differential i.d. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chiphayes · 03-09-2004, 07:20 PM

i have a 1968 3/4 ton,4x4, all 8 lug original.the front axle,instead of having ball joints to connect the hub to the axle,just has a big pivoting ball,that the hub pivots on.tell me what it is,i want to go to power steering,but have never seen a steering arm that looks like the one thats on it.

1969 GMC · 03-09-2004, 07:40 PM

that should be an original dana 44 with drum brakes and closed knuckles, which are the balls the hubs pivot on. the ujoint is inside this ball. if you want to keep this axle, you need to get a 68-69 PS steering arm, which is longer than a 68-69 manual steering arm. LMC and other vendors do not sell this part, the steering arm they have pictured in their catalogs is 70-72 only. the 70-72 arm has 3 bolts that hold it to the knuckle, and is funny shaped. 68-69 has 4 bolts and is straight. you will need to find an original 68-69 4x4 PS parts truck and get this part. good news is the arm is the same for everything, so you could get it off a 4x4 truck, burb, panel, or blazer. good luck. here is a thread about this that came up not long ago:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=erl

Of course, none of this applies if you want to swap front axles and get disc brakes.

chiphayes · 03-09-2004, 09:18 PM

thanks, thats the info i need.is this not a good axle to keep?this is a daily driver,and yes,i would like to go to disc brakes,the drum brakes work perfect.can anyone suggest a good axle to swap to?i want to keep it , all 8 lug heavy duty stuff.

1969 GMC · 03-09-2004, 10:08 PM

I have the same axle in my truck. If I was gonna keep it at stock ride height, I would probably keep this axle for simplicity's sake, and my 4 wheel drums stop good enough for me, too. But, I plan on lifting my truck around 6" or so, and using 35" tires, and offroading a bit, which makes me want to upgrade to discs, which will help stop it a little better (and will work better when wet, too). If you want to upgrade, there are 3 different axles you could upgrade to that would be pretty much bolt in. 1). another dana 44 from a 71-78(?) GM 3/4 ton 4x4 truck or suburban. the axletubes got a little larger for '73, and there is a HD version out there, but basically theyre all the same. 2). a corporate 10 bolt front axle from a 78(?)-87 GM 3/4 ton 4x4 truck, or 78(?)-91 GM 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban, this axle was the replacement for the dana 44. and finally 3). a dana 60 from a 77-87 GM 1 ton 4x4 (K/30), or 77-91 1 ton 4x4 crew cab or cab and chassis. this axle is scarce, and commands a very high price.

phew, sorry about that length

chiphayes · 03-09-2004, 10:17 PM

thanks for the info,i will go junkyarding this weekend.there is a local yard,that has a bunch of axles in a pile and they sell them cheap.

03-09-2004, 07:20 PM	#1
chiphayes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: indiana Posts: 186	differential i.d. i have a 1968 3/4 ton,4x4, all 8 lug original.the front axle,instead of having ball joints to connect the hub to the axle,just has a big pivoting ball,that the hub pivots on.tell me what it is,i want to go to power steering,but have never seen a steering arm that looks like the one thats on it.

03-09-2004, 07:40 PM	#2
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	that should be an original dana 44 with drum brakes and closed knuckles, which are the balls the hubs pivot on. the ujoint is inside this ball. if you want to keep this axle, you need to get a 68-69 PS steering arm, which is longer than a 68-69 manual steering arm. LMC and other vendors do not sell this part, the steering arm they have pictured in their catalogs is 70-72 only. the 70-72 arm has 3 bolts that hold it to the knuckle, and is funny shaped. 68-69 has 4 bolts and is straight. you will need to find an original 68-69 4x4 PS parts truck and get this part. good news is the arm is the same for everything, so you could get it off a 4x4 truck, burb, panel, or blazer. good luck. here is a thread about this that came up not long ago: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...&highlight=erl Of course, none of this applies if you want to swap front axles and get disc brakes. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

03-09-2004, 10:08 PM	#4
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	I have the same axle in my truck. If I was gonna keep it at stock ride height, I would probably keep this axle for simplicity's sake, and my 4 wheel drums stop good enough for me, too. But, I plan on lifting my truck around 6" or so, and using 35" tires, and offroading a bit, which makes me want to upgrade to discs, which will help stop it a little better (and will work better when wet, too). If you want to upgrade, there are 3 different axles you could upgrade to that would be pretty much bolt in. 1). another dana 44 from a 71-78(?) GM 3/4 ton 4x4 truck or suburban. the axletubes got a little larger for '73, and there is a HD version out there, but basically theyre all the same. 2). a corporate 10 bolt front axle from a 78(?)-87 GM 3/4 ton 4x4 truck, or 78(?)-91 GM 3/4 ton 4x4 Suburban, this axle was the replacement for the dana 44. and finally 3). a dana 60 from a 77-87 GM 1 ton 4x4 (K/30), or 77-91 1 ton 4x4 crew cab or cab and chassis. this axle is scarce, and commands a very high price. phew, sorry about that length __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

03-09-2004, 09:18 PM	#3
chiphayes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: indiana Posts: 186	thanks, thats the info i need.is this not a good axle to keep?this is a daily driver,and yes,i would like to go to disc brakes,the drum brakes work perfect.can anyone suggest a good axle to swap to?i want to keep it , all 8 lug heavy duty stuff.

03-09-2004, 10:17 PM	#5
chiphayes Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: indiana Posts: 186	thanks for the info,i will go junkyarding this weekend.there is a local yard,that has a bunch of axles in a pile and they sell them cheap.



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