flat top knuckles???
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flat top knuckles???
I have looked and searched for "Crossover steering" and "Hi Steer" and have bounced ideas off of 75f350. I have also read and reread Mr. N's Dana page and have picked up alot of knowledge about the dana axles. I have come to learn that chevy flat top knuckles are the boneyard searchers gold mine when it comes to crossover and hi steer conversions. I have also looked into aftermarket Dana 44 passenger flat top knuckles. The question that i cant find an answer to, from lurking here in the forums, and the answer that the aftermarket vendors are dodging around is will my stock spindle, hub, inner-axle shaft, and brake setup work with either the boneyard (milled and tapped) knuckles or wether or not the aftermarket (overpriced pieces of *$^%) will accept my current hardware? I know alot of you guys on here have done this swap, but i couldnt find a write up any where (google even turned up alot of nothing). Will someone who has done this swap please fill me in on all the small details that i need to know to get this done right the first time. Oh and just for clarification i have a 78 f250 with the small hub Dana44HD axle with dual piston calipers.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Victoria , BC
Go to the web site North West Fab. They sell crossover kits for dana 44 and 60. Go to the "steering" section on the site and they sell the hardware and explain what you need to do and its advanatges. The sell some cool 4x4 stuff ....
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
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I am thinking that your knuckle is already a flat top. You should actually be able to see where the thing should be drilled to accept a steering arm. Check the under side of the knuckle to notice the "bosses" where studs should be drilled and tapped.
This only means that you have to remove your existing knuckle, and make your mod.
I have a CAD Dwg that will provide you the proper dimension for drilling, or you can kinda use the new steering arm as a guide. Even have some pics of the knuckles being machined. Many companies even offer drilled knuckles, using yours as a core.
Dont think you need to work too hard, or look for extra parts that are not necessary.
This only means that you have to remove your existing knuckle, and make your mod.
I have a CAD Dwg that will provide you the proper dimension for drilling, or you can kinda use the new steering arm as a guide. Even have some pics of the knuckles being machined. Many companies even offer drilled knuckles, using yours as a core.
Dont think you need to work too hard, or look for extra parts that are not necessary.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Try a search in the FTE "Offroad and 4x4" forum, looks like those folks deal with those issues alot. I have found alot of great infomation there. Good luck, post your outcome, so others may learn.
Rich
Rich
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73Fordguy-thanks for the link i havent seen this site yet and will dig into the information that they provide.
75f350-I have had a few people tell me that my knuckle is possibly the flat top design, but that there just isnt enough material to do the milling and drilling with enough material left over for a safe set up. I unfortunately cant look at the knuckle untill this weekend due to the truck sitting up in austin getting blasted and ready for paint.
77&79f250-I havent yet migrated over to that section of this forum and will search in there for all the knowledge i can get.
Thanks to all of you guys for your help. I will plan to post a full write up from begining to end when i do the flat top conversion with crossover steering. The big thing that i need to do is check out my knuckle to see if it has the bosses needed for the mill work and drilling. I'll keep posting in this thread as i find more information or come up with anymore questions.
75f350-I have had a few people tell me that my knuckle is possibly the flat top design, but that there just isnt enough material to do the milling and drilling with enough material left over for a safe set up. I unfortunately cant look at the knuckle untill this weekend due to the truck sitting up in austin getting blasted and ready for paint.
77&79f250-I havent yet migrated over to that section of this forum and will search in there for all the knowledge i can get.
Thanks to all of you guys for your help. I will plan to post a full write up from begining to end when i do the flat top conversion with crossover steering. The big thing that i need to do is check out my knuckle to see if it has the bosses needed for the mill work and drilling. I'll keep posting in this thread as i find more information or come up with anymore questions.
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the drilling and tapping has to be precise in the measurment or else you could have a missalligned stud, which would weaken the mounting of the steering arm. Also I am getting the mounting surface milled to be truely flat which in turn helps to increase the sheering force of the studs by evenly distributing the preasure that turning 40 inch tires creates. All of this adds up to not breaking a stud and possibly losing your steering while on the trail or worse while on the road. I personaly sent my knuckle off to a shop in oregon where it will be machined and setup with a steering arm for $145. When i get it back i will post up pics.
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Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Victoria , BC
Put some lock tite on those studs espesially with 40's. My old dana 44 with 44 inch tires put a ton of stress on those studs eventually stripping them out. I then tapped the holes out to a huge 9/16 fine thread stud bored the holes on the arm and used lock tite. That was before my dana 60 I have now
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From what I have read, the ford knuckles are no longer used because they are thin after machining. The other difference is that the ford spindle is a 5 stud design, and chevy/FSJ are 6 stud. There are 6 stud spindles that work with the ford dual piston hubs.
I have a set of chevy flat tops. PM me if interested.
I have a set of chevy flat tops. PM me if interested.
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