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What is the disk brake setup on this dana 44

hahnn6

Newbie
Joined
Jan 22, 2016
Messages
38
Hello all,
I picked up this dana 44 and I just want to know all the info on what you see on it.. what are the disk brakes, calipers, and steering knuckles from if I need replacement parts? A year/model would be super helpful, also anything else interesting or identifiable would be greatly appreciated if you see anything else different from stock. Going to swap it into my 69 after I get the 44 rebuilt
 

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broncosam

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Feb 8, 2005
Messages
1,186
They look to be Ford brake parts and knuckles, but I'm no expert.
 

Broncobowsher

Total hack
Joined
Jun 4, 2002
Messages
35,316
'76-'79 Bronco

You also have a track bar riser bracket installed, good find. If you have a drop bracket on the frame it should go away.
 

sprdv1

Contributor
REBEL
Joined
Mar 8, 2007
Messages
81,962
Nice... hopefully you picked it up for a fair amount..

Hello all,
I picked up this dana 44 and I just want to know all the info on what you see on it.. what are the disk brakes, calipers, and steering knuckles from if I need replacement parts? A year/model would be super helpful, also anything else interesting or identifiable would be greatly appreciated if you see anything else different from stock. Going to swap it into my 69 after I get the 44 rebuilt
 

Spaggyroe

Full Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
284
You may want to ditch that steering setup and go with something like Duff's heim steer system. I recently had a buddy CAD model my steering / axle / track bar and found that running the drag link out to the passenger knuckle like that was causing my bump steer due to a mismatch in the arc's that the drag link and track bar would move through.

I fixed my steering geometry by moving my drag link attachment point in (towards the drivers side) something like 8". This mimics the factory setup. Duff's heim steer system does the same. https://dufftuff.com/product/heim-joint-steering-systems-1966-77-bronco/
 
OP
OP
H

hahnn6

Newbie
Joined
Jan 22, 2016
Messages
38
I got it for $1100 bucks :eek: I know every blue moon I see one for cheaper but i'm also seeing them more expensive as well...

So a 76-79 bronco has the same hub/brake setup?

I'll look into the helm steering thank you!
 

snick

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
133
Based on the pics, it looks like you have a 'Kiser Riser' bracket. The Kiser Riser was the only bracket which was made with 3/8" steel plate, all the vendor brackets are 1/4". They were made by a very nice guy on this forum name Bernie Kiser a number of years back. Nice find! Also, it appears it's the taller version Kiser Riser which was intended to be used with a 5.5" suspension lift. If you're running anything less than a 5.5" suspension lift then you will likely need to cut or grind the top down and use the lower hole on the bracket to mount the track bar. If you don't do this it will likely not clear the oil pan and/or other things that the track bar travels under. Make sure to cycle the suspension, most importantly at full compression, to make sure it clears everything.
 

toddz69

Sponsor/Vendor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 28, 2001
Messages
10,394
You may want to ditch that steering setup and go with something like Duff's heim steer system. I recently had a buddy CAD model my steering / axle / track bar and found that running the drag link out to the passenger knuckle like that was causing my bump steer due to a mismatch in the arc's that the drag link and track bar would move through.

I fixed my steering geometry by moving my drag link attachment point in (towards the drivers side) something like 8". This mimics the factory setup. Duff's heim steer system does the same. https://dufftuff.com/product/heim-joint-steering-systems-1966-77-bronco/

Excellent suggestion! Not only do you fix the likely bump steer issues but you eliminate those stacked heims in single shear - increasing the safety of your vehicle.

Todd Z.
 

snick

Contributor
Jr. Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2015
Messages
133
Also, just one small but important clarification so you don't buy the wrong parts for your rebuild. Everything your have from the knuckles out is from a 78-79 bronco/76-79 F-150. The 76-77 bronco knuckles are not what you have and parts will not fit your set-up if you order parts for a 76-77 bronco. Not totally sure if every single part is different from the knuckles out, but the knuckles are definitely not 76-77 bronco knuckles so to be safe, only orderparts for anything from the knuckles out for a 78-79 bronco/76-79 F-150. Your center section is a low pinion D44 so it came from a 71.5-77 bronco. If you're replacing the axle shafts or any other part from inside the knuckles then use 72(technically it's 71.5 but just use 72 to be safe)-77 as reference years for replacement parts.
 

1buckeyefan1

Sr. Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2017
Messages
631
Also, just one small but important clarification so you don't buy the wrong parts for your rebuild. Everything your have from the knuckles out is from a 78-79 bronco/76-79 F-150. The 76-77 bronco knuckles are not what you have and parts will not fit your set-up if you order parts for a 76-77 bronco. Not totally sure if every single part is different from the knuckles out, but the knuckles are definitely not 76-77 bronco knuckles so to be safe, only orderparts for anything from the knuckles out for a 78-79 bronco/76-79 F-150. Your center section is a low pinion D44 so it came from a 71.5-77 bronco. If you're replacing the axle shafts or any other part from inside the knuckles then use 72(technically it's 71.5 but just use 72 to be safe)-77 as reference years for replacement parts.

Not to hijack, but I've been trying to figure out the same thing on my setup.. whether I have F150 or 76-77 bronco knuckles on mine? My PO had this setup and I've been using '77 bronco on my parts runs for rotors, calipers, pads, etc. Any insight on what is different? pretty sure I have my 74 D44, but swapped out Ford knuckles?

(I had my ball joints, needle bearings, etc all replaced when i had my axle regeared)
 

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DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
48,570
So a 76-79 bronco has the same hub/brake setup?

Not to hijack, but I've been trying to figure out the same thing on my setup.. whether I have F150 or 76-77 bronco knuckles on mine? My PO had this setup and I've been using '77 bronco on my parts runs for rotors, calipers, pads, etc. Any insight on what is different?

The disc brake knuckles are different from drum brake knuckles and neither are compatible with each others brake parts.
However the ball joints and ball joint spacing are identical, which is what allows a disc brake knuckle to be swapped over to an axle that originally came with drum brakes.

There are at least three different disc brake knuckles, and maybe more. There are '76/'77 Bronco, '76-'79 F150 (including '78/'79 Bronco) and F150 SuperCab model trucks with leaf springs. The primary difference is in the size, shape and location of the steering arm, and the size of the tapered hole for the tie-rod.
If you both can read the part numbers on your knuckles/steering arms they can be compared to known parts.
The ball joints, caliper brackets, calipers, pads, spindles, wheel bearings, bearing hubs and hub lockouts are all the same between the different model trucks and will swap back and forth between models.

Some differences that can get in the way, but not stop you from swapping are: Brake lines and steering knuckles (the arms are different).

From here, as said already they look like standard F150 and full-size Bronco knuckles. But the part numbers will tell the tale.
Buckeyefan you can perhaps still see your BOM (bill of materials) number on the long tube facing directly front. If that is powder coating, or a product like POR-15 however, your number discovery days are passed. And hahnn, you might still be able to see yours, but many of the risers unfortunately get welded on right over the numbers.
If you can find the BOM then you can each determine what the front differential was originally out of, what gearing and GAWR rating it first came with, date of manufacture and stuff like that.
Without it, everything is just a guess because after all these years just about anything could have been swapped, then swapped back, then swapped again time and time again.

Paul
 

DirtDonk

Contributor
Bronco Guru
Joined
Nov 3, 2003
Messages
48,570
Excellent point! Do you know if theirs have cast-in numbers on the side of the arms like stock? Can't tell on buckeye's of course, but hahnn's are showing numbers.

Paul
 
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