Dana 44 Spindle on Dana 35 knuckles.....

[Jim Oaks]

So..........

I'm at the BITD Primm 250 contingency / tech inspection on Friday and come across this Ranger:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1961&stc=1&d=1240412139

It's a newer bodied Ranger running a Dana 35 TTB, but it's sporting a set of Dana 44 hubs. :icon_confused:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1962&stc=1&d=1240412295

I start talking to the guy who built it (John Baker - Baker Motorsports - bakermotorsports.net) thinking he did the ol' reaming for the knuckle bit.

John explains to me that he found that the spindle from a 1994-1996 Ford Bronco Dana 44 TTB bolts directly on to a Dana 35 TTB knuckle. From there, continue the bolt on adding the Dana 44 hubs and finish it up. That simple. He told me that he had also heard of the reaming for the Dana 44 knuckle, but didn't do it on this truck.

He even hands me a spare spindle to look at:

http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1963&stc=1&d=1240412530

Could this be the holy grail of spindles for the Ranger?

I want to check it out, but it may be a while, so I figure I'll pass this on to you guys to look at and experiment with. If you do it and it works, please post up the details and photos for a tech page.

Good luck! :icon_thumby:

[mjonesjr]

I will be looking for a set of those spindles ASAP to try it.

Do you know if they had to swap the outer shaft onto it as well?

Did they retain the 5x4.5 bolt pattern, or is it the 5x5.5 bolt pattern?

[BlackBII]

And I just did a bunch of reaming.....pssh.

[mjonesjr]

And I just did a bunch of reaming.....pssh.
I got a spare set of D35 knuckles if you want them...

[BlackBII]

I got a spare set of D35 knuckles if you want them...

That's Ok, I have all the D44 stuff already....and a spare set of 35 kuckles. :icon_thumby:

It's weird how you seem to accumulate so many parts...my GF always says I could build a car or two with all the parts I have laying around...lol.

[Jim Oaks]

I will be looking for a set of those spindles ASAP to try it.

Do you know if they had to swap the outer shaft onto it as well?

Did they retain the 5x4.5 bolt pattern, or is it the 5x5.5 bolt pattern?

I forgot to ask him about the outer shaft. It's a 5x5.5 bolt pattern when you're done though.

[mjonesjr]

It's weird how you seem to accumulate so many parts...my GF always says I could build a car or two with all the parts I have laying around...lol.
Yea, no kidding. Since I got married, our house doesn't have that much room for auto parts. All my excess parts are still at my parents house. They are begging me to get rid of them or use them. I need to swap on my '95-'97 D35 knuckles and brakes so I can move those parts out of the way. I guess then I would have the old D35 knuckles laying around then:icon_twisted:


I forgot to ask him about the outer shaft. It's a 5x5.5 bolt pattern when you're done though.
I would suspect the outer shaft would have to be replaced as well because of the way the lockout is.

[Ranger44]

This is something I always kinda pondered, but figured that people who've done the D44 knucle swap would have made the connection.

This is very cool, and may be considered if I ever start breaking stuff.

Another question to ask is about brakes.

Do you use the Ranger caliper? D44 Rotor?and would this work with the later 95-97 bolt on calipers, and/or even the earlier split pin calipers on Rangers. What were the 94-96 Ford Bronco's?

[mjonesjr]

I would say either style D35 brake setup would work. The only difference is the outer wheel bearing is farther out. I am not sure if the rotors are larger in diameter or not.

[CopyKat]

Yes D44 rotors are larger in diameter. You could turn the dia down to use the D35 caliper. You will need worn out pads to get the caliper on. The rotor is also quite a bit thicker.

I've heard and seen this way done before. Those Spindle cones are hard to come by. I have a set of D44 knuckles that have the 5 bolt pattern. But no cones.

You can cut the ears off the D35 knuckle and use a Chevy D44 (10 bolt) caliper bracket but need to do some grinding and drilling.

The issue I have heard with this is that there is not a stub shaft long enough to get any retainer on the other end to keep the stub in place.

