Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

MudBug · 12-20-2009, 09:56 AM

What is the best and most cost effective way to put disk brakes on a closed Knuckle DANA 44 front Axle? The Axles are stock now.
T

HANKS

ghettoluxury · 12-20-2009, 10:37 AM

get a set of open knuckles you can pick up a complete dana 44 or gm 10 bolt for $100 and have all the parts you need to interchange.

62 short step · 12-20-2009, 10:40 AM

The easiest imo is to just swap the axle.

b454rat · 12-20-2009, 10:45 AM

Blackbirds Customs has a disc brake conversion kit, but it would be cheaper and easier to get another axle that has discs already.

**Yukon Jack** · 12-20-2009, 11:15 AM

I gotta agree you ought to just swap in an open knuckle axle - the decreased turning radius you gain will be a huge additional benefit.

msgross · 12-20-2009, 11:20 AM

ditto, I did it this way...

all chevy solid axles will work, BUT you are going to have to swap brake lines, and add a proportioning valve for the disc brakes...maybe even a new MC... i'm not finished with my conversion yet.

MudBug · 12-20-2009, 03:53 PM

Thanks for the info.I got An 1966 4 wheel bare c

hassis and body just trying to find a starting point.

**special-K** · 12-20-2009, 05:08 PM

I just have one word of advise to offer,swapanotherwholeaxleastheothershavesuggested.

I really want to build one of those.

duallyjams · 12-26-2009, 10:52 AM

Make sure the gear ratio is the same if you swap the axle.

silver7 · 12-27-2009, 10:04 AM

Ditto on the open knuckle swap. In addition to the tighter turn radius mentioned before they are easier to maintain than the closed knuckle. You can find your part here:
Pull-A-Part

12-20-2009, 09:56 AM	#1
MudBug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: tennessee Posts: 159	Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes What is the best and most cost effective way to put disk brakes on a closed Knuckle DANA 44 front Axle? The Axles are stock now. THANKS

12-20-2009, 10:37 AM	#2
ghettoluxury Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Waynesfield Ohio Posts: 1,991	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes get a set of open knuckles you can pick up a complete dana 44 or gm 10 bolt for $100 and have all the parts you need to interchange. __________________ 1949 Five Window, 1973 Step Side, 2000 Z71

12-20-2009, 10:40 AM	#3
62 short step Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Greenwell Springs, Louisiana Posts: 2,882	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes The easiest imo is to just swap the axle. __________________ www.louisianaclassictruckclub.com 1965 c-10 86 chevy c/k 20 Last edited by 62 short step; 12-20-2009 at 12:06 PM.

12-20-2009, 10:45 AM	#4
b454rat Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 3,469	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes Blackbirds Customs has a disc brake conversion kit, but it would be cheaper and easier to get another axle that has discs already. __________________ 2000 GMC CCSB 454/4L80 6” lift SAS 1999 Chevy CCSB 454/NV4500 4” SAS 1999 GMC Yukon 350/4L60 6" SAS

12-20-2009, 11:15 AM	#5
Yukon Jack Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Rose Hill, KS, USA Posts: 12,686	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes I gotta agree you ought to just swap in an open knuckle axle - the decreased turning radius you gain will be a huge additional benefit. __________________ 1970 Blazer with a 400 sbc and 4" lift 1980 Pontiac Trans Am, 455 Oldsmobile 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14

12-20-2009, 11:20 AM	#6
msgross Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central PA Posts: 12,201	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes ditto, I did it this way... all chevy solid axles will work, BUT you are going to have to swap brake lines, and add a proportioning valve for the disc brakes...maybe even a new MC... i'm not finished with my conversion yet. __________________ The Garage: 1968 K-10 SWB - "Project Money Pit" 1996 Z-71 - "huntin rig" 1969 C-10 LWB (SOLD) "Project flip that truck or else" 1993 Passport, F@rd 1-ton (SOLD)"Project Cousin Eddie" My Garage Build "The 1,000 footer" Last edited by msgross; 12-20-2009 at 11:21 AM.

12-20-2009, 03:53 PM	#7
MudBug Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: tennessee Posts: 159	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes Thanks for the info.I got An 1966 4 wheel bare chassis and body just trying to find a starting point.

12-20-2009, 05:08 PM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes I just have one word of advise to offer,swapanotherwholeaxleastheothershavesuggested. I really want to build one of those. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

12-26-2009, 10:52 AM	#9
duallyjams Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: Deale Md Posts: 4,663	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes Make sure the gear ratio is the same if you swap the axle. __________________ James 63 GMC V6 4speed carryall 65 chevy swb bbw V8 auto 68 K20 327/4 speed, buddy buckets 2002 GMC CC Dually Duramax 64 GMC lwb 3/4 V6 4speed SOLD 66 GMC swb bbw buddy buckets SOLD IG duallyjams The only thing that stays the same is constant change!

12-27-2009, 10:04 AM	#10
silver7 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: High Point, NC Posts: 613	Re: Closed Knuckle DANA 44 disk brakes Ditto on the open knuckle swap. In addition to the tighter turn radius mentioned before they are easier to maintain than the closed knuckle. You can find your part here: Pull-A-Part __________________ Shawn 1971 C10 4x4

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