I am doing research for a D44 front swap for my YJ. I know I want to end up with 60-63" of width, open knuckle, disk brakes, driver's side drop, and 8 lug bolt pattern. I would prefer not to have to cut the housing down, and I want to be able to use factory axleshafts so I can get spares in the boneyard.

I figure the housing will have to from a Waggy as the caster and width are already correct. Is the Waggy D44 reverse cut and/or high pinion?

What are flat top knuckles? What is the advantage to having them? Are they the ones with the 3 bolts and big arm bolted to the top (if so, I think I found a Dodge with one)? Are they compatible with the parts to use them in an 8 lug setup without machining or custom parts?

Are there any other things to look for or avoid when looking for D44 parts?

Searching here for info on the knuckles revealed very little, are they hard to find or is everyone here just getting thiers made?

Thanks.

You may now begin the newbie jokes.

many answers about the steering you seek at:

http://billavista.tripod.com/Steering/Index/SteeringIndex.html

The Waggie is a regular rotation / low pinion axle. It's also 6x5.5, not 8 lug.

The caster may be correct for stock geometry, but sure won't be by the time you point the pinion up for correct driveshaft angle / clearance.

Persoanlly, I'd avoid any regular rotation d44 and look for a Ford reverse Rotation D44 front.

Billa Vista.

man your site is really good. I love the good the bad and the ugly thing you have going. It really helped clear up some internal struggles I was having in developing my own hysteer.

Take it easy and have a :beer: :beer:

Alaska ZJ,

Thanks for the comments. I figured I could help a bit by not trying to cover up my own goofs. Plus it's funny.

I think I'll make a nice wind chime out of all my shiny rod ends :D

I agree with BillaVista, nice tech site by the way Billa, go with a hi-pin D44. I'm almost finished mine, just have to figure out a few thing for the steering but I think all my Q's have been answered by Billa's site. I started off with an F-250 hi-pin D44, narrowed the long side down to EB specs (very easy to do)and swaped out the drumbs for disk brakes. I ended up wth a width of 61".

I wouldnt worry one iota about a reverse rotation D44. The ring and pinion are not the weak link when used in a Jeep application. and drive shafts angles are also not a big consideration in a wrangler. You can find an 80 - 91 Grand Waggy D44 with a 60 1/2" wms/wms width, usually for less than $200. Nothing against a high pinion D44, but why go through the trouble of shortening the axles, when you really gain very little.
You can swap 3/4 ton chevy 8 lug hubs, rotors and caliper mounts, to the Waggy D44, but it will add about 2" to your overall wms/wms.
You will need the flat top knuckles, if you are building an SOA suspension, in order for your steering linkage to clear the leafs.
Also you can rotate the Grand Waggy D44, about 3 degrees upward and still maintain good positive camber/castor, provided your steering arms are high enough to allow the tie rod to clear the leafs when rotated.

Nice site billavista. Helped me really understand what all is involved in high steer, since Im gonna be doing histeer on the 44 Im picking up today. Thanks! Good info!
Scott :grinpimp:<><