Pretty sure I have a DANA 44 closed knuckle front axle. it's 8 lug and has 8 bolts around the knuckle seal so I'm assuming it's the lighter duty version of the axle. My questions are does anybody know of a good write up or book on how to rebuild one of these axles? What parts should I replace to do a basic rebuild to make the axle safe and reliable? I have never rebuilt an axle but would really like to do as much as I can myself. Has anyone on here rebuilt one and could help me out if I get jammed up on something during the rebuild?

Can Dana 44 parts be swapped between different makes? Like can you use DANA 44 parts from a Chevy? Is it possible to put different gears in this axle? My truck is a tank and I would like it to be more drivable.

 

is there a power disc brake conversion for this axle?

 

ALL F250's thru 1996 and 1997 F250 H/D's have 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle, as do 1967/97 F350's.

1976 was the first year that F100/250 4WD's were available with front disc brakes.

 

thanks for the info Numberdummy. So that means I should be able to get new aftermarket wheels for it pretty easy. I might modernize it a bit but also restore the original parts too. This axle seems like it's going to be one of my biggest projects. I want to do a lot of research before I jump in.

 

Besides the F250/350's previously mentioned, all 1975/2014 E250/350's also have 8 lug wheels on a 6.50" bolt circle.

 

No one knows where to find any good info on this Axle?

 

Really ? Did you try google It's one of the most common axles out there, there is a **** ton on the web. Try searching the web as all you ever wanted to know is there.

 

There used to be two different vendors that each sold custom cut brackets to fit the Dana 44 front. Both companies have closed doors. The one named Blackbirds in Spokane, WA had a run in with the law because the kit was used on a truck that was involved in a fatal collision. When they found out that the brakes on the truck had been modified they sued the guy that made the brackets and the other guy in Montana that made them also stopped since he could see the expense of the liability far outweighed any profit he would ever realize from the brackets. I was after some about the time this happened and Blackbirds closed so I got hold of the guy in MT and by then he wouldn't sell me anything either.

Probably a better idea is to use Ford engineered parts in your truck and swap the entire front end for a disc brake unit. That way you aren't combining a conglomeration of mismatched parts from various sources to cobble together a system that may not be safe.

UltraRanger works on brakes some. Ask him if he would agree.

Chad

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Any gears for a standard rotation D44 will fit as long as you have the appropriate carrier. The break is 3.73 / 3.92. So if you want 4.10 gears you will need a 3.92 carrier. And 3.54 gears would require a 3.73 carrier.

 

Hi Rizob01, welcome, and very nice truck. I have rebuilt many of these, and actually have a complete spare D44 closed knuckle from my 64 F250, I will not use it. PM me, let me know what part of NJ you are in. I'll be in North Jersey this coming weekend. If you are nearby, I can stop in and look at your axle - if you want. I'm not sure why you want to rebuild it. Whats the issue aside form the leak / weep in the picture?

 

100% agree....Ive worked on more brakes and axles than I care to recall...and I agree with you completely...