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d44 steering knuckle question

7K views 21 replies 7 participants last post by  PowerWagonPete 
#1 ·
what is a reasonable price for a d44 flat top passenger side knuckle? i found one on craigslist but the guy wont give me a price. he says to make an offer.
 
#2 ·
I'm cheap $25.  ;D
 
#3 ·
Yet another reason to prefer part time 4WD, lol.  ;D
 
#6 ·
olescustomfab said:
i have a 78 rc fulltime 4x4. i need the passenger side. im under the impression that he had it machined flat for a crossover set up. im pickin it up for $30. hopefully its the right one...
There you go. Right in my price range. ;)
 
#7 ·
olescustomfab said:
i have a 78 rc fulltime 4x4. i need the passenger side. im under the impression that he had it machined flat for a crossover set up. im pickin it up for $30. hopefully its the right one...
Well, let us know how you make out, Ole. If you can pull this conversion off using the factory full-time Dodge knuckles, I would think it would be much easier and cheaper than adapting the '73-'77 Dana 44F Shivvy knuckles and hub assemblies while making a good how-to for our site members as well.

Anyway, here's some pertinent info concerning steering components from the other guys...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billavista/Steering/Steering_Research/steeringresearch.htm ;D
 
#8 ·
well i was gonna get the pair of knuckles for 50 bucks, but unfortunately they turned out to be the wrong ones... i thought they were a direct replacement of what i have. i was wrong... i know of a chrysler td at a pick n pull. not really looking forward to pullin the knuckle off though.

heres a pic of my drivers side knuckle all cleaned up.

hears how i screwed up my passenger side knuckle. i drilled holes where i needed them for the steering arm i made out of the old drivers side steering arm. everyone on here told me not to use the arm i made because i cut and welded it. so i got a new billet arm but the studs are in the wrong places and the arm doesnt fit. now i need a new knuckle...
 
#9 ·
i think what you are going to need to do is replace everything from the knuckles out using parts from a mid to late 80's 4x4 dodge, or replace the passenger knuckle with the same type you have.

if you go with the newer ones you will probably want to grab the outer axles as well, from the joint out. If you go to the pick and pull just take the whole shaft assembly and disassemble the knuckles at home.

Swapping up to the newer assembly will do a couple things for you, like eliminate the unit bearings and allow you to add locking hubs. The only issue i see is that you may have the smaller bolt pattern currently and the newer ones will have the 5x5.5 pattern
 
#12 ·
i found a replacement knuckle on the net for 75 bucks. its the exact same that i have. im pretty excited about not havin to go to pick n pull to tear one off a trail duster. its stormin pretty bad.

il post the website i found it at as soon as i put in my order. haha. they have a bunch of good stuff.
 
#13 ·
i just put in my order for my flat top knuckle. heres the website.

http://venturesparts.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=29

i also got my heim joints, weld in threaded slugs, and jam nuts in the mail yesterday and picked up some tubing for my drag link and tie rod today.

il be getting my new knuckle machined flat at my junior college machine shop then il be ready to do a legit crossover set up. il get lots of good pics too.
 
#14 ·
olescustomfab said:
i just put in my order for my flat top knuckle. heres the website.

http://venturesparts.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=29
The casting number for the Dodge half-ton full-time Model 44 passenger's side knuckle is C37895, Ole. The C37900 listed on the Venture Parts site is the heavy duty 3/4-ton version which accommodates the eight-lug hub, 12-inch rotor, and larger brake caliper bracket. :-\
 
#17 ·
olescustomfab said:
so im pretty much screwed...?
olescustomfab said:
damn it. i should have paid closer attention.

thanks for the heads up though pete!

anyone have a d44 1/2 ton passenger side steering knuckle that you can part with?
I'm not exactly sure what the big difference is, Ole, since I've never had the two knuckle versions side by side for comparison. The half and 3/4-ton full-time Model 44 axle assemblies are virtually identical except for the ring and pinion gear ratios. Both knuckles share the same diameter bore and use the #25 bearing set and 26153 seals. I believe it's all about the 12-inch rotors and associated larger brake caliper bracket.

BTW, I noticed you have 10-inch rotors on your axle. All the '78 and '79 half-ton axles I've ever seen were equipped with 11-inchers. I have an axle off a '77 with the 10's, however, but the casting numbers for the knuckles are all the same, C37895 and C37896.

I do have a few spare knuckles available from trucks I've parted out so if you can't find any locally, just let me know. Fifty bucks plus shipping sounds good to me. ;D
 
#18 ·
If its like the late `80s-early `90s ones, then the caliper bracket is the same.  The knuckles themselves are different.  I should know, having torn down my 44 and a `93 44HD to swap mine over to 3/4 ton(not done yet).  But, the `70s may be different {noclue}

Jake
 
#19 ·
RollingBombShelter said:
If its like the late `80s-early `90s ones, then the caliper bracket is the same. The knuckles themselves are different. I should know, having torn down my 44 and a `93 44HD to swap mine over to 3/4 ton(not done yet). But, the `70s may be different {noclue}
Thanks, Jake!!! I'll bet then, on the 3/4-ton knuckles, the caliper bracket is mounted a further 1/2 inch or so out from the center of the bore and the rear of the casting is modified accordingly. ;D
 
#21 ·
thanks for all the help guys. i got everything all squared away with venturesparts.com, there shipping out the right part today.

PowerWagonPete said:
I do have a few spare knuckles available from trucks I've parted out so if you can't find any locally, just let me know. Fifty bucks plus shipping sounds good to me. ;D
thanks a lot anyway pete. i appreciate the offer.

il put some pics up of my crossover system when its don.
 
#22 ·
olescustomfab said:
thanks for all the help guys. i got everything all squared away with venturesparts.com, there shipping out the right part today.

thanks a lot anyway pete. i appreciate the offer.

il put some pics up of my crossover system when its don.
Sounds good, Ole!!! {beer}
 
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