I have a D44 out of a 78 F250. It's my first axle buildup, so I'm not 100% on what I'm doing.

I am using Dedenbear knuckles, Ford spindles, and Ford rotors.

The problem I am running into, or am not sure the answer for is the brakes.

I'm told that the 3/4 ton D44 has a bracket to mount and that the 1/2 ton D44 has then cast into the knuckles.

With the Dedenbears, I have no bracket on my knuckles. I do have the plates from the 3/4 ton axle.

If I use the bracket (cast one made by Bendix), will I have any issues with the 1/2 ton calipers?

And if I use the brackets, will I have any issues with the lengths of the outer shafts and how they mate up with the hub?

I'm told that the 3/4 ton D44 has a bracket to mount

Correct for '76 thru '79 F-150 and F-250 knuckles.


and that the 1/2 ton D44 has then cast into the knuckles.

Yes and no. '76 thru '79 F-150s and F-250s have the bracket , '80-'96/'97 ttb F-150 and F-250 have the mounts cast onto the knuckle.


With the Dedenbears, I have no bracket on my knuckles. I do have the plates from the 3/4 ton axle.

Yes, use them.

If I use the bracket (cast one made by Bendix), will I have any issues with the 1/2 ton calipers?

Yes, they're not interchangeable. F-150 calipers are single piston, F-250 calipers are twin piston. It would be much better to use the twin piston F-250s.

And if I use the brackets, will I have any issues with the lengths of the outer shafts and how they mate up with the hub?

No, they are the same either way. Look here: http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/Spicer/graph/Dana44_Front_Axle_shafts_Mr.N_.gif

The only knuckles that had the caliper mounts cast into them were the TTB setups.

The rest of your post I am a bit confused about, but the 1/2 ton brake setup is vastly different than the 3/4 ton setup- mostly due to the size and shape of the calipers, and generally wont interchange with each other(I wouldnt be suprised to learn that there is some bizzare exception to this though)

Unless there is something special about those Dedenbears that I am not aware of,
whatever application those Dedenbear knuckles are, is what type of brake setup you will
need to use.

I think you need to find out which knuckle (F150 or F250) the Dedenbear knuckle is modeled after:

http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/images/Dana44flatops/FordF150vsF250knuckles.jpg

The F250 knuckle won't have room for the caliper when the F150 bracket is used.

I think you need to find out which knuckle (F150 or F250) the Dedenbear knuckle is modeled after:


The F250 knuckle won't have room for the caliper when the F150 bracket is used.

Dedenbear Ford 44 knuckles can use either F-150 or F-250 calipers depending on which caliper mount you use.

If you use the F150 caliper bracket you can upgrade and sue a caliper off a 78' Tbird it has a bigger piston. http://www.bcbroncos.com/frontbrakes.html I guess it all comes down to what size wheel you are running.

This post is confusing me.. I read it several times...

Looks like 5 lug hub/rotors... My $.02 is use the 150 brackets with 150 calipers with 150 rotors.

looks like the knuckles are based on a 150 because it looks like the calipers will fit with the brackets shown (look like 150 brackets?). 250 knuckle and anything but a 250 caliper and bracket is a no go AFAIK.

78-79 F250 uses a separate bracket as well as the 150

From Dedenbear: "Based on the Bronco disc brake knuckle and fit 1/2 and 3/4 ton brakes"

This will help, look at the Ford D44 knuckle. http://www.reidracing.biz/DANA44.php
.
.

OK, but it does not state "Ford 3/4 ton brakes" GM stuff is probly non issue, tho I have no idea where to start adding GM parts to a 5 bolt knuckle.

I think it would work on that knuckle if a person used 250 spindle, caliper brkt., caliper, hub/rotor... and stub shaft.. forgot that part of the original question.. aren't the 250 stubs specific and longer?

I've had some issues in the past with 1/2 ton Ford vs. 3/4 ton Ford mix and match. my experience says all one or all the other.

