77 front end
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 50
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From: colorado
77 front end
hi
i have a 77 high boy and a 78 both f250. i was wondering is the front axle in the 77 heavy duty? cause the lock outs are much bigger then the 78. i heard that the bigger lock outs were better.
thanks jim
i have a 77 high boy and a 78 both f250. i was wondering is the front axle in the 77 heavy duty? cause the lock outs are much bigger then the 78. i heard that the bigger lock outs were better.
thanks jim
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 202
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From: Gatlinburg
Hi Jim, Your 77 most likely has the Dana 44HD (Heavy Duty) where the 78 is the standard or light duty. My 77 Highboy now has a 44HD in it out of a 75. It use to have a light duty in it which was nearly trashed when I got it. Both are pretty good although there not as beefy, nor will they take the abuse that a Dana 60 will.
Someone will probably correct me on this but to my knowledge the difference in the 44 & the 44HD is the outers (hubs, rotors, calipers) which on the 44Hd are near equivalent to a Dana 60 but the stump is the same.
Someone will probably correct me on this but to my knowledge the difference in the 44 & the 44HD is the outers (hubs, rotors, calipers) which on the 44Hd are near equivalent to a Dana 60 but the stump is the same.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 49
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From: Southeast MO
it could possibly be a Dana 60 low pinion. in '77 they had a low pinion Dana 60. On the front of the case there will be a 60F cast into the center section. I bet you have the 44HD, but I would check the case.
I should know about the low pinion 60 since I have one.
Chris
I should know about the low pinion 60 since I have one.
Chris
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 50
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From: colorado
nope it is open knuckle. hey chris it does have 60F on the front right side.
what year has a closed knuckle?
what year has a closed knuckle?
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Infidel
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,115
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From: Elkhorn WI
My 74 F250 has a closed knuckle D44 HD. If youve ever seen those concrete delivery trucks 6x6's, they have the same type of axle but like....20 times bigger.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Southeast MO
I have no idea what years had open knuckles but I thought you may have the rather rare 77 dana 60 low pinion. I have heard that these axles are weaker than the high pinion ones, but I can't see why that would be because it is the typical case, with the same spline count axles as the high ones, and kingpins...so I think it is a rumor. But thats the info I have heard on this.
Chris
Chris
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 592
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From: BC, Canada
OK, it's time to show my ignorance. I've heard "open knuckle" and "closed knuckle" many times but I'm not sure of the difference. Sure, one is open and one is closed but a little more description please.
Infidel
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 2
From: Elkhorn WI
...
Here are some pics of the Closed Knuckle Dana 44HD.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9/S3010005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9/S3010004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9/S3010002.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9/S3010005.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9/S3010004.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...9/S3010002.jpg
New User
Joined: May 2004
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One other diffrence, the axle tubes on the HD are thicker than the regular 44 so it's not quite a HP44HD axle. Still cool though.
I have a 75 D44HD with Drums right now. I'm looking for the most cost effective way to upgraded it to Disk. It has the closed knuckle king pin, so swapping spindles/hubs may be tougher option than with a regular ball joint, partly due the limited number of these axles in junkyards. I dont hold out much hope for finding this sytle with factory Disk.
I'm wondering if I can make a custom backing plate/caliper bracket, use the hub and rotor off an open knuckle disk model and call it good. Basicaly will the spindle accept a hub from a newer, disk break version 44HD?
<O
</O
We'll see I guess.
-R<O</O
I have a 75 D44HD with Drums right now. I'm looking for the most cost effective way to upgraded it to Disk. It has the closed knuckle king pin, so swapping spindles/hubs may be tougher option than with a regular ball joint, partly due the limited number of these axles in junkyards. I dont hold out much hope for finding this sytle with factory Disk.
I'm wondering if I can make a custom backing plate/caliper bracket, use the hub and rotor off an open knuckle disk model and call it good. Basicaly will the spindle accept a hub from a newer, disk break version 44HD?
<O
</OWe'll see I guess.
-R<O
</O