Loose front end?
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Loose front end?
My 1971 F250 4x4, has a pretty loose front end, and I just peeked under it when I was up by it last weekend, and it appears to have some sort of a ball/socket type of setup on each front corner. I was expecting to see king pins, or ball joints. Never seen this style before.
How's it work? Is there any way to tighten it up? What will I probably have to replace (aside from steering components) to make my steering/handling tight again? Any idea's on what the parts cost? Any pictures of a dissassembled side?
Thanks for the help! I'm hoping to have it back on the road this weekend.
Tom
How's it work? Is there any way to tighten it up? What will I probably have to replace (aside from steering components) to make my steering/handling tight again? Any idea's on what the parts cost? Any pictures of a dissassembled side?
Thanks for the help! I'm hoping to have it back on the road this weekend.
Tom
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
If you can't see the axle shaft you have a closed knuckle Dana 44. It is either a "bigball" 3500lb or a "small ball" 3000lb. When you say it is lose, are you talking the knuckles or the steering rods?
If the knuckles are lose then the cone style bearings on the top and bottom of the knuckles are probably rusted out. A manual can walk you through the process of replacing them. It is time consuming, but not to difficult to do.
Let me know.
If the knuckles are lose then the cone style bearings on the top and bottom of the knuckles are probably rusted out. A manual can walk you through the process of replacing them. It is time consuming, but not to difficult to do.
Let me know.
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Originally posted by heep70
If you can't see the axle shaft you have a closed knuckle Dana 44. It is either a "bigball" 3500lb or a "small ball" 3000lb. When you say it is lose, are you talking the knuckles or the steering rods?
If the knuckles are lose then the cone style bearings on the top and bottom of the knuckles are probably rusted out. A manual can walk you through the process of replacing them. It is time consuming, but not to difficult to do.
Let me know.
If you can't see the axle shaft you have a closed knuckle Dana 44. It is either a "bigball" 3500lb or a "small ball" 3000lb. When you say it is lose, are you talking the knuckles or the steering rods?
If the knuckles are lose then the cone style bearings on the top and bottom of the knuckles are probably rusted out. A manual can walk you through the process of replacing them. It is time consuming, but not to difficult to do.
Let me know.
From your description, I have the "close knuckle" Dana 44. The steering is not a concern, as I will be replacing most of it as well. It sounds like it's those cone style bearings. How much do they run? Any exploded views? Thank you very much!
OH, and is the Dana 44 a good front end? I will eventually put about 500 hp through it, turning a set of 35" Boggers.
Tom
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From: Bonney Lake,WA USA
They are good frontends for the mild mannered person like me. If you plan on pouring on some juice to this thing I would put at least an open knuckle D44 or even better a Dana 60 up there.
The closed knuckles a weak around the knuckles and once it breaks it is broke. They are hard to find parts for and the turning radius is awful compared to a open style.
If you can afford it now I would say change out the frontend for something stronger a easier to get parts for.
The bearings and races run around $15 to $35 each depending on which style closed knuckle you have. The seal kits are around $10 to $35 a set also depending on which frontend you have.
The closed knuckles a weak around the knuckles and once it breaks it is broke. They are hard to find parts for and the turning radius is awful compared to a open style.
If you can afford it now I would say change out the frontend for something stronger a easier to get parts for.
The bearings and races run around $15 to $35 each depending on which style closed knuckle you have. The seal kits are around $10 to $35 a set also depending on which frontend you have.
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