Dana 44 Caliper Bracket Offset - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

ld50 · 05-06-2010, 01:22 PM

So, I finally started putting together my front Dana 44 axle and have a issue. The inside brake pad (against the piston) will not even fit between the caliper bracket and the rotor.

I have searched, but have found no definite solution. I believe the caliper bracket has the wrong offset. As you can see in the picture, the distance from the spindle surface to the inside of the bracket is about 7/8".

Can anyone confirm that there is indeed a bracket with a larger offset, before I go searching for one?

I believe all the other parts are correct, as everything else bolts together just fine.

Chevy 6 bolt, flat-top knuckles
Small bearing spindles
Ford rotor/hubs
Chevy axle stubs

2003_ram · 05-06-2010, 01:46 PM

Thats the correct one. I did the same swap, I will grab pictures. The caliper you are using is chevy right? from a 75' K5 and the pads the same. looks fine to me. I'll look at the willys later and see, you can check my build thread on page 3 or 4 I might have pics of what I did too. I'll look and find out, but the pads does NOT go between the bracket and rotor, you know this right? It floats on the caliper bolts. If you need I can grab pics of the front axle on the flatty, same exact setup.

ld50 · 05-06-2010, 02:16 PM

Unless I am not understanding something, the inner pad must ride between the bracket and rotor.

This pic shows it in that position:

The backing plate (same as above image) looks just like the one I have:

So now I am even more confused about this. Maybe the spindle is incorrect?

2003_ram · 05-07-2010, 11:30 AM

I'll get pics and look at how I did th setup on mine and let you know. You have the correct parts.

Dodgen · 05-09-2010, 01:02 PM

I had a 5 lug setup on my Waggy and used the stock Waggy brackets just fine. I then went to an 8-lug setup and switched to the bracket you show in the picture. If I remember correctly the offset was narrower on that one than the Waggy one. This has been about 4 years and I am just going off the info I see here...but that would be my bet. Here Waggys are pretty common in the PAPs, see if you can find some around you for cheap and try it.

ld50 · 05-27-2010, 11:20 AM

After searching, I think I have narrowed the problem down to the spindle. It seems I may have drum brake spindles, which are supposedly about 1/4" shorter. Does anyone have a small bearing disk spindle they could measure so I can compare it to what I have?

05-06-2010, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
ld50 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Member # 93767 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 97	Dana 44 Caliper Bracket Offset So, I finally started putting together my front Dana 44 axle and have a issue. The inside brake pad (against the piston) will not even fit between the caliper bracket and the rotor. I have searched, but have found no definite solution. I believe the caliper bracket has the wrong offset. As you can see in the picture, the distance from the spindle surface to the inside of the bracket is about 7/8". Can anyone confirm that there is indeed a bracket with a larger offset, before I go searching for one? I believe all the other parts are correct, as everything else bolts together just fine. Chevy 6 bolt, flat-top knuckles Small bearing spindles Ford rotor/hubs Chevy axle stubs Attached Images

05-06-2010, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
2003_ram Rock God Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 127313 Location: AZ Posts: 1,253	Thats the correct one. I did the same swap, I will grab pictures. The caliper you are using is chevy right? from a 75' K5 and the pads the same. looks fine to me. I'll look at the willys later and see, you can check my build thread on page 3 or 4 I might have pics of what I did too. I'll look and find out, but the pads does NOT go between the bracket and rotor, you know this right? It floats on the caliper bolts. If you need I can grab pics of the front axle on the flatty, same exact setup. __________________ Nobama, I don't mind working for my money, you shouldn't either. Willys Build http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=824952 “If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - John Wooden RIP "Let every man have a pistol, instead of one man have a tank." Last edited by 2003_ram; 05-06-2010 at 01:49 PM.

05-07-2010, 11:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
2003_ram Rock God Join Date: Jan 2009 Member # 127313 Location: AZ Posts: 1,253	I'll get pics and look at how I did th setup on mine and let you know. You have the correct parts. __________________ Nobama, I don't mind working for my money, you shouldn't either. Willys Build http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=824952 “If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?” - John Wooden RIP "Let every man have a pistol, instead of one man have a tank."

05-09-2010, 01:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dodgen Mall Crawler Join Date: Dec 2006 Member # 83394 Location: Dawsonville,Ga Posts: 262	I had a 5 lug setup on my Waggy and used the stock Waggy brackets just fine. I then went to an 8-lug setup and switched to the bracket you show in the picture. If I remember correctly the offset was narrower on that one than the Waggy one. This has been about 4 years and I am just going off the info I see here...but that would be my bet. Here Waggys are pretty common in the PAPs, see if you can find some around you for cheap and try it. __________________ Save Tellico/Support SFWDA Jeff Dodgen 2000 TJ *Tellico Rally Post #942*

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05-06-2010, 02:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
ld50 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Member # 93767 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 97	Unless I am not understanding something, the inner pad must ride between the bracket and rotor. This pic shows it in that position: The backing plate (same as above image) looks just like the one I have: So now I am even more confused about this. Maybe the spindle is incorrect?

05-27-2010, 11:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
ld50 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Member # 93767 Location: College Station, TX Posts: 97	After searching, I think I have narrowed the problem down to the spindle. It seems I may have drum brake spindles, which are supposedly about 1/4" shorter. Does anyone have a small bearing disk spindle they could measure so I can compare it to what I have?