1974 crewcab 4x4
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: ontario canada
closed knuckle fronts are pretty easy to convert to discs, use chevy 3/4 ton hubs,caliper,brackets, a little grinding on the knuckle, did that on my 70 front that came out of a 73 dodge, used 60 ford knuckles, same as 44hd but with 1/2" spindle bolts , works awesome!
Originally Posted by greythorn3
closed knuckles cannot be swapped to disks.. mose people drop them infavor of open knuckle d60 or d44.. they are popular in some moosebuggys though.. i dont know why drum brakes freeze stuck four wheeling in alaska in winter.
Ray
Ray
Last edited by 1EVILCREWCAB; Dec 21, 2007 at 10:29 AM. Reason: no one would know what a "pindle" is
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,105
Likes: 3
From: Anchorage Alaska
are you serious i have never heard of this. since the closed knucke is weaker maybe thats why i dont see it done, from what i understand its a d44 ujoint inside the knuckle without seals in it. dont knwo if thats true or not
Ray
Ray
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 589
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Its cheaper(and probably easier)to just swap in a 78/79 D44 high-pinion front from an F250.that way you get the open knuckles,discs,and high-pnion in one shot.You can pick one up for a few hundred.You can do a 78/79 D60 too,but that will cost more.
And-for $700-BUY IT!They aret getting any easier to find.Thats a steal for a complete truck.
And-for $700-BUY IT!They aret getting any easier to find.Thats a steal for a complete truck.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: ontario canada
as an added bit of info all rockwell steering axles are closed knuckle, ever seen a monster truck with open knuckle steering axles? the stock axles are a 30 spline with a 1350 u-joint, there is an inner seal in the diff, 79 35 spline axles are a direct replacement, who told you closed knuckles are weak? I've yet to break a knuckle on any of my closed knuckle fronts , unlike my open knuckle 70 front of which I have broken 2. the only problem i have heard of is pulling the spindle bolts out , grade 9 studs and nuts has prevented that from ever happening the me, they may leak, I FILL them with 3 tubes of grease each instead of gear oil, how long do u-joints last on an open knuckle with 0 maintenance? I haven't touched mine in 7 years and they looked as good as new when I had the diff apart to repair a broken detroit locker, they use the same tapered bearings as a kingpin 60, top AND bottom, no plastic bushings in these
Originally Posted by greythorn3
are you serious i have never heard of this. since the closed knucke is weaker maybe thats why i dont see it done, from what i understand its a d44 ujoint inside the knuckle without seals in it. dont knwo if thats true or not
Ray
Ray
Last edited by 1EVILCREWCAB; Dec 22, 2007 at 06:42 PM.
