Knuckles and more….

[KD6TAV]

I have a 1971 Bronco with a 6 bolt pattern Dana 44 knuckle. I had (3) bolts shear in half and (2) pull out of the knuckle. This knuckle has 6 tapped / threaded holes for the bolts. The disc brake setup is a GM setup. I am trying to determine what items to upgrade and or replace.

Option #1:
Upgrade the 6 bolt knuckle to a 6 bolt REID Knuckle. One spindle needs to be replaced. At the same time it’s probably a good idea to repack my bearings or just replace them in the both the spindle and hub. I need new rotors as it’s that time.

Reid Racing Flat Top Extreme Duty 6-Bolt Dana 44 Knuckles, Pair

The Reid Racing Flat Top Extreme Duty Knuckles are designed for off-road use and are interchangeable with all factory and aftermarket Dana 44 components. They are cast from high strength ductile iron and beefed up with extra material and ribbing. They are fully machined and ready for...

www.wildhorses4x4.com

Option #2:
Switch out to a 5 bolt REID knuckle. This will require new spindles and a new brake disc setup for a Ford setup.

Reid Racing Flat Top Extreme Duty 6-Bolt Dana 44 Knuckles, Pair

The Reid Racing Flat Top Extreme Duty Knuckles are designed for off-road use and are interchangeable with all factory and aftermarket Dana 44 components. They are cast from high strength ductile iron and beefed up with extra material and ribbing. They are fully machined and ready for...

www.wildhorses4x4.com

Front Disc Brake Conversion Kit | Dana 30/44 | 66-75 Ford Bronco

Upgrade your 66-75 Ford Bronco with our Front Disc Brake Kit! Better stopping power, and easy to install. Fits Dana 30 & 44. All new parts - NO core charges!

www.wildhorses4x4.com

Option#3:
Switch out to a 5 bolt James Duff knuckle setup and disc brake setup for a Ford. They sell this all in one kit. There knuckles are not stock as they are heavy duty. Seems like a good setup.

https://dufftuff.com/product/ft-dis...-bronco/?attribute_choose-caliper-type=T-Bird

If you have any comments that would be helpful. A few questions as i am no expert;

A. can one switch from a 6 bolt knuckle to a 5 bolt if your bronco is a 6 bolt? Am i missing something that would also be required to be changed or is it even possible?

B. Is the Ford brake setup or GM setup better? I have the hydroboost setup under the hood.

Again thanks to Danny and Bob for schooling me so i can get fixed to home from Moab.

 

[Mark]

The 5 bolt Ford disc knuckle is certainly better if you have axle issues out on the trail. There’s much more room to access the broken axle parts. Plus, if you want to run RCV axle’s, they slide right in that 6” opening. I would do #2 or #3, if you need to upgrade from what you currently have. Option #1 seems to be throwing good money after bad.

Mark

 

[Dusty]

I agree with @Mark. Just about any broken u-joint can spread the ears on the axle enough to make them difficult to remove through the smaller hole in the 6-bolt knuckle.

 

[ntsqd]

Looking at those parts I suspect that the spindle bolts worked loose.

FWIW the GM knuckles use a headed stud much like a small wheel stud that presses in from the UJ side of the knuckle, with prevailing torque metal lock nuts to hold the spindle on.
Example: https://www.offroaddesign.com/gm-dana-44-spindle-studs-set-of-six-two-kits-required-per-truck.html

I am a fan of the GM sliding caliper design and very much not a fan of the Ford design. If you have to have a sliding caliper in the first place that is. A future mod I want to try is Taco or Tundra 4WD fixed calipers (need to look at rotor thickness' and piston areas to decide which).

If the GM wheel hub and rotor fit on the Ford spindle then I'd look at possibly drilling the GM caliper bracket to the 5 bolt pattern. I know it isn't commonly done, and may not have ever been done, but if it is possible that give the best of both designs.

 

[KD6TAV]

Good info. Thanks everyone that posted or reached out to me via DM. Where the tie rod connects to the knuckles on the Reids are closer to the wheel/rim and would for me change my tie rod length and might not work with my 15” rims.

 

[KD6TAV]

Stock or https://dufftuff.com/product/dana-60-stage-8-xlock-spindle-nut/ Thoughts??

 

[ntsqd]

If the slots in the spindles are good and the locking washer isn't worn on the key I really don't see how one could improve on the Dana solution. It isn't like the bearing pre-load is that finicky to set. They're big bearings, erring on the side of tighter rather than looser isn't going to hurt them.

 

[KD6TAV]

Still doing some research. The decision is to switch the knuckles to a 5 bolt pattern and go with the ford disc brakes setup versus my current 6 bolt knuckle and Chevy setup. The QUESTION is will my Cs work with the new knuckles? Been trying to find info or pictures but can find out. My assumption is that the connection between the Cs and either knuckle is the same spacing and opening fir the lower and upper control balls. Here are some pictures of my Cs. Also are Cs always connected to the axle like mine?

 

[Mark]

Still doing some research. The decision is to switch the knuckles to a 5 bolt pattern and go with the ford disc brakes setup versus my current 6 bolt knuckle and Chevy setup. The QUESTION is will my Cs work with the new knuckles? Been trying to find info or pictures but can find out. My assumption is that the connection between the Cs and either knuckle is the same spacing and opening fir the lower and upper control balls. Here are some pictures of my Cs. Also are Cs always connected to the axle like mine?

The knuckles are the same, between the drum and the disc housings. So yes, the knuckles are interchangeable. The “C’s” are pressed on the axle tubes, then fully welded. I believe your front end is a 9/44, but the ends are the same an Early Bronco housing. The 78’-79’ housings have a combo cast wedges and “C’s” together as one piece.

Mark

 

[KD6TAV]

This is great news. Thanks Mark. I watched video after video and couldn’t figure it out for a week. Going to place my order from James Duff to get my new setup. Not sure if it will arrive in time to install it before BBBB, but the fix shouldn’t be an issue. See you soon.