View Full Version : Dual piston D44 Calipers?
53guy
May 12th, 2007, 22:41
I'm redoing my front end again and I'd like to go chevy flat top knuckles, however I want to use the Ford dual piston calipers from the F-250's. Does anyone know if that can be done? Ie, they've done it before? I'm thinking I might be able to redrill the ford caliper bracket for the chevy 6 bolt pattern and just go from there, but I don't have both sets to compare. BTW, it's going to be an 8 lug front end if that matters at all.
Kittrell
May 12th, 2007, 23:06
Never heard or seen it done Nick. Any reason not to use the F250 Flat Tops? Availability your only concern?
PornstaR
May 13th, 2007, 00:23
Heres some info if it helps ya out.
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/flatop_knucles.html
i just did a quick google on "ford f250 brakes on chevy knuckles"
I will keep looking and see what i can find for ya.
53guy
May 13th, 2007, 05:19
Thanks a bunch. Yeah, avaibility is really the biggest thing. That and I want big bearing spindles becasue I have a crap ton of chevy bearings laying around. If its not possible, I'll end up doing the ford stuff and if I can get flattops, then cool, but I'm trying to stick with chevy stuff for an availibility standpoint.
Kittrell
May 13th, 2007, 05:35
Been digging around on pirate all night. Didn't come across anything. I do know that the Ford 5 lug hub and rotor can be used with the Chevy 6 lug stuff. That being said, 8 lug is 8 lug. So it stands to reason that you could run a chevy 8 lug hub and rotor on the chevy spindle, using the f250 caliper if you did in fact change the mounting pattern on the bracket. As long as the caliper can clear the back of the knuckle. I think you are really just going to need to take a look at it and see if you can put it together.
Back of a 250 Knuckle, have a shot of the Chevys you are wanting to use?
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/mudonthetires10/My%20Truck/PicturesofMe018.jpg
53guy
May 13th, 2007, 05:55
Chevy mounts.....
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/images/Dana44flatops/Dana44Flatops_Drum_wdiskbracket.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/09EF68787A25743/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/99D4F2E60492710/standard.jpg
Chevy knuckles I want to use....
http://www.fototime.com/2F4B8D970301B33/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/BE47360A0B61F5F/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/656BD232CD540E7/standard.jpg
53guy
May 13th, 2007, 05:58
Been digging around on pirate all night. Didn't come across anything. So it stands to reason that you could run a chevy 8 lug hub and rotor on the chevy spindle, using the f250 caliper if you did in fact change the mounting pattern on the bracket. As long as the caliper can clear the back of the knuckle.
Yeah, I've been looking pretty much all week and haven't found a thing. I read a few bronco forums with the same question, but no real responses there. I would also be worried about caliper clearance to the rotors if the caliper mounts aren't bent enough.
I wonder, what are the knuckles made of? Cast steel? Cast Iron? If I can't find a way to make the brackets work bolt on, why couldn't I cut the mount off the entire mount, leave the chevy backing plate in there for space, grind all the rest off, and weld the ford caliper mount onto the chevy knuckle? Its done all the time for rear axles. So assuming that the knuckles are made of steel instead of iron, you could weld easily to them, yes? Thus allowing you to mount the bracket in a similar fashion as the rear, but instead of welding the bracket to the tube, weld it to the knuckle?
Kittrell
May 13th, 2007, 06:14
PM'd ya Nick.
As far as the materials go. Pretty sure it's all cast iron, but don't quote me on that
53guy
May 13th, 2007, 07:03
Pretty sure this will be helpful in a bit....
http://www.fototime.com/D21134CB933D9AD/standard.jpg
http://www.fototime.com/09EF68787A25743/standard.jpg
MrShoeBoy
May 15th, 2007, 19:18
Sell all your Chevy stuff and buy Ford stuff. If you already have a lot of Chevy stuff floating around it should be easy to sell or trade it for the Ford stuff you need. Also this will make it easier to keep track of what parts you used instead of having to think what make and model each individual piece is.
AARON
53guy
May 15th, 2007, 19:22
But getting flat top knuckles from a ford kinda suck, not to mention that they are the weaker of the two styles. If I can't make the dual caliper work, I'll just go hydro boost. Also, I do keep a little sweet ass green book that has everything about my jeep in it in the glove box. Always a good idea when you change or modify something about your jeep I think.
RedHeep
May 16th, 2007, 07:05
But getting flat top knuckles from a ford kinda suck, not to mention that they are the weaker of the two styles. If I can't make the dual caliper work, I'll just go hydro boost. Also, I do keep a little sweet ass green book that has everything about my jeep in it in the glove box. Always a good idea when you change or modify something about your jeep I think.
I have a few of those green books laying around. :D
53guy
May 16th, 2007, 08:58
I have a few of those green books laying around. :D
Hahaha, bet you do! To keep all those tilt rotor secrets in, right?
RedHeep
May 16th, 2007, 17:03
Hahaha, bet you do! To keep all those tilt rotor secrets in, right?
Nah, the tech pubs changed so much in the past 8 years, I gave up writing stuff down. I'm a slave to the manual.
All my secrets are in my head, I'm looking forward to forgetting them when I get old :D
53guy
May 16th, 2007, 17:28
I look forward to forgetting all this H-3 bull crap here soon.
MrShoeBoy
May 16th, 2007, 20:03
If you are worried about strength of the factory knuckles you can always get a set of dedenbear knuckles. I got mine from a friend (Bigwoody here on the forum). I have had them for over a year and so far they have been holding up great and no worries with the 4 bolt high steer mounting hardware.
Also good idea with the book. I have my own notebook with the various mods and needed part numbers for my XJ :D Started this years ago with my first Jeep.
AARON
XJ_ranger
May 18th, 2007, 11:53
the main issue i see is the hole size in the ford backing plate is HUGE compared to the hole size in the chevy...
53guy
May 18th, 2007, 12:32
I've been thinking about it and if the offset is similar and the measurments line up, I might fab up a plate for the center holes and redrill them. Or even cut the chevy caliper bracket off, leaving the center peices and weld the ford caliper mount onto the chevy center.
Adam90xj
May 18th, 2007, 18:51
i have a set of f-250 flat top knuckles that i don't need! if ur interested pm. I live in florida but we will be in sedona next weekend. I also have 8 lug chevy stuff from the knuckle out if u need anything... but it sounds like you have plenty of that laying around.
53guy
May 18th, 2007, 20:13
PM sent
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