Front Differential Question
 

I have had a few 70-72 K20's but never a K30. My question is, "What front axle did the K30's come with?" I see a lot of pictures on this site of these era 4x4's which look like Dana 44 HD's. Did they have D60's in them, or just Dana 44's until 1973? Thanks Ryan.

Re: Front Differential Question
 

No factory K30s until 77-78, all front axles are Dana 60s, backs are either Dana 70s or 14FFs. I've had a few, my 83 K30 dually has a Dana 70 in the back where the CUCV K30s have 14FFs.

Re: Front Differential Question
 

Dana44HDs in K/20s till 77-78 (or somewhere around there) when the 10-bolt started going in.

Re: Front Differential Question
 

Thanks SpecialK that is what I was wondering. That was what I figuired, but I was just wondering if GM ever put anything heavier in them. Kind of like Dodge did with the Dana 70's in the front on some of their 1 ton duallys.

Re: Front Differential Question
 

Ok, another question. Were all the Dana44's until 1977 HD's? Just curious for when I go to get parts. you don't want to give the kid behind the counter too many numbers. LOL

Re: Front Differential Question
 

HD really means nothing on a Dana 44. The parts are all the same as any other D44. Just tell the parts kid the year and model of your truck and that should be enough. The some so-called HD Dana 44s have thicker axle tubes or more ribbing on the center section casting, but that is it.

Re: Front Differential Question
 

...and are 8-lug w/bigger brakes.Or,was there a 1/2t version?I never heard the HD designate until coming on here.
I`m not sure about the transition year on the front axles.But,you can visually I.D. the axles.
Tim`s advise will do the trick.I assume it`s the original axle to the truck?

GM C30s could still be converted to 4wd by NAPCO in these series.They used a Spicer axle that was the same old design from the`50s,like the HO52 Corporate.I had a`71 Custom/30 NAPCO years ago.

Re: Front Differential Question
 

Guys, the early D44s had smaller U-joints in the axels and some D44's have smaller spindels. So some refer to HD as the late72 & 73up D44s cuz the ujoints are the larger ones. That change GM made in 72 from what I recall, so some of the first preduction 72 models may have the smaller Ujoints in the front D44 axel shafts, you can swap out the axel shafts for the larger. It is rare but when stepping up to the larger Ujoint axel you may have to swap spindels too. I did not have to with my 72 but my buddy Ryan did have to swap his spindels...this was years ago so I hope I got the memory straight :uhmk:

Re: Front Differential Question
 

Oh and I belive the 8lug D44 calipers are the same as the 6lug D44 calipers, really it's just the hub assy that seporates 8lug from 6lug...the rest is the same...
:mm:

Re: Front Differential Question
 

Thanks for the help. I just wasn't sure as far as the ball joints go. How many times do you guys get the wrong parts? Seems like it happens to me a lot. No matter how much you tell them sometime. I knew about the u-joints before because I ran into the same problem on one a few years back. LOL

Re: Front Differential Question
 

hahah I started saving part numbers and just ask for the parts I need by numder without the parts house guy needing to look it up:metal: