Closed knuckle to open knuckle Dana 44 questions

[danw210]

Originally Posted by BLAZERMAN

Axle shafts are totally different, about the only parts that will interchange is ring and pinion, carrier.
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Ah....thanks BLAZERMAN!

[danw210]

I thought that you had to get a housing that has a similar gear ratio, 3.73 and lower or 4.09 and higher. Any truth to that?

[Spicer]

Hello, Great Build! On your disc set up it looks as though your caliper brackets are bent right there on the edge of the ear, it’s been awhile since I’ve run the D52 brake set up, but this was a common issue, they get bent when moving the axle around without the calipers on them… maybe, and I don’t think your issue is your closed knuckle housing, because imo the spindle out is where your difference is, from the pic you have the spindle on first and then the caliper bracket and this is correct, so if the brackets are not bent then it would be somewhere in the hub/rotor spindle area, the spindle that you are using is from the disc set up correct? Just something to think about… Again Great build!

[amccomb]

Great info guys!

[danw210]

Originally Posted by Spicer

Hello, Great Build! On your disc set up it looks as though your caliper brackets are bent right there on the edge of the ear, it’s been awhile since I’ve run the D52 brake set up, but this was a common issue, they get bent when moving the axle around without the calipers on them… maybe, and I don’t think your issue is your closed knuckle housing, because imo the spindle out is where your difference is, from the pic you have the spindle on first and then the caliper bracket and this is correct, so if the brackets are not bent then it would be somewhere in the hub/rotor spindle area, the spindle that you are using is from the disc set up correct? Just something to think about… Again Great build!

Spicer - I looked into your suggestions. The caliper mounting plates are as they should be. The picture does make you wonder though. The spindle however, is the issue. I was using the 69 spindles. I still have the 72 spindles laying around so I messed with them today. They push the caliper out 3/8 of an inch and that is just what it needs. But...........the 69 spindles have a brass bushing in them allowing the fat part of the axle tofit. The 72 spindles have what looks like some sort of bearing in the place where the brass bushing on the 69 is. The bearing reduces the diameter of the opening and the axle doesn't fit.
My latest question - does that bearing thing-a-ma-bobber come out? And if so, can the spindle have a bushing pressed in to make it like the 69 spindle?

That is the only case where I think that the closed knuckle will work. Axles are different so that's not an option. The picture with the caliper mounted is with the 72 spindle, on a 72 hub with no axle shaft in the housing.