Hey is it possible to convert a 1970 F250 4x4 with a closed knuckle dana 44 that has drum brakes to disk brakes? i have been playing with this for a while and really want disk brakes but do not know if i can canvert a closed knuckle front end... Please any and all feedback is welcome.

Thanks,
Tim

 

I've got the same problem. I have been told the only way is to replace the entire front axle with a 77-79 with the disc set up.
So if you find any other way let me know.

 

Hi

Tim,
I am in the process of rebuilding my 69 f-250 4x4 crewcab and i have
hung under her a 1976 Heavy duty dana 44 with discs. It was a bolt in, Now for the steering, you will have to dig up a ram PS setup(good luck) or leave it as manual steering or convert it to the 77-79 Power steering swap, I'm undecided for that part.
let me know if i can help more

 

you see i swapped this into my 1980 ford bronco because i got it for free. i ran into the problem of have a 15" wheel that does not fit over the drums. really don't want to buy new tires and wheels so i figure i could do a disk brake setup. anybody in the Northwest area have an 8 lug open knuckle dana 44 with disk brakes and 4.10 gears for sale cheap? on a limited income here.

 

I just tore mine apart for a rebuild - 73 F250 D44 closed knuckle w/drums. I started looking close at how it worked and how I could convert to disks.

I even started priceing the parts. Mine is a 16.5 rim, so I looked for the largest disk I could buy cheap. I found a new 13" disk from a 1999 E350 van and it looks like it could work. It was about $69 new.

I was thinking along the lines of removing the drum and all the guts (shoes, springs, pistons...) and the backing plate. Use the backing plate as a template for making the mount for the calaper and pads. Then press the disk on new studs (must be longer and shouldered).

I did notice that most disks have the machined surface on the outside, for this idea, I'd have to have the inside surface machined. I'm talking about where the rotor rides against the hub and has the wheel studs going thru it.

I also did a search using dogpile.com and found several jeep and bronco sites that have done this conversion. They had several step-by-step sites and part numbers. Several have used the chevy disk hubs and spindles because as one put it a D44 is a D44 even if it sits under a chevy.

I don't know what I'm going to do but I will keep digging into this, there MUST be a way and good cost effective way.