converted dana 44 brakes

[JOOP]

Ok I pretty much have this thing built but just ran into a problem with the brake pads.

what brake pads do you use? I believe mine are from a mid 76 suburban 3/4 ton chevy. The calipers bolted up to my backing plates.

 

[pokey]

Jon, you should be able to use the brake pads from whatever year your calipers are. I dont think their is any differance in the rotors (thickness)

 

[JOOP]

the problem is theres not enough room to squeeze the inner pad in. I might have to grind it about half way down to make it fit.

 

[TreeClimber]

the problem is theres not enough room to squeeze the inner pad in. I might have to grind it about half way down to make it fit.

NO!

You have some kind of settup issue. What caliper bracket are you using?

 

[TreeClimber]

Question?

Did you put the spindle on first, then the caliper hanger

-or-

Did you put the caliper hanger on first, then the spindle?

 

[GaryTJ]

There are two different brake systems. light duty has 1.25 rotors and the h/d has 1.5 rotors. calipers must match to the rotors.

hd has hydroboost and light duty does not.

pads are the same either way.

 

[JOOP]

Question?

Did you put the spindle on first, then the caliper hanger

-or-

Did you put the caliper hanger on first, then the spindle?

I put the spindle on first, then the backing plate that holds the calipers. I believe these are chevy backing plates, because I used 76 chevy calipers and pads. They bolted right upto the backing plate.

 

[JOOP]

or did I put them together wrong?? Should I have put the backing plate first then the spindle??

 

[pokey]

There are two different brake systems. light duty has 1.25 rotors and the h/d has 1.5 rotors. calipers must match to the rotors.

hd has hydroboost and light duty does not.

pads are the same either way.

and this is most likely the issue since the wrong caliper would throw things off by about a 1/4"

 

[JOOP]

and this is most likely the issue since the wrong caliper would throw things off by about a 1/4"

Well if the spindle goes on after the backing plate, theres my difference too. That or you sold me the wrong rotors.

 

[JOOP]

well I just measured the rotors. They measure 1.125" thick. Plus I took one all the way apart and tried to go Backing plate, then spindle. Wont work has to be spindle then backing plate. So now what??

 

[pokey]

well I just measured the rotors. They measure 1.125" thick. Plus I took one all the way apart and tried to go Backing plate, then spindle. Wont work has to be spindle then backing plate. So now what??

has to be spindle then caliper mount.
do you have the calipers for the 1.25 rotors or the thicker ones? like gary stated the pads are the same but the calipers are differant.

 

[JOOP]

Its not the calipers. I can't even get the pad up against the rotor. The backing/ caliper bracket is in the way.

When I bought the calipers. I made sure the pads,bracket and calipers all worked together.

 

[TreeClimber]

How about a picture?

 

[JOOP]

here you go. This is the drivers side. This side I could force the pad in there but it would be like driving with the brakes on. The other side there is no way I can get the pad in there unless I slap it on the belt sanders and do some. grinding.

By jonsjeep, shot with DMC-FZ7 at 2008-02-22

By jonsjeep, shot with DMC-FZ7 at 2008-02-22

plus the other side is all torn apart because thats the side I tried to switch spindle and backing plate around

 

[Pat]

Aren't there a couple different styles of brakes for Dana 44?
My guess is you need either different calipers or backing plate, I don't think chevy parts jive with waggy parts as far as brakes go.
And my backing plate goes on before the spindle, the backing plate should be flat against the knuckle.

 

[pokey]

This setup is the chev small bearing spindle with ford hub and rotor. I had this on the shelf for some time so I cant remember which caliper was supposed to go with it but it seemed to me to be the chev bracket and caliper.

 

[JOOP]

Tory gave me these brackets and I cant remember if he said they were Chevy or not. I'm assuming they are because the calipers bolt right up. Plus all the pictures I have seen online look the same.

I'm frustrated to death, I'm just going to shave a bit off the pads tomm. and take the shims off the pads.

 

[pokey]

Try the other set (size) caliper that gary mentioned first. You can always take them back if wrong.

 

[WHITE TRASH1]

Ive done that conversion before. I had to use pre 77 chevy spindles, backing plates and calipers with generic ford bearing hubs and rotors. Everythign went together perfectly. I'd have to say you either have the wrong year rotor or the hub is wrong. The bearing hub and rotor I used was from a 76-86 f150.