I have a dana 44 front out of a 78 F-150 that I am rebuilding. I swapped the standard knuckles for a pair of flat top knuckles. I'm not sure what year or model the knuckles are from, but they are my bolt patter and everything. The problem now is that I can't get the snap ring on for the locking hub, either side. Am i doing something wrong or what? The axleshaft doesn't even stick out far enough past the spindle to get the hub and snap ring on. Do I need a new spindle or something, cause There is no way I will get the lockout and the snap ring in, unless I am assembling this wrong. Someone help if you can...thanks

-Chris

You are talking about the ring that goes on the end of the outer shaft, correct? Yea leave it off. You dont need it. If you are completely anal you can get a bolt that threads into the end of the shaft and a body washer but it isnt necessary.

it seems like the locking assembly will bounce around inside if it isn't secured. Has anyone else tried leaving the snap ring out?

Has anyone else tried leaving the snap ring out?

Only for about the last 20 years. No worries;)

it seems like the locking assembly will bounce around inside if it isn't secured. Has anyone else tried leaving the snap ring out?Eleventy bajillion people leave that ring off. Of all the guys i wheel with that run a D44 front, i know of only one who uses it.

well, i'll probably end up leaving it off, but I'd like to try putting it back on first. What worries me is that I don't have any room to put it on, so that tells me that something is assembled wrong. Either that, or flat top steering knuckles are a bit wider than the standard knuckles. Any advice on what the problem could be? thanks for the help so far.

-Chris

You probably have Chevy knuckles. Your Ford outers are going to be just a little short. If you insist and running the clip, get a pair of Chevy or Waggy outer axles. Otherwise, just run without the clip.

ok, hubs are done. I'm workin on the brake calipers and have to clue as to how your supposed to put em on..? When i slide the caliper towards the top, there is no way to get the bottom on because the piston hits the axle housing. once again, any suggestion?

-Chris

Are you using dual piston or single piston calipers?

single

Are they the slider pin style (ya know, like Chevy calipers) or the sliding block style (big metal block on the bottom with a leaf style spring for tension)? Also, are the calipers interfering with the knuckles or the axle itself?

Has anyone else tried leaving the snap ring out?
Carefull on this one. The people from arid states get away with this, you will not.

Keep the outer shaft with the spindle. but since you didn't try to find a 80's IFS Ford TTB outer.

Post a pic of the knuckle and I'll tell you what it's out of.

they are the sliding block style and they are interfering with the knuckles. I know how it is supposed to be assembled, but I can't move the bottom of the caliper into postion because the piston hits the knuckle. If anyone knows of a step by step installation procedure, that would be great, although i'm open to any suggestion at this point.

-Chris

I have my snap rings on :) Hey, dummy comment, but have you tried pushing the shaft from the inside (by the u-joints) to the outside??? I had a similar issue putting mine back, but all I had to do was simply push by hand or handle the shafts out, and bingo, just enough for clip to go back in :)

Gui

yeah, tried that already. The shafts actually came out about half an inch, but still wasn't enough to get the snap rings in, so i figured fuck it and just left em out.

I'm still stuck with these calipers if anyone has advice.

ok, hubs are done. I'm workin on the brake calipers and have to clue as to how your supposed to put em on..? When i slide the caliper towards the top, there is no way to get the bottom on because the piston hits the axle housing. once again, any suggestion?

-ChrisThere is no problem, and you arent listening. Different knuckles and different outer shafts dont go together perfect. YOU HAVE NOT ASSEMBLED ANYTHING WRONG. Its just the way it goes. If you are so paranoid then do like i told you- go get a short bolt that will fit the little hole already drilled and tapped in the end of your stub shaft and get a body washer. Im sorry, i do not remember the exact size/pitch of said bolt because its a waste of time, however if you must do this then you can use the bolt/washer INSTEAD OF the clip. It will do the same thing.

Well, without seeing what you have, it sounds like you might have gotten some knucles that were designed for drum brakes. But, like Mr.N said, post a picture, and I'm sure he (or someone else) could figure out what you have.

they are the sliding block style and they are interfering with the knuckles. I know how it is supposed to be assembled, but I can't move the bottom of the caliper into postion because the piston hits the knuckle. If anyone knows of a step by step installation procedure, that would be great, although i'm open to any suggestion at this point.

-ChrisYou are going to have to grind on the knuckle some, similar to the drum-to-disc early bronco D44 brake swap. Look at were it hits the knuckle, and hit it with the grinder. Repeat until it fits. You only need a tiny bit of clearance.

Like someone already said, the issue is the new knuckles. The cheby and scout outer stub shaft is about 3/8 longer than ford ones. I have to run snap rings on my stubs because if I don't my inner stub grinds on the housing, but again that is D60 totally different animal.

I'm agree with you all that it is the knuckles now. I don't feel comfortable grinding the knuckles, but if I have to, I will. My stub shafts arent drilled and tapped, and even if i did get a bolt in there, it would be nowhere near the inside part of the locking hub. thanks for the suggestion though.

pictures in 5 minutes

here are some pictures of the knuckles.

http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2f48

http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2g00

http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2g6r

http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2gie

rear view
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2jk4

top view
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2jyg

last picture
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2ln8

what would I have to do to make this setup work? Should I get chevy spindles or stub shafts? Any suggestions as far as the brake caliper situation? I'm making a trip to the junkyard tomorrow and I can pull whatever parts i need. Thanks for all the help so far everyone.

here are some pictures of the knuckles.

top view
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2jyg

last picture
http://tinypic.com/view/?pic=sn2ln8
Ford F250's from a 1976 - 1979 F250.

More later...

Well, from what I remember from Mr.N's articles, those knuckles look like they came off a drum brake set up. You would need to get different knuckles for disk breaks, no amount of grinding is going to work on the knuckles you have. So, I guess the answer to your question would depend on what kind of steering you’re attempting to set up. I'm assuming you’re going for the "cross over steering". If you want to stay with Ford stuff, then go with some knuckles off of a D44 from a 78 or 79 F-250. If Chevy stuff is your cup of tea, then you’re going to have an issue with lug patterns. If you want to stay with the Ford 5 on 5.5 lug pattern, then get the 78/79 F-250 knuckles and re-use your spindles, bearings, hubs, etc…..

seeing as how the search feature is disabled, can I get a link to mr. N's articles?

seeing as how the search feature is disabled, can I get a link to mr. N's articles?

Check Mr Ns sinature, he's been posting in your thread :shaking:

or

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

leave the ring out, it's one less step in changing out the broken axles when you need to do that.

i made a trip to the junkyard, which lasted all morning through afternoon, and picked up a pair of flat top knuckles from a dodge power wagon. Along with the knuckles, I also got caliper mounts, calipers, spindles, outer shafts, and both hubs. I didn't get a chance to get the locking hubs, which were full time locked anyway, but I can reuse my old ones. I'll slap everything together this weekend and let you all know how it goes. thanks for all the help.