d44 gear swap ?

[earl87gta]

I have a d44 closed knuckle can I take the gears and locker out of it and put it in to a 72 disk break open knuckle axle?

[1969k10stepside]

Yep

[earl87gta]

Cool thanks now I just need to lern how to set gears so I can get them in the new axle.

[1969k10stepside]

Setting gears is not that hard.I just did it to my shortbed 4x4.It just takes an afternoon and the right tools.If ya need help let me know,I will try to help ya

[earl87gta]

I may take you up on that so what tools do I need to get?

[1969k10stepside]

You need some new shims to align the gears.That is a trial and error deal trying different shims to get it all aligned.I used the blue stuff(forget what its called)Ya put it on the ring gear on a few teeth,rotate it (ring gear)around and you can see where the pinion is making contact with the ring gear and adjust the shims as needed to get it(the area the pinion makes contact with ring gear) in the correct position.Ya also check backlash with a dial indicator(about $70) after you have the gears aligned properly.The last is the preload.Thats when ya see how many inch pounds it takes to turn the pinion.I hope this helps.Let me know if ya need more help and info

[1969 GMC]

You don't have to spend that much on a dial indicator. I bought a decent one for $20 from the MSC big book. If you are a machinist or a gear swap tech using it every day, you might want something more $$$...but the cheapies will do great for the occasional gear install. Get the plunger type, not the lever type.

[OLDCHEV4X4]

Your gonna need a magnetic holder for that type dial indicator too.
If you have to change your pinion shims, your gonna need a bearing puller. And sometimes the bearing gets messed up depending on what kind of puller you use. Some guys buy a extra pinion bearing and hone out the ID and use that as a "set-up" bearing to make the job go easier.
The Factory overhaul manual covers the job real well.

[msgross]

i'm doing the same thing tomorrow, I'll let you know how it goes.... I want to get it "close" but it might not be perfect. I figured that if its off just a little then it won't hurt since it's the front end and rarely used or turned. If it was my rear end then I would probably have to go to a shop....

[earl87gta]

let me know how it goes. Take a few pics. what gears are you going to? I wish I could find a 4;10 set of gears for my eaton so I could put 4:10 in the axles. the 4:45 are alittle steep but I want to keep my eaton rear so its going to be 4:56 for me.

[1969k10stepside]

He is switching his 3:73s from his closed knuckle d44 to a newer open knuckle with discs.Sorry Mike,I saved you the trouble of typing...lol.I think I took a few pics when I did mine last week,I will check on the other computer. I have some 4:10s out of my 69,I dont know that I will put them in it when I convert to a 3/4 or 1 ton or not.I might go with 4:56s and sell the 4:10s

[earl87gta]

Im planing on using a nv4500 trans so Im hoping that with the nv4500 the 4:56 wont be so bad.

[msgross]

as my trusted assistant, Dustin, stated... hahaha I'm going to attempt to put my 3.73's from old closed knuckle to a mid 70's open with discs. Although I just had someone offer me an open knuckle with 3.73's for $20 and they are 5 min down the road. Might be easier to change the hubs or brakes onto this other axle than to pi$$ with changing gears. I haven't seen the axle yet. Since my open knuckle has 3.07's then I would need to transfer the carrier and all.

[1969k10stepside]

What did ya decide Mike?
Oh,and Earl,I havent been able to locate the pics from when I re did the front axle on my 71,Sorry

[msgross]

waiting to see what the condition of this $20 axle is then start tearing into it... front axles aren't like rears where you can have the guts out in 10 minutes....

[1969k10stepside]

Originally Posted by msgross

waiting to see what the condition of this $20 axle is then start tearing into it... front axles aren't like rears where you can have the guts out in 10 minutes....

You are right.If you remove the tire rod(thats what I call it) that runs parallel to the axle its alot easier.You will need a special socket(forget the exact name) to remove the internals of the hubs.I fought with one side for about 1/2 hour,the other side came out easy.I had the axle completely apart in a hour or so..

[msgross]

Earl,

They sell that axle socket at autozone for $10 (or rent it). Makes a big difference....

[msgross]

sorry earl, I took the easy way out and just picked up a 3.73 dana 44 (1982) from a board member for $20. I do have three other dana 44's now if you need parts!

[1969k10stepside]

You have to change shock mounts on the newer axle when putting them on a 67-72 dont ya?I thought I heard that..

[msgross]

They look the same to me, i'll snap some pics of all 4 axles... The pumpkin is a little different on this newer one and the knuckles are as well. Now I have a flattop pass knuckle that I might sell....

[earl87gta]

I would do the same thing if i could. I thnik thier was a 80s modle truck that had duble shocks on the front for a while if you used that axle you would have to change the shock mounts but all others are the same.

[msgross]

I did notice the my steering stabilzer is backwards on this axle, mounts in the middle and hooks up to the end of the tie rod, the other axle mounts on the end and hooks up to the middle of the tie rod, guess I can't keep the flat top knuckle anyway! Tie rod mounts on bottom side instead of top side of knuckle arm...

[earl87gta]

I would swap out to the flat top knuckles never know when you may deside to do cross over. Im puting crossover on my burb when the new axle goes in it in it next week if every thing goes write.

[msgross]

Problem is that the tie rod is different, If it swaps out then I might. I don't plan on lifting this truck much above stock height so I doubt that I will worry about the crossover steering... (famous last words!)

[earl87gta]

I told my wife i was going to drop mine some and run 35in tires so the tires would be cheaper. but I was digging threw my garage and found a set of front lift chackles and zero rates now the burb sits almost 2in higher so I guess im going to run 38s now.