Axle help

[1969 k/10]

I need help finding out the year of my front axle. I know for sure that it is a dana 44 but don't know what year it is. Any help would be appreciated.

[LONGHAIR]

There should be a code stamped on one of the axle tubes. It is usually on the top of the tube, near the center casting.
Open knuckle or closed?
Why do you need the year? parts issues?

[1969 k/10]

its a 1969 chevy and i need ball joints but the ones for 69 are a kingpin like one and i need ball joints.
And i found 2 codes stampd into the pumpkin and the axle tube ones are faded away

[LONGHAIR]

Open knuckle?.......Can you physically see the axle shaft out near the ball-joints?

If so, it shouldn't be that hard. Try telling the parts guy that it is a few years newer. They only used the Dana44 up to somewhere around 1978. There is some debate about exactly what year the switch happened, but that won't effect what you need.

[Blazer1970]

I am pretty sure that all Dana 44 and 10 bolt ball joints are the same '70 and up.

[1969 k/10]

how can i tell the difference between open and closed knuckle?

[Blazer1970]

If you can look in and see the steering u-joint in the shafts it is open knuckle.

[1969 k/10]

i can see it, which meens is open. Does that meen someone swapped it because i think 1969 had a closed knuckle?

[Blazer1970]

Originally Posted by 1969 k/10

Does that meen someone swapped it?

Yes

[LONGHAIR]

i can see it, which meens is open. Does that meen someone swapped it because i think 1969 had a closed knuckle?

Yes, that is why I asked initially. The ones the parts guys tried to give you probably were the right ones for what is supposed to be in there.
It's ok though, the open knuckle front end is prefered anyway, it's a fairly common swap.

[1969K10]

Originally Posted by 1969 k/10

i can see it, which meens is open. Does that meen someone swapped it because i think 1969 had a closed knuckle?

not that it matters, but I've been told '69 was a split year. the early models had closed knuckles & the later models had open knuckles.

[Blazer1970]

Originally Posted by 1969K10

not that it matters, but I've been told '69 was a split year. the early models had closed knuckles & the later models had open knuckles.

All '69 Blazers came with open knuckle drum brake fronts. The Blazer was a mid-year introduction but I am not sure what they used on pickup trucks.

[1969 k/10]

It has front disk but idk when the person swapped it.