I was rummaging around my favorite yard this morning and came across an axle sitting by itself that I cannot figure out what it came out of. It's a typical Ford 1/2 ton w/ hi pinion and the cast style radius arm mounts just like every other 78-79 Bronco/F150 axle. The knuckles have the typical 5 bolt spindle pattern with the large hole just like it should, except these knuckles are setup for driver side steering and have an 3 bolt arm coming off a flat top just like Chevies & dodges. The pass side knuckle is a flattop as well and also has the bosses in place to make drilling for a hi-steer conversion really simple. Every other ford of that era uses crossover steering and their knuckles are not flat top, nor do they have the bosses for the bolt holes. One other difference is that the tie rod arms sit about 3/4 of the way up, vs the normal ones which sit almost exactly in the middle. Since it's hi-pinion it has to be at least a 77 1/2, but what the hell is it from??????

Mike

RC44s came out in the early 60s. They had drum brakes and closed knuckles. I don't know when they switched to the open knuckles and drum brakes.

I'll rephrase the question:

What Ford vehicle made in 78 or 79 uses flattop knuckles???

3/4 ton 77.5-79 do. I has the steering arm off the driverside with the 3 studs that hold it on.

Originally posted by Eric
RC44s came out in the early 60s. They had drum brakes and closed knuckles. I don't know when they switched to the open knuckles and drum brakes.

Are you sure about that? I thought RC44 and RC60s were 78 and newer Fords only.

D44 late 60's 68 or so went HP

D60 77 mixed went HP

Me thinks the F250s had stupid-steering (Chevy style).

Pete

yep the 250's had "stupid steering" (that is funny) but they didn't use radius arms in that era they were leaf sprung, so I don't think that axle came like that from anywhere I think it is 3/4 ton knuckles on a half ton axle.

Are you are sure it's a Ford RC D44 housing, with the 'C' cast cups 7.5" long welded around both ends at the tube and knuckle C, the RC diff housing on the left side, right side 'C' cup cast housing molded with track arm mount, and if you could see the remove the upper ball joint nut, have an adjuster within the joint hole setting the pre-load on the upper ball joint?

My best guess, if it's a Ford housing, is a previous owner had added 78/9 F250 D44 light duty knuckles (78-79) or maybe some GM knuckles to the Ford housing. The 79/9 F250 had a drag link which paralleled the frame, aka GM, rather than cross the tie rod. GM, the light duty leafed Ford D44, and Scout (74-75 light duty truck w/ D44 front) had this typical steering setup. I know Scout knuckles had 8 bolt spindle, Ford had 5 bolt spindle, but I'm not sure if GM had 5 bolt spindle. The next thing you can check on is the caliper and bracket it had. The Scout uses the single piston caliper exactly like Ford and it's mounted the same way, they slide in with a tensioner on the bottom held in by a spring plate and secured by a screw. Not sure of GM caliper mounting. Lastly, go back and check the ratio and if it has a locker...... this may be a good find.

Lastly, Ford did have steel 'C' cups but they came on earlier 1/2tn Ford and the EB's. BTW, EB's didn't have RC D44's. Someone could have welded the steel 'C' cups onto that axle and use it as such.

F250 knuckles on the 1/2 ton axle make sense. What threw me was the flat tops, because I was under the impression that Ford never used em, at least not on the passenger side.

i was about to pull an axle for a friend from a 79 F-250. it had the typical stupid steering and a pass side flat top knuckle. but no ratius arms just leafs. not sure what you got but hey, u got flat tops.