DirtyMJ
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prince George, BC
So...
I accidently acquired one. It was cheap, I am cheap, it worked out.
Now, my issue is that ford typically runs horrible knuckles on their axles. The kingpin D60 ones are imfamous for breaking at the upper kingpin, both in stock applications and when used off-road with hi-steer. Lots of the ford D44 knuckles are also questionable, as they are lacking girth in a few key areas, and I have seen a few of them fail.
However, this bugger is neither of those. But, it still features a fairly large cut-out to clear the brake caliper. Which is a weak point on some of the D44 ones.
So, anybody have any thoughts on the knuckle in praticular?
I am not worried about the BJs. They are proven. The BJ/Unit Bearing axles have become common in competition. And I see nothing else about the axle that really bothers me. Although, I would 'like' hi-steer so I can run the tie-rod and drag-link ends in double sheer between the hi-steer arms and the old arm on the knuckle. Personal preference. Apparantly I can mill the knuckles flat and tap them to take a D44 style of arm. But I don't seem to be finding much information on this or anything else. The old mantra of 'if it has ball joints, avoid it' seems to make these axles fairly rare in general 4x4 use.
I accidently acquired one. It was cheap, I am cheap, it worked out.
Now, my issue is that ford typically runs horrible knuckles on their axles. The kingpin D60 ones are imfamous for breaking at the upper kingpin, both in stock applications and when used off-road with hi-steer. Lots of the ford D44 knuckles are also questionable, as they are lacking girth in a few key areas, and I have seen a few of them fail.
However, this bugger is neither of those. But, it still features a fairly large cut-out to clear the brake caliper. Which is a weak point on some of the D44 ones.
So, anybody have any thoughts on the knuckle in praticular?
I am not worried about the BJs. They are proven. The BJ/Unit Bearing axles have become common in competition. And I see nothing else about the axle that really bothers me. Although, I would 'like' hi-steer so I can run the tie-rod and drag-link ends in double sheer between the hi-steer arms and the old arm on the knuckle. Personal preference. Apparantly I can mill the knuckles flat and tap them to take a D44 style of arm. But I don't seem to be finding much information on this or anything else. The old mantra of 'if it has ball joints, avoid it' seems to make these axles fairly rare in general 4x4 use.
