Heavy Duty Axles for my Stude Dana 44

50C8DAN
50C8DAN Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I picked up one of Fairborne Studebaker rear axle kits for my '64 Hawk yesterday at the York Studebaker swap meet. These are one of the best sets of axles and overall kit I have ever seen. It is well thought out and the level of detail is great. If you break these you are turning some way serious horsepower that shouldn't be on the highway! The guys that put this together are obviously not making big money on these but did it to help out to replace the aged axles in Studebakers. I did talk to them about the Hudson setup and they think it should not be too difficult to pull off and they would be similar to the Studebaker kit since the Dana 44's are all but the same, with the only difference being possibly the axle length.



While I am at it I decided to do a rear disk brake conversion. These are available from Steeltech solutions (http://www.steeltechsolutions.com/). The basis is the bracket for the Dana 44, the other parts are available from Steeltech or you can procure your own calipers, rotors etc. from local parts stores. These should be applicable the Hudson rears as well. If you decide to do this you will need a spacer plate to take up the slack where the drum backing plate is missing.

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    When Jack Clifford was racing his 54 Hornet Coupe... he had a Stude rear installed because the axles were stronger... improving that rear must provide some real brute strength.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Once again 50C8DAN, you have provided a missing link in my planning. Those rear disc brakes look exactly like what I've been looking for.



    Does the Stude rear end need the spacer plate for the caliper bracket?



    Ken, Jack probably ran the Stude rear end because they had an early posi-traction unit that Hudson didn't. However, the Stude posi-unit would fit into the Hudson Dana rear end due to the common 44 carrier dimentions. From what I can tell, the Hudson axles would have went right into it.



    Mark
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    `Hudsonator wrote:
    Once again 50C8DAN, you have provided a missing link in my planning. Those rear disc brakes look exactly like what I've been looking for.

    Does the Stude rear end need the spacer plate for the caliper bracket?

    Ken, Jack probably ran the Stude rear end because they had an early posi-traction unit that Hudson didn't. However, the Stude posi-unit would fit into the Hudson Dana rear end due to the common 44 carrier dimentions. From what I can tell, the Hudson axles would have went right into it.

    Mark
    Mark you are right... I should have included that tid bit too... the posi and toughter axles were the reasoning.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Back in the olden days, 1950's we put a Buick nailhead in a 51 Comander coupe, engine had an export kit in it. Had original rear and damn it was fast. It had a Dana 44 rear.
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    Mark:



    The spacer is just there to make up for the thickness of the missing drum brake backing plate that you remove to install the disk brake bracket. It would be required if one were to use stock length axles no matter what make. Without the spacer you will not be able to set the end play of the axle, it will sit too far in.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    50C8DAN wrote:
    Mark:



    The spacer is just there to make up for the thickness of the missing drum brake backing plate that you remove to install the disk brake bracket. It would be required if one were to use stock length axles no matter what make. Without the spacer you will not be able to set the end play of the axle, it will sit too far in.



    The kit is definately interesting, I've been looking at it quite a bit since you first posted this thread. Is the caliper bracket compatible with the Fairborne bearing retainer? Or, do you have to enlarge the center hole as you would the stock backing plate? With a little luck, we may have stumbled onto the modernization of the Hudson/Dana rear end in total.



    Also, the parts Phil Harris needed for the Hudson axle upgrade comparison are out, cleaned, and ready to be shipped tomorrow. Hopefully we'll have an answer on the cross compatibility of the axle upgrade soon. Let's keep our fingers crossed!



    Mark Hudson
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    Mark:



    The disk brake kit is compatible, no modification necessary. See this ebay listing:



    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Avanti-and-Studebaker-REAR-DISC-BRAKES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ42605QQitemZ8042755487QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks much Dan as well! I have been mulling this rear end dilema for awhile now not knowing what to do. I'll watch a bit longer, but appears that the Hudson Dana 44 just might be the way to go (and disk brakes to boot!). Again thanks for your work on this.

    Jay
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Well, a while back (about March) I bought a pair of steeltechsolutions Studebaker disc brake conversion brackets for a Studebaker D-44, and as you might expect, Murphy's Law prevailed. They do not fit my rear end flanges.



    It is supposed to be the original Hudson rear end, and a Dana 44, apparently, with 3.07, KNOWN.



    New brackets are being fabricated to fit my flanges; I am having extra sets made to sell to those who might want to put disc brakes on the rear. Yes, FOR SALE as a complete kit including rotors, calipers, brackets, etc. Will update the Hudson gang later once everything is firmed up with photos, etc.



    Any one run into this problem already on a 52-54?



    What years were the Dana 27 put into Hudsons? Hopefully that is not what I have, and I DO have a D-44; certainly LOOKs like one



    The Resto-mod is in full-speed-ahead at this time.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The Dana 27 axle was a light duty unit used in the Stude Champions And I think the Jets. Also some models of Willys used them. No where near as big or strong as the model 44 rear axles.
  • 50C8DAN
    50C8DAN Senior Contributor
    The question is did Hudson use the Dana 44 for both the Hornet and Wasp or was the Wasp another Dana or Hudson product???
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    The Wasp is a Dana 44, as is the jet as far as I can tell by the parts books.



    The better Dana ratios were in the Jets.



    We've got a 4.56 ratio Wasp rear end and a Hornet Hydramatic 3.07 rear end both torn down right now, identical with the exception of the ring and pinion.



    Mark
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