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Old May 25, 2003 | 04:58 PM
  #1  
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From: "The Backroads"
Question Dana 44 Question????

Will a Dana 44 out of a 76' F-100 fit in an Early Bronco? If so what needs to be done to fit it?
 
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Old May 25, 2003 | 06:09 PM
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Dana 44 Question????

Unless you want to go full width, the pickup housings are too wide. You can have them narrowed to EB width. But since the pickup 44 is high pinion design, you will need a lift for oil pan clearance.

Jason
 
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Old May 25, 2003 | 06:27 PM
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Dana 44 Question????

Ok what if I use the disc brake stuff from that 76' front d44 ?Will that stuff work???
 
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Old May 25, 2003 | 09:02 PM
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Dana 44 Question????

It will work if you already have a Dana 44. If yours is a early 71, it might still have the Dana 30 with kingpin knuckles. Then it won't bolt up.

But you will need to get a 3 way adjustable linkage.
The spacing on the disc brake knuckles is different and you won't be able to adjust the toe to go out far enough on its own with the stock linkage.

Jason
 
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Old May 26, 2003 | 09:33 AM
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Dana 44 Question????

Jason,

I'm planning on doing the F150 disk conversion on my '74... I found a '78 front axle that I can get cheap that's got all the stuff on it.

can you expound on what I'll need to do to the linkage? forgive me as I'm pretty novice with these trucks...

can I just cut down the linkage off of the '78 and collar weld it back together? hmm... I wouldn't have to get the tie rod adapters then either... but I haven't looked to see if the drag arm hookup is the same.

help?

Forrest
 
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Old May 26, 2003 | 11:35 PM
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Dana 44 Question????

I'm not positive on all the details on the F150 linkage. A few years ago, it was a popular upgrade for a tie rod over conversion.
I have the stuff in my garage, but ended up going with the PU solid tie rod.

Check this out:
F150 disc conversion info

Basically, you cut down the F150 linkage on the drivers side, threading it and put another adjusting sleeve on it. And there is a taper difference between the EB pitman arm and F150 drag link.

I would not recommend welding on any steering linkage.

Jason
 
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Old May 27, 2003 | 12:47 AM
  #7  
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Dana 44 Question????

Originally posted by RCrawler

I would not recommend welding on any steering linkage.

Jason
we used to do it all the time at the 4x4 shop I worked at... basicly you put a nice deep bevel on the ends so you've got a lot of weld contact area... slide a collar on the longest piece, weld the ends together, grind down the weld, then slide the collar over and weld the ends of the collar to the linkage... the welded section is probably stronger than the rest of the bar!

Forrest
 
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Old May 27, 2003 | 12:54 AM
  #8  
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Dana 44 Question????

I just read that link...

my understanding is that the F150 has a different tie rod hole dimension on the knuckle and the F150 tie rods are shorter, so if you want to use them, you have to add some length somewhere.

but, BC Broncos sells an adapter bushing to run the early bronco tie rods in the F150 knuckles. that's what I planned on doing.

at least that's my understanding!

Forrest
 

Last edited by Forrest Nearing; May 27, 2003 at 12:58 AM.
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Old May 28, 2003 | 12:24 AM
  #9  
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Dana 44 Question????

Yes, they have those. But I think they are made to drill out the taper on the knuckle bores. You probably need to contact Chuck at BC to verify what you need to do.

The stock 150 tie rods are longer than the Bronco. You shorten the linkage and add another adjusting sleeve to fine tune the toe in. You can't just shorten the passenger side because the draglink mounting is there.

Jason
 
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Old May 28, 2003 | 01:59 AM
  #10  
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Dana 44 Question????

from the BCbroncos website:

If You Want...

F-150 knuckles & stock Bronco tie rod (stock tie-rod psoition)
You need two TRA-1 Tie Rod Adapter bushings.


Tie rod over conversion with F-150 tie rod & drag link
You need two TRO-1 Tie Rod Over bushings and one TRO-2 Drag Link bushing. This will also require reaming your knuckles and drag link, and the F-150 tie rod and drag link will need shortening. This conversion works with either the stock Bronco or the F-150 steering knuckles.

Tie rod over conversion with stock Bronco tie rod & drag link
You need two TRO-1 Tie Rod Over bushings and two TRA-1 Tie Rod Adapter bushings and one TRO-2 Drag Link bushing. This will also require reaming your knuckles and drag link. This conversion works with either the stock Bronco or the F-150 steering knuckles.
I'm still under the impression that the distance between the tie rod holes on the knuckles isn't any different... the only difference is in the diameter, and most people want to just go ahead and run the F150 stuff because they're beefier tie rods, the drag link has a better angle on the steering linkage, etc. etc.

but I just want the quickest/easiest way to get disk brakes... I spoke w/ Chuck earlier and I was like, "lemme get this straight... I've got an F150 front axle... can I just take the knuckles/spindles/brakes and put them on my '74 D44 and just run your adapter bushings w/ my '74 steering linkage?" and he didn't flinch when he said "yes"

I'll call him again just to be 1,000% sure... (lord knows I've been wrong in the past), but I'm pretty dang sure you can just run the F150 knuckles w/ the adapter bushings. period, end of sentance...

Forrest
 
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Old May 28, 2003 | 11:22 PM
  #11  
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Dana 44 Question????

Let me clear myself up:

You can run stock Bronco linkage with the 150 knuckles with the knuckle spacers/ bushings.

To run the F150 linkage, you would need to cut it down to match EB width and ream the pitman arm to accept the F150 draglink.

I had 2 different ideas going in my head, so the misinformation and confusion is my fault.

Jason
 
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Old May 29, 2003 | 12:45 AM
  #12  
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Dana 44 Question????

ahh no sweat man! I'm pretty new to these vehicles... you wanna know something about a Fairmont (or any other fox body for that matter)? I'm your guy... but I'm learning a lot as I go w/ these. I just was making sure that *I* had it correct before I started off on the disk conversion!

Forrest
 
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Old Jun 3, 2003 | 03:48 PM
  #13  
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Dana 44 Question????

What was the last year the closed knuckle front came in the EB's?
 
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Old Jun 3, 2003 | 11:03 PM
  #14  
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Dana 44 Question????

Bronco's didn't have any closed knuckle front ends.

66- mid 71 had Dana 30, kingpin knuckles, drum brakes

mid 71-75- Dana 44, Ball Joint knuckles, drum brakes

76-77- Dana 44- unique ball joint knuckles for disc brakes


Ford pickups used closed knuckle front ends up into the mid 70's.

Jason
 
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Old Jun 4, 2003 | 11:39 AM
  #15  
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Dana 44 Question????

would it be possible to convert a d44 from ball joints to kingpin knuckles?
 
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