Yes and no. '76 thru '79 F-150s and F-250s have the bracket , '80-'96/'97 ttb F-150 and F-250 have the mounts cast onto the knuckle.





Yes, they're not interchangeable. F-150 calipers are single piston, F-250 calipers are twin piston. It would be much better to use the twin piston F-250s.




Since the 3/4 ton axle housing came with the 1/2 ton knuckles, I'm not 100% that these brackets are 1/2 or 3/4 ton.

I'll get them put together and use the caliper that fits I guess.

If you use the F150 caliper bracket you can upgrade and sue a caliper off a 78' Tbird it has a bigger piston. http://www.bcbroncos.com/frontbrakes.html I guess it all comes down to what size wheel you are running.

Interesting.

Found a nice writeup on that.

http://www.ford-trucks.com/article/idx/13/092/article/Complete_Brake_Upgrade_for_1978__1979_Ford_Broncos .html

Complete with part numbers.

This post is confusing me.. I read it several times...

Looks like 5 lug hub/rotors... My $.02 is use the 150 brackets with 150 calipers with 150 rotors.

looks like the knuckles are based on a 150 because it looks like the calipers will fit with the brackets shown (look like 150 brackets?). 250 knuckle and anything but a 250 caliper and bracket is a no go AFAIK.

78-79 F250 uses a separate bracket as well as the 150

4XFord has already answered clearly about the axle stubs. All F-250 stubs from 1977-1/2 to 1979(and well beyond) are the same stub as the 1/2 ton version uses. The bolt pattern on the 1/2 ton bracket is the same as the 3/4 ton bracket(and also the 78/79 D60), but you can't put the 1/2 ton brakes on the 3/4 ton knuckle because they are thicker in that area like u2slo's images show. The 3/4 ton bracket and dual caliper will fit the 1/2 ton stuff with no interference, hence why you can use either on a 1/2 ton set-up. Keep in mind you must run a minimum of a 16" wheel to run the dual caliper, or grind it down.

Since the 3/4 ton axle housing came with the 1/2 ton knuckles, I'm not 100% that these brackets are 1/2 or 3/4 ton.

I'll get them put together and use the caliper that fits I guess.

aaahh... so what do you want to use? I think it pretty much comes down to this: Use everything from the 5 lug or use everything from the 8 lug, no mix-n-match, except the stub shaft.

aaahh... so what do you want to use? I think it pretty much comes down to this: Use everything from the 5 lug or use everything from the 8 lug, no mix-n-match, except the stub shaft.

I'm hoping that these are 1/2 ton brackets and that the T-Bird calipers will work.

No one makes a bracket, and I don't want to buy new wheels and tires. (I'm already over budget on this.)

I'm hoping that these are 1/2 ton brackets and that the T-Bird calipers will work.

No one makes a bracket, and I don't want to buy new wheels and tires. (I'm already over budget on this.)

There are plenty of vendors on ebay that make a bracket to run the smaller single-piston Chevy calipers on the 3/4 ton Fords. I don't see why they wouldn't work on the Ford 1/2 ton. Not 100% positive, but there's a good chance the Chevy 3/4 ton caliper is bigger than the T-Bird caliper. Chevy uses like stuff on 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton; Ford uses like stuff on 3/4 ton and 1 ton. (At least back in the 70's anyway) Otherwise, the jy's across the country should be littered with 1/2 ton 4WD brake brackets from 70's Ford. Check ebay and you could have them shipped to your door if you get a good deal on some. Whichever way you want to go; Ford or Chevy)

4XFord has already answered clearly about the axle stubs. All F-250 stubs from 1977-1/2 to 1979(and well beyond) are the same stub as the 1/2 ton version uses.

I have some info that does not agree... but its not rock solid evidence.. If i'm wrong about this I want to know.

I show 1/2 ton stubs at 9.72" end to center of u-joint. I personally measured a stub that "I'm reasonably sure" came from a 8 lug HP Dana 44 78-79 at around 10.375"

:confused:

I have some info that does not agree... but its not rock solid evidence.. If i'm wrong about this I want to know.

