76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

[EL Rojo]

Has anyone reamed out the knuckles on a 76/77 EB 44 to do a tie rod over using the 1 ton joints? I've read several of the articles and want to go that route but I know that the knuckles on the EB 76/77 dics axles dont have as much meat as the drum conversions or full with knuckles. I'm afrad that the knuckle will crack under extreme load. I'm running 35's with 37's on the horrizon and am about to install the 4x4x2 box as well. Thanks for any help.

Russ

[EL Rojo]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

Pardon my crappy spelling, shoulda proof read.

[TBS-POPS]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

I wasn't aware of the major difference in the disc knuckles on the eb but if it's that much of a concern then I would swap in a set of 78-79 FSB or F-150 knuckles.I'll do some research myself.

[tortuga]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

I know that the knuckles on the EB 76/77 dics axles dont have as much meat as the drum conversions or full with knuckles.

Russ, how do you know this? Does not sound right to me. Are you concerned about meat around the tie rod end holes, or the knuckle in general?

[EL Rojo]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

Hey guys,

I'm worried about the amount of material left around the tapered hole. I'm basing this off of a HP dana 44 that had been drilled and shortened for an EB that I was dumb enough to sell. It had a lot beefier "arms?" than the axle I have under my rig which is one I bought complete from "The Bronco Connection" in 2006 and know for a fact it's a 76/77. It was supposed to be an f-150 converesion disk and knuckle conv. with linkage but the guy gave me the shaft and sent me a 76/77 axle with inverted Y linkage. I put Wild horses straight link kit on and it has bent under scrutiny. : )

[welndmn]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

I don't think it was a meat issue with the kunckle, but an issue with the tie rod end being very close to the wheel on the 76/77 factory disc brake kunckles.

Dunno, it's been a while since I've seen one.

[BRONKEN]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

I don't think it was a meat issue with the kunckle, but an issue with the tie rod end being very close to the wheel on the 76/77 factory disc brake kunckles.

Dunno, it's been a while since I've seen one.

Mark is correct, the 76/77 knuckles have a slight bend outward toward the rim. I have had issues running a 10" rim and shearing off the lip mounted weights until I went with the stick on internal style.

[EL Rojo]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

thanks for the help. The curve towards the tire was something I had forgotten about. I'm running 15x8's so I haven't had a problem yet.......so I guess it's time to buy a reamer.

[Spaceburger]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

I don't think it was a meat issue with the kunckle, but an issue with the tie rod end being very close to the wheel on the 76/77 factory disc brake kunckles.

absolutly correct. I have 78/79 knuckles on my kids EB and they have more meat and have about 3/4" more clearance to rim.
On my EB, I have the stocker 76/77 knuckles - less meat but not appreciably weaker in my opinion. Curve out more - about a 1/4" away from 15x10" aluminum rim - stripped my wheel weights off in less than 10 seconds. I did ream these for tie rod over - and they did the con no prob. If you go 17" rims (which is what I have now) they clear no problem.

[EL Rojo]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

Thanks for the help guys. Time to order some parts from ebay.

[Howdy]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

Aren't the arm on the 76/77 also a little higher up than on the earlier years? So your high steer will be higher steer.

[fordnut77]

Re: 76/77 Dana 44 Steering Linkage

I did it on my 77 and have had no issues. The tie-rods were really close to my 15 inch rims, but cleared. I now have 17 inch rims and plenty of room.