I have a 1996 F250 diesel 4X4 and have a 1975 closed knuckle front axle. Can I swap brakes? Will it work? Really want to have straight axle front end.

 

the 75 close knuckle front is a drum brake dana 44. you can do the disc brake conversion from any dana 44 to it, but the 75 has a 34 in wide frame, an the 96 is a 36in frame. the spring perches on the 75 front end are too narrow for the 96, and the 75 has a narrower spring. ( i think its only a 2in wide spring compared to the 96 2 3/4 or 3 in spring.) your best bet for a straight axle swap is to find the dana 50 or 60 out of an f350. that should bolt right in and the brake lines are even the same.

 

I did it with an 79 Dana 44 into an 80 with TTB and I had to move the spring perches then grind out the differential housing so a U bolt would fit where it need to go

 

i believe the 80 is also a 34" frame. if my memory serves me in 81 the frame width changes. i did the disc brake conversion for my brothers 74 f100 using the parts off an 80 bronco. i got a 75 f250 that i been talkin about converting to disc brakes for years, but never done it. i find that the latemodel axles dont dont fit the older truck. not to say that the old axle wont fit the new truck. you can make anything work.

powerstroker, did you do that conversion on a 150? those usually bolt right in ( baring having to move the radius arm brackets)

 

I did it on an f-350,My 1980 F-350 had a TTB Dana 50 in it, I think they went to straight axles in the 84 on the ton trucks. 80 is the 36 inch frame and they stayed identical until the 96 model year and on 97 Heavy Duty F-250's

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