dana 30 with dana 44 knuckles question.

First hello again guys, haven't been on here for awhile, but have been getting a little more done on the rest of my projects to get close to working on my jeeps again. I have a question reguarding putting wagoneer dana 44 knuckles on my 72-74 NT dana 30. I understand I'm going to need alloy type inner shafts to get the larger u-joint to match the dana 44 stub shafts. When putting the knuckles and everything else out on, (ie... spindles,hubs, etc) I'm getting the disc brakes. However my problem becomes the fact that the hubs and rotors are 6 lug. How can I get them to be 5 lug? Is there another hub and rotor that would work?

 

Well, the Wagoneer guys can swap the 5-lug D44 Ford spindles and hubs onto their 6-lug axles. They sometimes do this to update a late-60s/early-70s Wagoneer or J-truck to a later open knuckle axle, and keep the existing 5-lug pattern.

What's wrong with the Dana 30 hubs? They come in a couple of disk brake flavors as I recall. And I don't think that the knuckles are the weak link in the axle ... so I wonder why you would do this.

 

Well, the dana 30 at the moment is just a housing with 3.73 gears. I was trying to cheap out a bit and go with mostly what I have. I have a waggy 44 however I just dont want the width it gives. If I can use what I have and get a few otc parts to make it all work it would be great. Unless I can find a dana 30 with discs already. But I dont see that happening.

 

If you're trying to go budget forget the Waggy stuff as most of it has to be changed anyway. You can use the caliper mounts and calipers and grind your knuckles and re drill the mounts to clock in the right location. To use your stub shafts and locking hubs either have your bearing hubs machined for the rotors or get some CJ/Scout 2 disc bearing hubs and use the '77-'78 CJ/ Scout 2 thick rotors. Use the inner conversion race and the National 8430s seal and there you go.
Using the Waggy knuckles nets another issue, the tie rod ends. The Waggy uses completely different (larger) tre's so that would have to be addressed as well. Oh yeah, make sure you use the knuckle studs from the Waggy axles as they are longer to accommodate the caliper brackets.

 

In order to make the switch to 5 lug, your spindles on the 44 need to be from a 74-76' waggy. Any earlier, or later, and they do not share common bearings with the Ford hub. If yours are from a 74-76 waggy( or 73-76 1/2 ton GM), grab hubs and rotors off a 76-84', or 86-95' ford F150 and go. You will still run the Waggy/GM caliper, wheel bearings, just with 1/2 ton ford hubs and rotors.

 

I'm in a similar place, I want 5x5.5 44 outer stuff. Like the idea of Gm heavy dust shield/caliper brackets, GM calipers and internal locking hubs, but not looking to upgrade from my 30 housing. It looks like I need to have custom axles built, does anybody make a u-joint that can mate a 30 inner to a 44 outer? I understand I'm moving the week link to a hater to get to place, but I haven't busted one yet...

Hey, What was that snapping sound from my driveway?

 

Not that I've ever been able to find. Plus with the hubs locked in it can cause some weird steering issues as the shafts/ujoints rotate as the joints when the journals are the same length/size fight each other. Change the sizes and that will be magnified significantly. You can get alloy inner shafts from Randy's Ring and pinion, when they have them in stock, but they ain't cheap. Another option might be to have some 44 shafts turned down and re-splined but I really don't recommmend this. Reason is when you turn that large of a shaft down to that size there isn't much surface strength left in the shaft from the heat treating process. Only way to overcome it is to have the shafts annealed and re-heat treated. Not cheap.

Sorry guys, there just isn't a cheap way to use 44 internal locking hub outers on a 30 diff unless you can find some Early Bronco small joint 19 spline outer shafts. This can work but you will still have the Spicer 260x Dana 30 smaller u-joint.

 

so what you guys suggest is find a dana 30 complete in my area which I'm sure just isn't around. I've searched. Or, buy brand new knuckles from a dana 30 from ebay or so and work from there. Could I just get the dana 30 knuckles that already were for disc brakes? or would they not work with my originally drum braked housing?

 

The 30 CJ knuckles will fit right on a 30 CJ housing regardless of whether they are disc or drum brake knuckles. There are differences in the knuckles however but can be overcome. Where are you located? Filling out your profile with this info may net in someone knowing where stuff is close by. If you can find the early Bronco outer axles you can still use the Waggy stuff but will still need to convert using the Ford hub and rotor and if you don't have the right spindles then those will need changed as will the bearings.

 

okay. I really would rather not mix and match too many parts from other vehicles. I'm not a jeep purist but I don't see myself remembering where the parts would have been sourced from when needing to order replacements.
On a side not I have found this "kit" on ebay. any recommendations on it?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jeep...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35b56c3d5f

 

http://www.r-p4wd.com/

Also available here and is slightly cheaper and shipping may be cheaper depending on your location. Interesting that ad doesn't have a location, just "United States". They note in their ad that no grinding is necessary. Not true on some applications. R&P sells the same exact brackets and there are some knuckles that need some grinding. Not much, but some.

Oops. Link didn't take you to the brakes section. Click on products at the top then brakes at the bottom and scroll down. There is a pic and description.

 

Hmmm. that is something to consider. Still needing the knuckles and spindles and all but both those "kits" are definitely interesting. Really think I would like to find a dana 30 with discs before buying anything that pricey. I'll try calling Walcks and see if they have any dana 30's.

 

If you can find a complete disc brake 30 in good shape that would most likely be the most cost effective way.

 

I scored a 1979 dana 30 at an unusual place with the disc brakes. Should be picking it up next Thursday. Thank you everybody for your help.

 

There is a dana 30 in classifieds, don't know how close you are.