easy way to determine which disc brakes I have?

[superfly53]

hello everyone.

I just broke my first axle this weekend!!!! I don't know wether to be pissed or happy that I can now claim this badge of honor of four wheel-dom??

Anyway, I was looking at new, more stout front axles, and need to know which outers to buy, the stock ford type or the chevy type.

I have a 74 ranger with a dana 44. I have front AND rear disc brakes. To my knowledge, 74s did not come with front discs as an option. I know rear discs were never an option....

So... my question is, is there an easy way to look at the exterior of the disc brakes/ calipers to determine which setup I have?? Did a PO swap in the fronts with chevys when they did the rear, or is it a complete swapped dana 44 with discs from a later year early bronco?

I am aware that the spindles will be different if it is chevys (right???) but want to know If I can just look so that I don't have to tear it down, order parts, and then have to leave it torn down while I am waiting for the parts to show up.

Thanks in advance.....

 

[Apogee]

Checkout the picture in this recent thread...if your caliper looks like those, you have Chebbys. Otherwise, you've got Fords and then it's a matter of deciding whether you've got the full-size knuckles or the Bronco parts.

http://www.classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82166&highlight=Chevy+caliper

Somebody else might be able to give you a surefire way to tell as well, but a picture would remove all doubt.

 

[76Broncofromhell]

If the caliper has bolts, it's a Chevy-style. If it slides and is retained by a lower clip, it's a Ford.

 

[superfly53]

thank you guys, my calipers slide into the retainers on the axle, so I assume that they are ford parts, as stated earlier.

 

[SaddleUp]

Look for a set of big (3/8") allen head bolts behind the caliper. The Chevy setup has these slider bolts and the Ford doesn't.

 

[Duke Nukem]

Here is what a ford caliper looks like: