dana 28/35/44 questions

[87BroncoIIinMi]

Read all the tech here on the ttb's. Lookin to possibly swap my D28 to D35 with the 44 knuckles but what year/model should I be looking for to get the right steering knuckles? I already found the D35 at junkyard just wanna price out the D44 knuckles so I know my options. Is this swap worth doin before I kill the 28?right now runnin the 28 and the 7.5 with 3.73 L/S with 31x10.5's soon to be 33's

 

[RangerSVT]

I ran 37's on the 35 with cross drilled/slotted rotors and I had great brakes, even pulling a trailer...but if you get a 35, make sure you get one from a 95-97 ranger, as these years had the better twin piston calipers. The calipers also bolt on rather than use the slide clips of the earlier years and would make mounting on the 44 knuckles easier if you do go that route
SVT

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

If he's doing the knuckle swap.....the year of d35 does not matter as he will be swapping the d44 knuckles onto it. The beams are all the same.

 

[87BroncoIIinMi]

thanks

Hadn't even thought of the calipers honestly but I know the one I found wasn't that new I think it was out of 92 explorer, not positive will check it out

 

[RangerSVT]

This is true, but until he does the 44 knuckle swap (thinking he won't do both the 35 and knuckle swap at the same time) the benefit of the twin piston caliper braking system would be a better swap...Good point Sasquatch
SVT

 

[87BroncoIIinMi]

Depending on price of 44 knuckles I would like to do it all at once and have it ready to go in b4 I have issues with the 28 but I'm still not sure how to track down the 44s knuckles as I am searching the junkyards website and its yr/make/model specific and I don't know what to look for.

 

[RangerSVT]

IIRC, 92-96 full size bronco knuckles...
SVT

 

[4x4junkie]

Yeah '92-'96 seems to be the best ones for the D44, though you could use ones from any year TTB (avoid '87 and some '88s, they use a strange flange mount system that's not as strong and is hard to find parts for).

Agreed, '95-'97 D35s have better brakes. I'd probably try running it as is for awhile and see if it works for you (throw a set of the Jeep hubs on it). The stock D35 ends do seem to work perfectly fine for many of us if a little care is taken while tightening the wheel bearings. This would avoid you having to mess with the rear to match up the lug patterns. If for some reason it doesn't work out for you, you can always do the 44 knuckles then.

 

[adsm08]

I though the dual piston caliper TTBs were specific to the 97.

 

[RangerSVT]

I though the dual piston caliper TTBs were specific to the 97.

Dual piston calipers were from 95-97 (Third Gen TTB's)...
SVT

 

[adsm08]

Cool. That widens my search a bit.

 

[RangerSVT]

Again, IIRC, the 92-96 bronco was a direct bolt on, the spindle of the FSB of these years are said to bolt on to the ranger knuckle...
SVT

 

[BLOODBANE]

If your only gonna run 33's I wouldn't bother with the 44 swap. the main thing your gaining is better wheel bearing placement(44's are farther apart). I'm running 35's on locked D35's and haven't had any problems with them(BOGGERs and a 347 stroker in the Ranger). If you have your heart set on it then go for it, but if there are other things that you need done first, you can save some coin and run the D35 as is.

 

[87BroncoIIinMi]

I'm still running the D28 right now with 31 10.5s but I'm pretty good at breakin shit so planning ahead hopin to have the d35 ready to go in at that time but if the 35s aren't that weak I'll just wait on the 44 swap just lookin at options right now I've only had this truck 2 wks so I'm learnin the upgrades as I go as I have only had full size chevy's before. Thanks for all your help guys like I said this is my new favorite site and my BII is a new obsession I'm hooked way worse than any other truck I've had I'll post pics as I go