Steering Knuckles questions. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Davy · 10-28-2005, 12:09 PM

Are the steering knuckles from a late 70's-early 80's D44 the same as the knuckles from a 1971 D44?

Is there a difference between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton knuckles?

Thanks,
Dave

toroflow · 10-28-2005, 12:16 PM

nope, they are the same, 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton. and the knuckles are all the same whether its a dana 44 or a 10 bolt, from 1969-ish to 1991.

Chris_T · 10-28-2005, 01:08 PM

The knuckles are not all the same from 69-91. They will interchange, but the early Dana 44 knuckles have a 'flat top' passenger side knuckle that is desirable if you're considering changing to crossover steering.

Beast388 · 10-28-2005, 04:55 PM

You also have to consider the tie rod. The early knuckles had the TRE's that pointed down and the later knuckles pointed up.

As long as you swap them around in pairs you should be fine. I am using my stock 1/2 ton '71 knuckles and tie rod on my '77 3/4 ton Dana 44. I retained the '71 knuckles for if/when I go to crossover steering.

Davy · 10-28-2005, 11:15 PM

Thanks for the responses. As you may have guessed, I'm asking about knuckles because I am going to convert my 1970 D44 (drums) to disks. I've seen proof that the drum D44 knuckles are physically different than the disk D44 knuckles.....but I wasn't sure about the difference between years of the disk D44's (or 1/2ton vs. 3/4ton).

I know, I know.....get a complete disk axle and bolt it on, right...

Well, I have access to the individual parts pretty cheap and I am making sure all the associated pieces (ball joints, etc.) are new, so.......I will likely be building it (piece by piece) with my 1970 axle housing.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks again.

Americanrider · 10-29-2005, 02:33 AM

Your going to have a hard time finding a straight axle in a 91. They went to IFS somewhere around 88 or 89.

**JIMs70GMC** · 10-29-2005, 12:54 PM

Boone, except for the K5s, burbs and 1 tons I believe went IFS in 92.

**special-K** · 10-29-2005, 02:28 PM

Blazers,Suburbans,And Cewcabs(V/R series).StandardCab`n`chassis through`89.

Americanrider · 10-31-2005, 03:55 AM

I was thinking just pickups.

10-28-2005, 12:09 PM	#1
Davy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rice, Minnesota Posts: 370	Steering Knuckles questions. Are the steering knuckles from a late 70's-early 80's D44 the same as the knuckles from a 1971 D44? Is there a difference between 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton knuckles? Thanks, Dave __________________ 1970 Blazer CST Looking for NOS items for my CST restoration.

10-28-2005, 12:16 PM	#2
toroflow Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Anaheim, CA Posts: 103	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. nope, they are the same, 1/2 ton or 3/4 ton. and the knuckles are all the same whether its a dana 44 or a 10 bolt, from 1969-ish to 1991. __________________ Ken '60 GMC 3/4T 4x4 '60 GMC Suburban 4x4 '64 GMC Suburban 4x4

10-28-2005, 01:08 PM	#3
Chris_T Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saskatoon, SK Posts: 44	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. The knuckles are not all the same from 69-91. They will interchange, but the early Dana 44 knuckles have a 'flat top' passenger side knuckle that is desirable if you're considering changing to crossover steering.

10-28-2005, 04:55 PM	#4
Beast388 Suburbans RULE! Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Clinton, IA 52732 Posts: 689	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. You also have to consider the tie rod. The early knuckles had the TRE's that pointed down and the later knuckles pointed up. As long as you swap them around in pairs you should be fine. I am using my stock 1/2 ton '71 knuckles and tie rod on my '77 3/4 ton Dana 44. I retained the '71 knuckles for if/when I go to crossover steering. __________________ --Ben 71 GMC Suburban 4X4 The "Beast" 388 CID Stroker, TH350, NP205, 8-lug D44, 14BFF w/ Detroit, 4.10:1 gears, 4-Wheel Disks 4" Lift, 35" MT/R's.

10-28-2005, 11:15 PM	#5
Davy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Rice, Minnesota Posts: 370	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. Thanks for the responses. As you may have guessed, I'm asking about knuckles because I am going to convert my 1970 D44 (drums) to disks. I've seen proof that the drum D44 knuckles are physically different than the disk D44 knuckles.....but I wasn't sure about the difference between years of the disk D44's (or 1/2ton vs. 3/4ton). I know, I know.....get a complete disk axle and bolt it on, right... Well, I have access to the individual parts pretty cheap and I am making sure all the associated pieces (ball joints, etc.) are new, so.......I will likely be building it (piece by piece) with my 1970 axle housing. Any other suggestions? Thanks again. __________________ 1970 Blazer CST Looking for NOS items for my CST restoration.

10-29-2005, 02:33 AM	#6
Americanrider Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NW, WA. Posts: 1,421	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. Your going to have a hard time finding a straight axle in a 91. They went to IFS somewhere around 88 or 89.

10-29-2005, 12:54 PM	#7
JIMs70GMC user # 2756 Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Chesapeake, Virginia Posts: 4,612	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. Boone, except for the K5s, burbs and 1 tons I believe went IFS in 92. __________________ 1970 K25, 8' stepside bed 350/465/205 44 up front, 60 in the rear 4.10s rolling on 33" Dunlop MTs 1986 K5, 350/465/208 Dana 60/14 bolt from a cucv 36" Super Swampers TSL/SX 1983 K20 w/ CUCV axles, 350/700R4/208 sitting on 37" Goodyears 1986 M1031 6.2 diesel, TH400/NP205 locker in the rear and a LS in the front, all stock for now..... 1986 K30, 350/400/205 dana 60 and 14 bolt. I kept the drivetrain. Body/bad and chassis are gone. 1981 K30, 350/465/205 dana 60 and dually 14 bolt. Has a G80, and a flat bed. Going to replace the flat bed. 1985 K20, 350/400/208 10 bolt and SF 14 bolt. I wonder where I can find some 1 tons. Hmmmmm

10-29-2005, 02:28 PM	#8
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,862	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. Blazers,Suburbans,And Cewcabs(V/R series).StandardCab`n`chassis through`89. __________________ "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 ~

10-31-2005, 03:55 AM	#9
Americanrider Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NW, WA. Posts: 1,421	Re: Steering Knuckles questions. I was thinking just pickups.



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