When I need four wheel drive it will 98% of the time be due to mud and I have heard that lockers in the front affect steering in mud.
 
The D60 uses the same 1310 yoke the D44 and corp 10 bolt use...so the driveshaft will bolt up. The pinion length on the D60 may be a bit longer, so it's possible the front shaft will need shortening.

D60's are spendy, but still cheaper than upgrading a D44 or 10 bolt. Usually the axle shaft U-joints blow in open D44's and 10 bolts rather than the carriers...

What size tires are you running?

Rene
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I found a used corp 12 bolt front end

[/ QUOTE ] Could you post pictures of that ??? It must be a ultra rare item because I've never heard of one. If you have the funds, a Dana 60 is the prefered front axle. BTW, the factory front axle for a 77 K20 should be a Dana 44.

[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif One of my best friends is running a 12-bolt front in his 71' K10. It's a closed knuckle axle. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif One of my best friends is running a 12-bolt front in his 71' K10. It's a closed knuckle axle. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

71 K10 should have had a d44 up front with discs and open knuckles. There were no 12 bolt frontends made. In '71, you could only get the dana 44 in 1/2 and 3/4 tons, and the only one ton aftermarket option was Napco, which would use an Eaton/napco front axle with 10 bolts. Got pics?
 
One or both of you need to count the cover bolts again. D44, Corp 10 bolt and D60 front ends all had 10 bolt covers. There was no 12 bolt front end.../forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif

Rene
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif One of my best friends is running a 12-bolt front in his 71' K10. It's a closed knuckle axle. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

71 K10 should have had a d44 up front with discs and open knuckles. There were no 12 bolt frontends made. In '71, you could only get the dana 44 in 1/2 and 3/4 tons, and the only one ton aftermarket option was Napco, which would use an Eaton/napco front axle with 10 bolts. Got pics?

[/ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/thinking.gif I can try to track him down, He moved out of town. But only about 30 miles away. If He still has the truck I'll get pic's. OK.. But it is a closed knuckle axle. I helped fix the seals in it before.I don't know if it came that way or if it was some aftermarket thing. But we had to pull one of the spiders out and put it in the rear to limp him out of the mountains once when he blew the spiders in the rear.
 
[ QUOTE ]

D60's are spendy, but still cheaper than upgrading a D44 or 10 bolt. Usually the axle shaft U-joints blow in open D44's and 10 bolts rather than the carriers...

What size tires are you running?

Rene

[/ QUOTE ]

I am running 265/75R/16's. The carrier had an old crack in it and I just finished it off
 
i'd run an open D44 then...it should last you a long time and live under those tires easily.

Rene
 
I found a used GM type dana60, 8 lug, disc brake, 4.10:1 gearing (Like my rear end) for $650.00. Discs are rusty and it is missing one lug. Going to pop it open and look at the 3rd member Saturday.

Might just go with repairing the Dana44 in the rig though, got a quote for new ring and pinion, loaded carrier and all new bearings/races/seals for $550.00 done it a very reputable shop

Hard to decide.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I found a used GM type dana60, 8 lug, disc brake, 4.10:1 gearing (Like my rear end) for $650.00. Discs are rusty and it is missing one lug. Going to pop it open and look at the 3rd member Saturday.

Might just go with repairing the Dana44 in the rig though, got a quote for new ring and pinion, loaded carrier and all new bearings/races/seals for $550.00 done it a very reputable shop

Hard to decide.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, if you don't buy the D60, make sure you post up where it is. There are plenty of guys looking for one, and that's a great price if it's not messed up.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I found a used GM type dana60, 8 lug, disc brake, 4.10:1 gearing (Like my rear end) for $650.00. Discs are rusty and it is missing one lug. Going to pop it open and look at the 3rd member Saturday.

Might just go with repairing the Dana44 in the rig though, got a quote for new ring and pinion, loaded carrier and all new bearings/races/seals for $550.00 done it a very reputable shop

Hard to decide.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, if you don't buy the D60, make sure you post up where it is. There are plenty of guys looking for one, and that's a great price if it's not messed up.

[/ QUOTE ]

OK, upon further investigation it turns out that the Dana60 I was looking at is only an axlehousing, knuckles and steering assembly with a welded carrier inside. I am going to just have the Dana44 in the truck re-built and start shopping for a Dana60 with a change out in mind.

Thanks for all the help guys!

C.
 
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