Some one did this and tried an Early bronco set, the F150 set and also the Chevy set. I believe the Chevy ones fit the best.

[Sunk]

I. Want. That. Truck. I've always joked about how an 01-04 with TTB would be my dream truck, but now I see this. :wub::wub:

...my GF always says I could build a car or two with all the parts I have laying around...lol.

It wasn't too long ago that I had more than a complete RBV drivetrain in my garage. Luckily almost all of it is gone.

[RangerSVT]

I had 2 complete D35 and 8.8 axles for spare parts, as well as 3 or 4 sets of suspension parts, 3 trannys, then I got married. Now no spare parts and the wife bitches when I go to the parts store and drop $200.00...She should've let me keep MY auto parts store I already had...
SVT

[AKBroncoII]

This has been done many times before. There's a write up that some guy did just after I did this in my garage. BTW, any chevy spindle will work also if you redrill the spindle mounting holes. If I remember right, you only have to redrill a couple. Some line up.

Basicly too, this allows you to run any pattern that a 44 comes in, including 8x6.5 or 6x5.5 if you want.

[krazykracker]

anymore info on this?

[Jim Oaks]

Yes,

I did some research on the D44 axles on the Bronco and looked at the part number break down on each of them. It looks like Dana Spicer P/N DS707373X is the spindle that works.

I haven't listed it at TRS Fab & Off-Road because I haven't ordered one and tried to do it to confirm it's the right one.

Randy's Ring & Pinion should have it as DS707373 and 4-Wheel Parts should be able to order it as D/S707373X. And of course I can get it as well.

[Jim Oaks]

Yes,

I did some research on the D44 axles on the Bronco and looked at the part number break down on each of them. It looks like Dana Spicer P/N DS707373X is the spindle that works.

I haven't listed it at TRS Fab & Off-Road because I haven't ordered one and tried to do it to confirm it's the right one.

Randy's Ring & Pinion should have it as DS707373 and 4-Wheel Parts should be able to order it as D/S707373X. And of course I can get it as well.

I just checked and my price on one is $105 a piece. Obviously you'll find the best deal if you can find a Bronco 4x4 in the salavage yard.

[krazykracker]

what about the brakes will the bronco rotors work w/ 94 ranger calipers? or will the split pin bronco calipers go on a ranger d35 split pin?

[RangerSVT]

This swap does away with all D35 rotors, brakes, bearings, etc. You will have all D44 stuff
SVT

[Ranger#1]

how its its just a spindle

[fleming2003]

Anyone try this yet

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I have a 1988 F150 with the TTB dana 44 front, and was wondering if I can use the ends off it to go on my dana 35. was this a steering knuckle out swap or just some specific parts swap? anybody completed one yet?

i was looking at taking the F150 for scrap but I would save this stuff if it would fit. I'm keeping the 5spd trans anyway for future use in my 96 AWD explorer anyway.

[twoll86]

anyonetry this yet?

[twoll86]

thought i would add to this some more

http://www.bakermotorsports.net/shop.html

[CopyKat]

This information has been out there for a couple years now.

http://www.mappyjack.com/Dana44.htm

[Jim Oaks]

That link uses GM spindles and brake parts along with some modifications.

According to Baker Motorsports, they bolted on the Bronco spindle and everything from there out was a bolt on. No cutting, drilling, modifying.......,

[4x4junkie]

That link uses GM spindles and brake parts along with some modifications.

According to Baker Motorsports, they bolted on the Bronco spindle and everything from there out was a bolt on. No cutting, drilling, modifying.......,

They cut the caliper brackets off the D35 knuckles and used custom brackets to mount D44 calipers.

(was just discussed here with an email to Baker)
http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67529&highlight=knuckle+caliper&page=2

[twoll86]

That link uses GM spindles and brake parts along with some modifications.

According to Baker Motorsports, they bolted on the Bronco spindle and everything from there out was a bolt on. No cutting, drilling, modifying.......,

he used a custom caliper and bracket he made i emailed him with for the info and if i remember right its was wilwood calipers