78 W150 fulltime front axle brakes

[bgilbert]

:{ . Well the ole 78 has no brakes whatsoever now. I had been running around with one brake working, but no more. Keep in mind this was used only as a 'ranch' and winter truck. Looks as though the rotor and hub are replaced as an assembly. Well my rotors were so worn through, the rotor broke off the hub. I can spin the rotor around the hub, this good ? From what I've read the old fulltime front axle D44 is worthless and a major pain to change brakes and wheel bearings?? I'll admit I've never done brakes, so that makes it even more hard to tear into it.



I hate to spend high dollar on a complete front and more than likely rear brake job on my $200 truck. Taking as my 89 needs brakes too :{ . Also don't feel the truck is worth switching to a D60 front with lockouts with a fulltime t-case, plus the truck isn't worth a D60f. I really wish there was a cheap fix for this, just to keep it on the road.



I called on the hub and rotor and was priced at $80 each. I have some older junkyards around that have these old Dodges laying around. If its not too much of a pain to pull I'd rather try there first.



What do you guys think? Share any experiences on these great brakes? BTW sorry PB, but I'm sure not all the 1st genners frequent the 'Other' forum, so I had to post here. Hope its ok.

 

[PToombs]

Hi Bill, i'd go the junkyard route, as it is a farm truck. If they aren't too rusty they come apart ok. Its been a few years since I did one but as I recall,the bolts go in from the back and the big axle nut is all there is. Whomp on the axle with a BFH and slide the hub off, the bearings come w/ it. If the bearing is loose you may have to replace it, there is no adjustment. (if you are really cheap like me i can tell you how to cheat and tighten it up). I used to work for a guy that only owned dodges, he always had at least 5 and a couple for parts,everything from '70 up to late 80's. That's where I caught the bug.

 

[MMiller]

Cruise on out here and you can have your choice of dana 44F fulltime front ends. I have one here in Libertyville, and I think I have a couple out at my parents place in southwestern Ia. The only bad thing about junkyard stuff, is you don't know how good the wheel bearings are going to be.



What a guy can do is get the parts off a 75 chevy dana 44front, spindles out and outer axel shafts, and then put them on the dodge 44 front. This way you have a full time front end that has greaseable, adjustable wheel bearings. No more unit bearings. Then it is easy to swap on lockout hubs if you so desire.



Michael

 

[dodgenstein]

Since this is a 1/2 ton the problem with the Chevy conversion is the bolt pattern. A big gear puller works well to pull the rotor/hub assembly off. The calipers and pads aren't any problem to R&R.

 

[MMiller]

Oh crap, thanks for the catch dodgenstien, I just went in to auto pilot thinking he had a 3/4 ton



Sheesh, don't pay much attention to me Bill , unless you want to upgrade to 3/4 ton stuff, I think I can fix you up.



Michael

 

[dan brooks]

I had the same lousy bearings on my '78 Power Wagon... but with the MileMarker(?) hub conversion in front to mess things up even more.



The ideal thing would be to do the swap that MMiller suggested, and either have the rear axleshafts and drums redrilled for the new pattern, or swap in the larger pattern shafts and brakes (depends on which rear axle you have... ). If I would have kept the truck I would have swapped in different axles - by the time I bought all the new bearings and related parts for the hub conversion it would have probably cost me less.

 

[bgilbert]

Oh crap, thanks for the catch dodgenstien, I just went in to auto pilot thinking he had a 3/4 ton



Sheesh, don't pay much attention to me Bill , unless you want to upgrade to 3/4 ton stuff, I think I can fix you up.



Michael

You know come to think of it, that would probly be the best thing to do, get a D60f w/3. 54's and 205 t-case. --- or would one run a 60F and the 203 fulltime case?



This truck has too much pride to get parted/scrapped out. So whats the market on a D60F?

 

[ARhine]

Around here D60 fronts bring from 800 to 1000 bucks.



Where you are a gasser a 8 bolt D44 front would be much cheaper. Can snag them for $200 or so complete to even much less.

 

[bgilbert]

Ouch. . ok maybe I'll look for the hub rotor assembly from the junkyard. . anyone need gasser 318 727 203 parts?

 

[MMiller]

My 75 has been running a 60F with a 203 for quite some time. It was standard in 1 ton trucks. The old ones did not have lockouts. I put a parttime kit in my 203, and lockout hubs on my truck when its going to spend some time on the street. When I am pulling or 4 wheeling it hard I pull the lockouts and run the drive flanges.



I have a friend that has(had?) a dodge dana 60 front from a full time truck, but it was probably 4. 10 geared.



Michael

 

["Mad Max"]

Bill,

I have a D44 from my 78 Ramcharger, fulltime unit, 5-bolt lug pattern, 3. 55's (I think) that you can have, just pick up the tab for freight. Ran fine - not great but it is all there. Maybe we can get hooked up with someone heading your way from my area and could 'deliver' it.

- Sam

 

[bgilbert]

Thanks Sam, I appreciate it. I might have to look into that. First I'm gonna try to make it to some of the older yards around here and see what I can find.

 

["Mad Max"]

... . could also just pull the hubs off and send 'dem 'dat way. it's all bueno to me

- S

 

[TKingsbury]

I think to get the front hubs off, you have to take the nuts out through a hole in the wheel mounting flange similar to removing a rear axle. Just thinking out loud here.

Travis. .

 

[dodgenstein]

TKingsbury you are correct on the removal of the bearing retainer nuts(or bolts? It's been a while!). The bearings and retainer come off with the hub/rotor assembly. In my experience with these axles the biggest bearing problems with these are wear between the outer races and the housing. This is due to the back-to-back placement of the bearings not being able to handle the leverage placed on them. The only solution is to replace the knuckle. I have had probably a 1/2 dozen 77-78 trucks and Ramchargers mostly big blocks with oversized tires to aggravate the wear issue.

 

[PToombs]

TKingsbury is right,I forgot that,the bolts are 3/8 12-point. Take a 12-point socket,turn gently 'til it starts to go on,then drive on w/hammer. (if you live in a winter salt zone :{ ) I never saw worn housings,usually the bearing wore.

 

[bgilbert]

update

Thanks for everyone's input on this one. I've sold this 78 Power Wagon with no brakes for $850, not bad considering I paid $200 for it.