small and big bearing hubs - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

61K10 · 03-29-2016, 02:46 PM

Question--can you replace dana 44 1973-76 1/2t small bearing spindles with big bearing spindles and hubs?

**kwmech** · 03-29-2016, 07:23 PM

Yes, you will also need a 3/4 ton backing plate/caliper mount

61K10 · 03-29-2016, 08:05 PM

kwmech--I thought you might know! thanks for posting. new parts are disappearing and the big bearing spindles and hubs can be found new. the small stuff is after market even avl.

61K10 · 03-30-2016, 01:07 PM

the 3/4t backing plate have a bigger center hole?

OLDCHEV4X4 · 03-30-2016, 03:21 PM

1/2 ton will work too.

**kwmech** · 03-30-2016, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 61K10

the 3/4t backing plate have a bigger center hole?

No, same hole, but the 3/4 ton rotors are larger in diameter than the 1/2. So you need the 3/4 ton plate so the caliper will sit on the rotor in the correct place. If you use the 1/2 mounting plate the caliper will rub on the rotor.

**kwmech** · 03-30-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDCHEV4X4

1/2 ton will work too.

No it won't

OLDCHEV4X4 · 03-30-2016, 04:49 PM

I replaced the small bearing spindles on my 72 d44 with big bearing spindles from a 1977ish 1/2 ton. I used the spindles, rotor/hub assembly and caliper mount. Everything went right together. 1/2 ton 6 lug

**kwmech** · 03-30-2016, 05:09 PM

Yeah, my bad, I get so used to people converting from 1/2 ton to 3/4 I associated with the big bearing. Same spindle on the 1/2 and 3/4 in the later years. So yes the same 1/2 ton backing plate, either small or large spindle

70' · 03-30-2016, 10:31 PM

Just did this myself. Big bearing spindles on D44 under 1/2 ton truck. Still using stock 1/2 ton 6 lug rotors/ Calipers/ and everything else stock but the brains and seals- they are different.

**kwmech** · 03-31-2016, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70'

Just did this myself. Big bearing spindles on D44 under 1/2 ton truck. Still using stock 1/2 ton 6 lug rotors/ Calipers/ and everything else stock but the brains and seals- they are different.

Actually the seals and outer bearings are the same. The inner bearing changes from a 603049 to 104949. Depending on the year, there may be a difference on the back of the spindle.

ky-donzi · 11-25-2021, 12:25 PM

Sorry to revive this thread

But I have a question and I can’t seem to find a definitive answer.

Background:

I have a 73 (small bearing hub) Dana 44 1/2 ton blazer. It has the V shaped caliper mounts.

I want to replace the hub/rotor/spindle assembly with the later model big bearing hub assembly, which I see in countless places is a direct swap.

My question:

Can I use the 73 calipers and V caliper mounts with the post 77 spindle/hub/rotor? Or will I have to source different backing plates to mount the calipers?

Thanks
Reid

**kwmech** · 11-25-2021, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ky-donzi

Sorry to revive this thread

My question:

Can I use the 73 calipers and V caliper mounts with the post 77 spindle/hub/rotor? Or will I have to source different backing plates to mount the calipers?

Thanks
Reid

Yes you can as long as it all stays 6 lug.

ky-donzi · 11-25-2021, 03:29 PM

Awesome! That makes my life easy!

Napa has new hub/rotor assemblies cheap. All I have to do is buy the plentiful large bearing spindles and new inter bearings

Thanks so much,,,happy thanksgiving!

03-29-2016, 02:46 PM	#1
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	small and big bearing hubs Question--can you replace dana 44 1973-76 1/2t small bearing spindles with big bearing spindles and hubs? __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

03-29-2016, 07:23 PM	#2
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,628	Re: small and big bearing hubs Yes, you will also need a 3/4 ton backing plate/caliper mount Last edited by kwmech; 03-29-2016 at 08:04 PM.

03-29-2016, 08:05 PM	#3
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	Re: small and big bearing hubs kwmech--I thought you might know! thanks for posting. new parts are disappearing and the big bearing spindles and hubs can be found new. the small stuff is after market even avl. __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

03-30-2016, 01:07 PM	#4
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	Re: small and big bearing hubs the 3/4t backing plate have a bigger center hole? __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

03-30-2016, 03:21 PM	#5
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Re: small and big bearing hubs 1/2 ton will work too. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

03-30-2016, 04:49 PM	#8
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Re: small and big bearing hubs I replaced the small bearing spindles on my 72 d44 with big bearing spindles from a 1977ish 1/2 ton. I used the spindles, rotor/hub assembly and caliper mount. Everything went right together. 1/2 ton 6 lug __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

03-30-2016, 05:09 PM	#9
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,628	Re: small and big bearing hubs Yeah, my bad, I get so used to people converting from 1/2 ton to 3/4 I associated with the big bearing. Same spindle on the 1/2 and 3/4 in the later years. So yes the same 1/2 ton backing plate, either small or large spindle

03-30-2016, 10:31 PM	#10
70' Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Dickinson, ND Posts: 197	Re: small and big bearing hubs Just did this myself. Big bearing spindles on D44 under 1/2 ton truck. Still using stock 1/2 ton 6 lug rotors/ Calipers/ and everything else stock but the brains and seals- they are different.

11-25-2021, 12:25 PM	#12
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: small and big bearing hubs Sorry to revive this thread But I have a question and I can’t seem to find a definitive answer. Background: I have a 73 (small bearing hub) Dana 44 1/2 ton blazer. It has the V shaped caliper mounts. I want to replace the hub/rotor/spindle assembly with the later model big bearing hub assembly, which I see in countless places is a direct swap. My question: Can I use the 73 calipers and V caliper mounts with the post 77 spindle/hub/rotor? Or will I have to source different backing plates to mount the calipers? Thanks Reid __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi Last edited by ky-donzi; 11-25-2021 at 02:19 PM.

11-25-2021, 03:29 PM	#14
ky-donzi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: madisonville ky Posts: 313	Re: small and big bearing hubs Awesome! That makes my life easy! Napa has new hub/rotor assemblies cheap. All I have to do is buy the plentiful large bearing spindles and new inter bearings Thanks so much,,,happy thanksgiving! __________________ 61 GMC 4x4 1-ton flatbed 4bt cummins, ranger od, sm465, np 205, d60F, d70R 4.11 10,000 ramsey PTO winch.... SOLD 73 k5 gm crate 350-265 / sm465 / np205 3.73 posi Last edited by ky-donzi; 11-25-2021 at 04:42 PM.

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