Front Tie Rod Adjusting 'Tube'??

[72longbed]

Does anybody know if we can use a newer 73-8? front tie rod center adjusting rod or tube in place of the 71/72 long center tube?

This is the long rod/tube that has a tie rod on each end and connects the left and right axle housings. My stock 72 center piece is approx. 51 inches long not including the tie rods.

I have a Dana 44 front axle.

Thanks.
72

[ryanroo]

if i recall correctly, the tie rod is composed of one long end that runs from drivers side to an adjuster tube on the passenger side, then the passenger side end is short with a threaded stub. it should be the same part for a square body dana 44 and a 71/72 dana 44. i think the 10 bolt stuff is the same as well, but i dont know for sure.

[argonaut]

I think the mounting location for the steering damper may be different through the years? Also not sure if there is any difference in axle width. But I'd be willing to bet that it'll work.

[1malo68]

I had a 3/4 ton 10 bolt under the front end of mine and changed over to a Dana 60 and had the same question. I went to Rock Auto and looked up the part numbers for both and they had the same Moog part numbers. You can do a lot of good research at Rock Auto and then there is no doubt. Hope that helped

[special-K]

What you are referring to "is" the tie rod. What's on both ends are the tie rod ends. Makes sense,right? Anyway,I've wondered the same thing about using a 10-bolt tie rod (ends,too I guess) on a Dana 44. I know they have a lot in common,just never looked into it...yet. I let my '72 Cheyenne Super go (in non-op cond.) with a N.O.S. tie rod I had installed not long before parking it due to a rotted wood bed floor. Shoulda swapped it out!

[61K10]

my 61k10 D44 tie rod (center piece) is 54.5 long. bought a new one from LMC as my org was bent.

[72longbed]

special-K,
as you know, the Dana 44 front axle was used into the mid 70's on some trucks. The 10 bolt front axle came into being with it's own tie rod configuration (didn't retain the old 'tube' setup). I would agree that any tie rod for the Dana 44 front axle should fit. As far as I know, GM Dana fronts were all the same knuckle to knuckle length. Check me on that?

61K10,
I checked with LMC for a replacement tie rod for a 70-72 STYLE, and they do not list it in their books. Now if you are saying that it is the same part number for an earlier Dana 44 equipped truck ... I was not aware of that.
Show us the listing if you can please.

Thanks,
72

[special-K]

I think you are correct on the GM Dana 44s being the same,or close enough in width that the tie rods would interchange. My '85 and '72 are both outside with snow piled up in front of them,or I'd measure the knuckle arm to knuckle arm dimension on both for comparison. But,I'm thinking it could be possible they are the same...or very very close.

[72longbed]

Hey special-K,
we got 10 more inches of snow today up here! What did you get in MD?

72

[61K10]

jut gave you that info for reference. you said yours was 51" must be different for the early closed knuckle. at 54.5" you might be able to shorten it, if your tie rod ends are the same od.

[1tuff71]

I bent my original tie rod too and went to the boneyard and got one off an 80's Blazer 10 bolt and it bolted right up to my 71' D44 with no issues. They were so close in width I didn't even have to adjust it. One thing is though that one end is "molded" in to the rod so when its shot you still have to get the whole rod. A much better solution would be to get a new adjusting sleeve from OFF-ROAD DESIGN. Its heavy duty but not as cheap as the junkyard.