Ford 3/4 ton 8 lug to ford 1/2 ton 5 lug

sharksanddanger

sharksanddanger

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Location
Reidsville
What's necessary to do the swap on this? Do I need knuckles/stubs out and new brake stuff or just brake stuff and hub assembly or what? I've got an 8 lug d44 that I'd like to swap for 5 lug front, it currently has chromo stubs and I'm curious as to what I really have to swap out before I post up a WTT in the classifieds. I'd like to do this conversion to run a 15" wheel.

Thanks!
 
I know the Ford section of PBB will have this info
 
Like Gubni said the 8 lug 44 Ford will not work with the 5 lug. I've personally tried to mix match and see about machining things to make it work. Its a matter of completely different designs on the shape and webs on the knuckles, mostly for the different calipers. All Dana 44 outers will swap from the C's out.
 
GubNi said:
Swap everything from and including the knuckles out. You can use the same lockout and stub shaft.
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The lockouts I have on this axle are a little different than what I've seen in the past, I also think the stubs may be a little bigger. Here is a picture of the style of hub I have.
WARNSONTROOPER.jpg



johnski said:
You could just grind the caliper or get wheels with 2.5" backspacing and stick with the 8-lug setup.
Click to expand...

I've heard of being able to do this but those calipers are big and I don't want to take too much off, they'd probably be fine. Another reason I'd like to do this is the rear axle in the truck is a 9" and it currently has 5-8 lug wheel adapters, I'd kind of like to eliminate them.

WARRIORWELDING said:
Like Gubni said the 8 lug 44 Ford will not work with the 5 lug. I've personally tried to mix match and see about machining things to make it work. Its a matter of completely different designs on the shape and webs on the knuckles, mostly for the different calipers. All Dana 44 outers will swap from the C's out.
Click to expand...

That's what I thought but I couldn't remember. Thanks for the info.
 
Thats an older style and its not very common (as I was told). I swapped one under a TJ and the age and previous owners let the bearings go and it ate the bearing surface out of the hub. After searching I was able to only find 2 replacements anywhere. I was searching mostly the net however. I ended up machining it out and cutting a sleeve to press in for a new bearing surface. That ended up being cheaper and matched my time frame.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
Thats an older style and its not very common (as I was told). I swapped one under a TJ and the age and previous owners let the bearings go and it ate the bearing surface out of the hub. After searching I was able to only find 2 replacements anywhere. I was searching mostly the net however. I ended up machining it out and cutting a sleeve to press in for a new bearing surface. That ended up being cheaper and matched my time frame.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had a tough time finding bearings for it the first time around, they were difficult to find. What year would this be from? Not a 78-79?
 
Search for Mr. N's web page on Dana axles and you can get more info than you can digest. His reference says that style was available only in the 8 lug configuration from early 69 to early 77.
 
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