I show 1/2 ton stubs at 9.72" end to center of u-joint. I personally measured a stub that "I'm reasonably sure" came from a 8 lug HP Dana 44 78-79 at around 10.375"

:confused:

After 1977.5, they are all basically the same p/n from Ford or Dana, with only some minor variations around the snap-ring, and that has more to do with the change over from Spicer to Warn hubs than anything else. I'll double-check in the catalog tonight. Prior to 77.5, no 3/4 ton stub would interchange for a variety of reasons.

P.S. If you are looking at a 1977 stub, it would be standard sized u-joint, but longer to match the HD external locking hubs. 76/77 are like these. 75 and prior could have a HD u-joint or standard u-joint, but the stub length would be different due to drum brake knuckles and spindles. (and even longer stubs for the HD hubs on the big u-joint ones)

I have some info that does not agree... but its not rock solid evidence.. If i'm wrong about this I want to know.

I show 1/2 ton stubs at 9.72" end to center of u-joint.

Yup I agree, '77-1/2 thru '79 F-250 also.


I personally measured a stub that "I'm reasonably sure" came from a 8 lug HP Dana 44 78-79 at around 10.375"

:confused:

Sounds like a '76-'77 big hub D44 HD low pinion from a highboy, I know the '76 highboy hubs I have need 10-3/8" stubs. I was going to put them on my '79 F-250 but the stubs in it were too short. The big hub hd version used longer stubs and they can be swapped on the newer '77-1/2--'79 knuckle if you use everything from the knuckle out including the stub shafts.

I've swapped stubs in my '79 F-250, I used stubs from my '78 F-150 (RIP) in it. Now the inners.........one is a different length.....:shaking:

But we are talking about Ford.....so :confused::confused::confused:

I'm hoping that these are 1/2 ton brackets and that the T-Bird calipers will work.

No one makes a bracket, and I don't want to buy new wheels and tires. (I'm already over budget on this.)

Here's a pic of a 1/2 ton bracket bendix part# is stamped on it 3204157-L sure looks like the one in your photo's

Now the inners.........one is a different length.....:shaking:

But we are talking about Ford.....so :confused::confused::confused:

True. I can't figure this out either. If the housing is longer, how could it only grow to one side. Baffling??? I guess the pumpkin is a tad more to the left??

Here's a pic of a 1/2 ton bracket bendix part# is stamped on it 3204157-L sure looks like the one in your photo's

True, but they are so close to each other in looks, you really need to know the spread. If I had to say, I'd say his does look more like a 1/2 ton for sure.

True, but they are so close to each other in looks, you really need to know the spread. If I had to say, I'd say his does look more like a 1/2 ton for sure.

I'm pretty sure they're 1/2 tons. I put the caliper on with the spacer and they're fairly tight.

I'm going to drop them off and pickup some TBird calipers instead.

Here's a pic of a 1/2 ton bracket bendix part# is stamped on it 3204157-L sure looks like the one in your photo's

Same number on mine.

One more stupid question.

I dropped off the axle so a a friend could setup the gears. I forgot to pickup a pinion yoke. Any ideas on the spline count? My driveshaft is setup for a strap on the pinion yoke, and because of my budget, I'd like to avoid too many more expenditures. Is the yoke the same as the one on the D30 for an 1991 XJ? (Which from what I can find is either 26 or 27 splines.)

I'm counting 28, unless I've got it mixed up with a 9". I couldn't find a 44 pinion in the garage. I found a yoke I think came off the front end of the Bronco, but no garantee it wasn't a spare for the rear. My first instinct was 27. Find a post by Mr.N and follow his link to his Dana info pages. There's nothing you can think of about Dana axles that he's not already documented.

Couldn't find anything on Mr N's pages, but when I got to a $WD shop, they knew.

I didn't want to test the knowledge of the guys at Vatozone. (BTW, it's 26 spline.)