D44 knuckle Swap - does it add width?

[Zachalanche]

For those of you who have done this, I'm considering a D44 knuckle swap on my ranger, but I'm curious if it adds any width WMS to WMS? Seems like it might due to the wider bearing spacing, would be cool to know for sure.

 

[Shran]

Not much, if anything. My buddy did one that used D35 knuckles/mid 90's D44 spindles/hub/rotor. You turn the OD of the rotor down and use the Ranger brake caliper & pads. I really doubt that added much if anything... I guess the way to tell would be to measure the WMS height vs the pad surface on your rotor vs a donor.

There are two other ways to accomplish it, reaming the beams out for D44 knuckles or the Mappyjack method with D35 knuckles and Chevy spindle/hub/rotor/brakes.

 

[bobbywalter]

with knuckle swap.....little under 3 inches if i remember right. though ackerman is not ideal.....


first started doing it with knuckle swap..

.but that was before small hole d44 abs spindles existed.


the redrill 6 bolt chevy style swap is like 1/2 in more....but thats some distance on memory.


today i suggest swapping the whole d44 ttb. it is better all around....

i can bet you will get offers from others to buy it if you do it....

having mix matched wheels sux.

 

[bobbywalter]

this is matt8888...... this is equipped with a knuckle swap and beam cover....he did not rejoin after the 2007 server snafu....i been trying to get ahold of him....

that is a stock chassis ranger at that point with opened up fenders.....







this was a little further along the insanity....

 

[Zachalanche]

with knuckle swap.....little under 3 inches if i remember right. though ackerman is not ideal.....


first started doing it with knuckle swap..

.but that was before small hole d44 abs spindles existed.


the redrill 6 bolt chevy style swap is like 1/2 in more....but thats some distance on memory.


today i suggest swapping the whole d44 ttb. it is better all around....

i can bet you will get offers from others to buy it if you do it....

having mix matched wheels sux.

thanks for the detail. very helpful.

The full dana 44 swap is definitely on the want list. just exploring different ideas. and I would really like some bigger brakes. the combination of V8 and large tires is a bit taxing on the factory brakes.

I definitely would be doing something with the expo 8.8 rear that i have to make the bolt pattern match. probably wheel adapters initially.

 

[GreenRanger090]

thanks for the detail. very helpful.

The full dana 44 swap is definitely on the want list. just exploring different ideas. and I would really like some bigger brakes. the combination of V8 and large tires is a bit taxing on the factory brakes.

I definitely would be doing something with the expo 8.8 rear that i have to make the bolt pattern match. probably wheel adapters initially.

1983 to 1997 Ranger 4x4 to Model 44 pivot brackets - Autofab

Nicely handcrafted and welded beam pivot brackets for the 1983-97 Ranger 4×4 frame only. We spent many hours working out the location for lift, wheel travel, and the best results from our equal length tie rod steering system. Requires some trimming of the inner frame bottom edge to determine the...

autofab.com

mounting brackets for 83-97 ranger just in case it helps later

 

[Zachalanche]

1983 to 1997 Ranger 4x4 to Model 44 pivot brackets - Autofab

Nicely handcrafted and welded beam pivot brackets for the 1983-97 Ranger 4×4 frame only. We spent many hours working out the location for lift, wheel travel, and the best results from our equal length tie rod steering system. Requires some trimming of the inner frame bottom edge to determine the...

autofab.com

mounting brackets for 83-97 ranger just in case it helps later

thankyou

 

[Danny74]

Please keep us updated on your progress, and if you can please take a lot of pictures and post them. This is a swap that I I'm considering myself. I mainly for the better brakes. I plan on towing a lot with my 4x4 93 Ranger.

Also to respond to your question about the increased width; from what I read in the article on this site, about that swap, that increased width is a bonus, because it's going to have a different bolt pattern then the ranger wheels, so its recomended to put adapters on the rear axle to match the bolt pattern of the front. Thereby increasing the width of the rear axle also which probably closely evens everything out.

That's the only thing that bugs me about this kind of swap. I'd have to get all new rims. I have a set of all-terrain tires on rims and a complete set of snow tires on rims. I couldn't use those anymore.

It's unfortunate that we don't have better brake upgrade options for arrangers other than the knuckle swap from early style Rangers to later style Rangers.