Dana 44 Gm vsFord differences?

[71K1500]

Hi.
My son has a 70 GMC 1/2 ton 4x4. He wants to convert the front to disc brakes. Trying to find a GM dana 44 around here is tough. Either people think they are made of gold or dont want to separate from the rusty hulk that they figure is Barrett Jackson material.
Anyway, I found a 77 Ford with a Dana. I know its not a bolt in but can I use the knuckles and hubs and swap them onto his GM unit?
In theory I think it works. Same unit just different spring mounts and pumpkin placement.
Thanks
Jeff

[gmc684x4]

I am going to say no it will not work out that easy
Need to find a chevy 44 front diff

[k29349]

Is there a reason you don't want to use a 10 bolt?

[57taskforce]

Most Ford 44’s won’t work, they are driver side drop. Makes them great for solid axle swapped gm ifs trucks but no good for gm trucks built with a solid axle. As said above the 10 bolt is a very good candidate as it’s a direct bolt in.

[BASE]

I think the knuckles are/were pretty unique to each manufacturer. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they would attach to the axle though (use the same inner "C's"). There seems to be a lot of commonality with the center sections but everything from the knuckle outboard is different.

There is a Dana document X510-9 that gives p/n breakdowns for both manufacturers 44's if you know the BOM. It doesn't give much detail on the knuckle assemblies but does show the axles being slightly different lengths. Close enough to get you into trouble if you didn't look real closely though.

I haven't had too hard of a time finding old squarebody axles here locally but maybe I just got lucky with the timing. I think I've found the two I got on CL but it's been a couple years now. I would just keep looking for Chevy axle. Imagine the shame when you have to go to napa and ask for ford brake parts to put on your truck.

[71K1500]

Thanks guys. Thats what I kinda figured.
Ill keep looking

Jeff

[special-K]

I believe you can use 10-bolt parts on the Dana 44, if you don't want to use the whole 10-bolt. I'm not 100% sure about the whole knuckle assembly, which is what you would want, but look into that to find out for sure

[Mike C]

The 10 bolt parts work just fine on a Dana 44. The only rear difference is the outer axle stub over the years they change the thrust setup and they use larger U-joints from 1973 (?) up.

[kwmech]

Tie rod will be coming up from the bottom instead of dropping down from the top. So grab that also

[71K1500]

Thanks. Ill keep looking for a complete GM front diff. These were all over the place when I was younger but I think a lot went for scrap.

[special-K]

I think you're right. I grabbed a free '70 K/20 Dana 44 just to have the Dana axle under a 67-72. I also grabbed an 8-lug 10-bolt a friend was tossing to install a Dana 60

[MJN]

besides the items stated above for the Ford Dana 44 (driver drop, different steering components, etc)- they are 5 on 5.5 bolt pattern. The GM axles are 6 x 5.5 bolt pattern.

[kwmech]

Center section different side. Most of them are high pinion-(gears are reverse cut). Inner and outer shafts are different length. 5 lug vs 6 lug along with the knuckles. Different tie rods and ends. Yoke is different 1310 vs 1330 u-joint. Majority of the fords use coils instead of leaf. Inner wheel bearings are different. What they have in common---they are a dana 44, ball joints, axle shaft u-joint, outer wheel bearing, locking hubs and spindle nuts.



If you can find a 10 bolt out of a later suburban, that is the one to shoot for. They had 30 spline inner shafts-- same as 44 (in relation to the 28 spline, necked down shaft). The front 10 bolts are actually a little stronger than the 44 aside from the early 28 spline shafts