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HELP, spindle problems on D44

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Old Oct 28, 2004 | 10:15 AM
  #1  
italianrich's Avatar
italianrich
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Unhappy HELP, spindle problems on D44

Ok guys, heres what I have, I have a 73 front D44. I got a hold of a chevy blazer (76 pretty sure) disc brake backing plates and spindles. I had a set of rotors and hubs and spindles off a 78 bronco D44(but not the knuckle). I went to install the whole deal and now heres the problem. The chevy spindles take a much larger bearing than the ones in the bronco rotors. I tried to use the bronco spindles that match the rotors, but the rotor rubs the backing plate. It seems the shoulder that touches the back of the inner bearing doesnt stick out far enough to move the rotor away from the backing plate. I held it against the chevy one, and the chevy one has the shoulder out about 1/4 further out which seems like it would work, but the hub/rotor I have wont fit that spindle!! What do I need to correct this? Can I get a chevy hub? Isnt the bolt pattern for the wheel a different size? I already have the rims I am using, they are 5x51/2, stock bronco sized. HELP!! I cant afford to just buy a kit, I got the chevy stuff for 30 bucks, and already have the calipers and pads new.
Thanks
Rich
 
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Old Oct 28, 2004 | 12:05 PM
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I just got to thinking about something, the spindles I have that are the ford smaller sized ones are off a bronco with the independent front (still a D44 I think) . This help?
Rich
 
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Old Oct 28, 2004 | 06:00 PM
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74 bronco
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I have this conversion before but you need to use the chevy spindle and caliper bracket and ford hub and rotor assembly. Have you upgrade the axles I inded up use the chevy outer axle. I have heard them using knuckle out 78-79 disc ford brakes but you have to shim the tierod end or change to a different tierod set up. Where do you live?

Thanks clint
 
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Old Oct 29, 2004 | 01:10 AM
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ricks77eb
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Dude your making it harder than you have to.Go to your local junkyard and get the stuff you need off a 77-79 f150 4x4knuckles,caliper bracket,caliper,spindle,hub!
 
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Old Oct 29, 2004 | 12:13 PM
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I would almost bet that you have gotten ahold of 3/4 ton instead of 1/2 ton parts. I always use the Ford stuff myself-despite the tie rod obstacle, the ford spindle set up is much stronger.
 
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Old Oct 29, 2004 | 06:38 PM
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Why the heck would any ford person choose to put a chevy part on their truck is beyond me. It is like spending alot of money building a rig for off-road use and then putting low profile street tires on it, it just doen't make since. You're making it weaker.
 
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Old Oct 30, 2004 | 12:23 PM
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well, I'm not a huge chevy fan, and dana made parts for ford, chevy, jeep, etc, so its really not a ford/chevy issue. I did find out some info though, I need the chevy older style small bearing spindle, the spindles I had were a bit newer anr larger.
Rich
 
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Old Nov 1, 2004 | 01:03 AM
  #8  
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I already had the backing plates and new calipers off the chevy, just trying to save a buck or 2. I found a guy on ebay who knew his stuff, hes hookin me up with a set cheap. Thanks for the help!!
Clint, I live in St Louis.
Rich
 
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Old Nov 6, 2004 | 11:42 PM
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It is possible that you got a hold of a later 10 bolt GM spindle. They won't work with that setup. I have the Dana #'s for the correct spindle you need if want. And a 3/4 ton will work as long as it is using the 44 front end (The caliper brackets are larger however).

There is no strength advantage between a Ford disc spindle and a GM disc spindle. The only thing that the Ford setup has an advantage is having mounting studs instead of bolts. But that can be easily remedied.

I have driven and worked on several different Broncos with both setups and I can say that the GM disc brake setup is the better of the two, in design and stopping ability. GM was ahead of Ford by 5 years to have disc brakes on their 4wd's. And while Ford changed their caliper mounting system several times over the years, GM had the same system from 71-87.

Jason
 
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Old Nov 15, 2004 | 07:56 PM
  #10  
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earlybronco andy
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Originally Posted by rednecktruckman
Why the heck would any ford person choose to put a chevy part on their truck is beyond me. It is like spending alot of money building a rig for off-road use and then putting low profile street tires on it, it just doen't make since. You're making it weaker.
I have chevy disk brakes in th erear and they are ten times better than the stock ford drums.
 
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Old Nov 15, 2004 | 11:19 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by RCrawler
It is possible that you got a hold of a later 10 bolt GM spindle. They won't work with that setup. I have the Dana #'s for the correct spindle you need if want. And a 3/4 ton will work as long as it is using the 44 front end (The caliper brackets are larger however).

There is no strength advantage between a Ford disc spindle and a GM disc spindle. The only thing that the Ford setup has an advantage is having mounting studs instead of bolts. But that can be easily remedied.

I have driven and worked on several different Broncos with both setups and I can say that the GM disc brake setup is the better of the two, in design and stopping ability. GM was ahead of Ford by 5 years to have disc brakes on their 4wd's. And while Ford changed their caliper mounting system several times over the years, GM had the same system from 71-87.

Jason
72-75 are the parts to use from what I have read about disc brake conversions.Somewhere in the mid 76 range Dana changed bearing sizes.Dana made axles front end parts for Ford,Chevy and even Dodge then and made them out of steel made in this country.Saginaw steering boxes are on Broncos also.Seems like Saginaw was owned by GM.Made in America..Use it..Chevy engine in a Bronco?No Way!!
 
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Old Nov 18, 2004 | 03:36 PM
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a-benne
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youre spindles are newer than 1976.i had the same problem.the inner bearing size is larger on the later models.the backing plates seem to be the same. i got the right stuff from a 1976 .the wrong parts i had were from a 1986.
 
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