Pre '80 Ford Bronco

[MonsterGM]

These are hard to find in the boneyards, but they had a narrow Dana 44 solid front axle with the differential offset to the drivers-side. Early models had front drum brakes while later models had disk. This particular axle is about the best thing going for the S-10 solid-axle swap. The width is perfect for the s-10, and with the differential on the drivers-side, the original T-case can be used. Best of all, it's a Dana 44, which is 10 times stronger than the original IFS, and can withstand just about any tire size you can fit on an S-10. I personally have two problems. Number one is the front drum brakes. This blast from the past may have been okay with original size tires, but larger tires, and off-roading in general, absolutely requires at least front disk brakes to be used. If you think about it, there's a reason why front drums were phased out in the 70's and why even rear drums have been showing up less and less in new cars and trucks. I know the axle can be converted to disk, but will it require as pricey kit, or can it be done with all Ford parts???

Second is the bolt-circle pattern. I have a perfectly good rear Dana 44 that I'd like to use, but the bolt-circle pattern is 5 on 4.5". I'm guessing the early Broncos did not use this pattern??? Is there any way around this, besides just grabbing the rear axle off the bronco too??? I think having 2 different bolt-circle patterns is lame. You have to carry two spare tires, and the tires actually have to be dismounted from the wheels to be rotated...

[AZFord4x4]

if you can find another D44 front with the proper bolt patteren & disk brakes, you can swap knuckles out onto the early bronco axle as long as it's open knuckle... kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

[MonsterGM]

Originally posted by AZFord4x4
if you can find another D44 front with the proper bolt patteren & disk brakes, you can swap knuckles out onto the early bronco axle as long as it's open knuckle... kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

That's a good idea, but I was wondering about the interchangeability of Dana 44 parts. The term "Dana 44" is used so loosely, yet so many variations are out there. I know that the new Jeep Wrangler Rubicon uses a Dana 44 with a 5 on 4.5" bolt patern, but finding a wrecked rubicon is unlikely. A call to the Jeep dealer says that the housing alone is $1400. And that's just an empty housing. Do you really think that an ancient 1970's Dana 44 will accept steering knuckles and axleshafts from a 2003 Jeep??? Seems like a longshot....

[McDerry]

dont forget the 78 and 79 year bronco are fullsize also

[Jrod-13]

The axles you want are the front and rears from a 76-77 bronco, this way you will allready have discs up front.

78-79 bronco's are full width, and the axles have cast C perches, making them difficult to use for anything but a fullsize rig, with radius arms.

9" rears are a dime a dozen, so if your getting the front axle from a EB, get the rear too. Plus the ratios will match, and you will use a normal 5x5.5 bolt pattern.

[Foolsize]

yeh or you could use Waggy axles :flipoff2: ,seem to be a good size.with the Wggys having63''wms and yoour s-10 with 59'' i think that would be a good swap aswell. and give it a little bit more width witch is always good when your on the rocks.....

just my $.02

[ksbronco]

The waggy is a good Idea. If you want one I have on drivers side drop with flat top knuckles I would sell cheap. They would also be easier to work with because they don't have the Cs worry about, you can just grind off the perches and move them to the top, or leave them an buy weld on perches. They use them a lot in Toyotas and I have a friend with on that doesn't appear too wide under his mini. For the most part D44s are the same, but there are some differences. I know that the knuckles will not fit on a ford D44, and I am not sure why, but they won't. Also for the rear you could use a 9" out of a bronco, bu how big are you going? The 28 spline axles taper down pretty bad and I have seen a lot of them break, but that is on fairly serious rigs that are running big tires. You can always have a machine shop redrill the rear axle shacts can't you? Also have to drill the drums or go to disk on the rear.

[CumminsBronco]

there are lots of options for getting disk brakes on the frt 44. What I did on the axle that I offered to you was to swap on brakes from a 78/79 Bronco, from the knuckles out. I think I paid 75 bucks for all of the parts, plus what it took to get them in good shape...ball joints, bearings, etc.
I know the more popular way of doing it right now seems to be using Chevy parts from D44's from under full size Blazers, of what years I am not certain.
Best t hing to do would be to go to sites like.......Bronco.com ClassicBronco.com Broncofix.com , all of the early Bronco sites will have articles on swapping disks to an early drum 44. For the rear you can most likely have the 5.5 inch pattern redrilled. I had to redrill the rear flanges from 5 to 5.5 when I swapped disk brakes to the rear of the 9".
By the way....both the 44 and 9" is for sale.......could price it right to you...where ya located?

[fordtrucklvr]

do you know anything about a solid axle swap on a 96 bronco?

[Oatmeal]

I converted the drums on my Bronco to discs with a combination of GM and Ford parts: Spindles, caliper brackets and calipers from a disc brake D44 equipped Blazer or K10 p/u (I've read drum brake spindles are different) and '76-'79 Bronco / F150 hub and rotor assemblies. You'll have to grind the knuckle a little so the caliper clears (real easy with a hand grinder), you won't be able to use the outer snap ring on the stock locking hubs but, some people use a bolt and fender washer (the stub axles have threaded holes in the ends) to make it work, it's easier to replace them with a set of Warns, they work without the snap ring but, the stubs don't seal as well without them (the snap rings keep preassure on the spindle seals) you're going to want to upgrade to the bigger joint anyway (early Broncos came with the 260x joints :shaking: ) so, if you upgrade to the bigger inner shafts (I bet you could open up the yokes to accept the bigger (were 297x now 7..x(?) brain fade!), use GM stubs. Been running mine like that since 1987. BTW I'm refering to '71-'75 (D44 equipped) Broncos. Hope that helps........Hans

[Nickm]

If you want an EB D44 with disk with 5 on 4.5, get the D44 with drums. Its not any cheaper. But since your swapping the bolt pattern it doesnt really matter you cant/wont use the old stuff any way.
Then find an old Dodge D44 with the 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern and use every thing from the c knuckle out. Bad part is I belive they were unit hubs. Not very desirable. Good news is they have flat knuckles. And are pretty cheap at the bone yard.
I would suggest, if you can find an EB D4, then snag the matching 9" and be done. cost would be close to the same. Another suggestion. If you are going ot run a lift. Find a 78-79 FS Bronco or same year F150 and snag the radius arm brackets. They are about 3" lower than the EB brackets. And are dirt cheap at teh bone yard.

[Nickm]

do you know anything about a solid axle swap on a 96 bronco?

Try www.pavementsucks.com there are a couple guys doing some solid axle swaps. One I belive is a full size Bronco.

[Jrod-13]

do you know anything about a solid axle swap on a 96 bronco?



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