chevy axles?
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chevy axles?
i have a '78 f150. the brakes have been acting up and today they completely failed. i took the front brakes apart and found that i was missing a brake pad. the rotor and caliper are destroyed. while i had it apart, i noticed that my dana 44 front axle is very worn out. 
the cost of new pads, rotors, and calipers is about $200 plus the cost of rebuilding the axle
since i plan to lift the truck i would like to upgrade to a dana 60 anyways.
my friend has chevy axles from what i believe used to be a '85 6.2 diesel blazer. the "meatball" is on the wrong side, but could i also swap the transfer case too? it has a NP205 just like my truck but the driveshaft is on the opposite side. i know that i would have to swap to leaf spring front suspension but that's okay.
pic of the chevy
the cost of new pads, rotors, and calipers is about $200 plus the cost of rebuilding the axlesince i plan to lift the truck i would like to upgrade to a dana 60 anyways.
my friend has chevy axles from what i believe used to be a '85 6.2 diesel blazer. the "meatball" is on the wrong side, but could i also swap the transfer case too? it has a NP205 just like my truck but the driveshaft is on the opposite side. i know that i would have to swap to leaf spring front suspension but that's okay.
pic of the chevy
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From: Dixon, IL
looks like that truck has a SF rear end, Dana 60s where never paired up with them stock, but someone could have swapped stuff around.
get a pic of the front axle and we can go from there.
Do you really need a 60 front? because it's gonna get expensive quick.
get a pic of the front axle and we can go from there.
Do you really need a 60 front? because it's gonna get expensive quick.
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Next time i go there ill snap some more pics. The reason i want to upgrade the front axle is because my friend has a 80's chevy with a dana 44 and 35's, he broke his axle twice within two weeks. I hear the dana 44's just cant handle any tire larger than stock.
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From: Dixon, IL
are you mudding? rock crawling? or trails?
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i'm really starting to think the chevy axles wont work. the C6 takes up a lot of room on the passenger side of the cross member.. theres barely any room for a drive shaft. even the ford dana 60 will be a challenge to set up
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From: Dixon, IL
since you are only mudding and trail riding, I'd rock the 44 front/ 9" rear all day. If you want a FF rear, bolt in a 60 rear, and swap the front outer to 8 lug.
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YIKES, the wheel bearing nuts were hand tight. what kind of mechanic was working on this...
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From: Dixon, IL
yes, you can change your outers to the 8 lug stuff. You can even change it to 8 lug chevy (same thing, just chevy brakes, which are cheap and crazy easy to find)
What I would do....find a good cheap for F150 front 44, direct bolt in, if you want a FF rear, bolt in a 60 and put the chevy 8 lug outers on front. Around here I could do that for $150 total, plus new brake costs (ball joints might also need replaced)
What I would do....find a good cheap for F150 front 44, direct bolt in, if you want a FF rear, bolt in a 60 and put the chevy 8 lug outers on front. Around here I could do that for $150 total, plus new brake costs (ball joints might also need replaced)
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i've almost got the whole axle off the truck, just need to get the steering parts off
maybe i can get the 8 lug parts from a D50 ttb. i have researched it and some people said they did it and others say it cant be done. i have a friend that has a couple broken chevy d44's that maybe i can get the parts from. but i think they may be 10 lug.
i really like the idea of better brakes and rim choices. with the 8 lug.
maybe i can get the 8 lug parts from a D50 ttb. i have researched it and some people said they did it and others say it cant be done. i have a friend that has a couple broken chevy d44's that maybe i can get the parts from. but i think they may be 10 lug.
i really like the idea of better brakes and rim choices. with the 8 lug.
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i heard it wrong, its a GM 10 bolt not 10 lug. looks like im out of luck though unless i buy an entire axle just to use it from the knuckles out.
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okay so im hoping that the knuckles out from my friend's broken 79 chevy 10 bolt will interchange with my d44. going to pick up those parts thursday.
just some pics of pulling the axle and my brakes
just some pics of pulling the axle and my brakes
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From: southern california
hey bud i would ditch the d44 and upgrade with the d60 i broke my d44 low pinion axles and gears like a dozen times muddin and in trails now with my d60 with dodge knuckles and 35 spline outers i haven't had one hiccup at all just broken front slip yokes
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