Mixing Dana 44 and 10 bolt knuckles

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

TubeTruck

I'm from Boston. Deal with it.
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Posts
1,439
Reaction score
2,180
Location
East TN
First Name
Denis
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Suburban K10
Engine Size
LQ9
So I think I shot myself in the foot here. I bought an 8 lug 10 bolt front, assuming it's an '83 front from the stamping on the ring gear. I took the passenger knuckle off of the D44 that was in my '75 and had it machined for crossover steering since it was a flat top. So now I installed the D44 knuckle on my 10 bolt, got the whole thing together and was planning on putting it in this weekend. Here's my dilemma: The D44 pass knuckle has the tie rod hole reamed from the top down \ /, the driver's side is from the 10 bolt and is reamed from the bottom up / \. This will put my tie rod at a slight angle across the front of the axle. I'm curious if it will cause any problems? Thoughts? I'm probably still going to put it in. I just need to know what I will break, if anything, lol .

I do not have the D44 front end anymore so I can't get the driver's side knuckle.

You must be registered for see images attach
 
Last edited:

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
7,077
Reaction score
12,446
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
I don’t think it will cause any issues. Not like components that are subject to additional articulation due to suspension movement.
As long as lock to lock angle changes in the knuckles don’t max out the range of motion of the tie rod ends.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,595
Reaction score
28,800
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
I think it's going to make you lean a little bit when you are in the driver seat. Lol, just kidding of course. Although, the mismatched knuckles would drive me nuts, personally.
 

TubeTruck

I'm from Boston. Deal with it.
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Posts
1,439
Reaction score
2,180
Location
East TN
First Name
Denis
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Suburban K10
Engine Size
LQ9
It does @bucket, it does, it's driving me nuts, lol. I moved them side to side by hand on the jack stands and I still get full range of motion. It's not normal and it looks funny.

@Grit dog My thought was that normally it has a lateral push when turning the wheel. Now it has both lateral and angular. Not sure they were made for that. If it wears quickly I'll just drill out the tapers and install heim joints.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
7,077
Reaction score
12,446
Location
Auburn, Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986, 1977
Truck Model
K20, C10
Engine Size
454, 350
^IMO, there’s still the same bearing area and rod ends work through a range of differing angles from lock to lock anyways. So really just working the same range from a different starting point.
Yes there is now a small vertical component of force not 100% lateral like if the rod was parallel to the axle, but it’s on the order of a few % only. So theoretically it “ may” be a few percent weaker.
Doubt it will ever be noticed except for appearance sake.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,401
Posts
956,720
Members
36,714
Latest member
MartinK5
Top