Yukon Gear Replacement Front Spindle For Dana 44 / Ford F150 / 5 Hole
A 1976-1979 Ford F-150 4x4 or a 1978 Bronco with front wheel bearings that keep loosening, a hub that wobbles on fresh bearings, or a spindle nut that will not hold its adjustment usually has a worn spindle on the Dana 44 straight front axle. Yukon Gear & Axle part YP SP706552 is a new five-hole front spindle for that solid-axle Dana 44, the axle Ford ran before the twin traction beam front end arrived.
On these trucks the spindle bolts to the steering knuckle through a five-hole flange, about 6 in. across. The hub and rotor ride on an inner and outer tapered bearing pressed onto two journals on the spindle, and the spindle nut, lock washer and jam nut set the bearing preload. The outer axle shaft passes through the hollow spindle to reach the locking hub, so the spindle also carries the surface the hub seal runs on. Yukon lists 1.625 in. and 1.781 in. bearing journals and a 6.26 in. overall length for this part, and says the journals get a deeper heat treatment than the factory piece. The axle itself is a reverse-rotation (high pinion) Dana 44, which matters when you shop gears but not for the spindle.
Jack the front tire off the ground and rock it top to bottom. Play that disappears when a helper holds the brake pedal points at bearings or the spindle; play that stays points at the knuckle joints. Pull the hub, clean the spindle and look closely at both journals and the seal surface. If a new bearing race slips on its journal or the threads are pulled, replace the spindle rather than chasing it with bearings. Our wheel bearing noise guide walks through separating bearing growl from tire and gear noise, and the Dana 44 problems and rebuild cost guide covers the rest of the axle while it is apart.
Yukon's fitment chart lists YP SP706552 for the 1976-1979 Ford F-150 4WD and the 1978 Ford Bronco 4WD with a Dana 44 front, reverse rotation, straight axle. The product notes also say 1973-1979 F-150, but the chart is the safer guide. It is not for 1980-and-later F-150 or Bronco trucks; those moved to the Dana 44 IFS (TTB) axle and take the Dana 44 IFS spindle on 1993-1994 non-ABS trucks. Count the five flange holes and measure the journals on your old spindle before ordering. If your truck has been swapped or the axle tag is gone, send us the year and VIN and we will check it. If you are not sure which front axle is under the truck, our Dana 30 vs Dana 44 guide shows how to tell them apart.
If the hubs are worn too, the Hardcore 19-spline locking hub set is listed for 1978-1979 Ford straight-axle Dana 44 trucks; our manual locking hubs buyers guide explains the options.
| Brand | Yukon Gear & Axle |
| Part number | YP SP706552 |
| Fits | Yukon Gear Replacement Front Spindle For Dana 44 / Ford F150 / 5 Hole |
| Type | Spindles |
| Condition | New |
| Ships | Same business day (in stock), from the USA |
| Warranty | 1-year |
Doing this repair right usually means replacing these at the same time. Same transmission, ships together.
Yukon's chart lists the 1976-1979 Ford F-150 4WD and the 1978 Bronco 4WD with the Dana 44 reverse-rotation straight front axle.
No. Those trucks use the Dana 44 IFS (twin traction beam) front axle, which takes a different spindle. Send us your year and VIN if you are unsure what axle you have.
Yukon lists 1.625 in. and 1.781 in. journals, a five-hole flange of about 6 in. and a 6.26 in. overall length. Compare those to your old spindle.
New inner and outer wheel bearings and races, the hub seal, any seal or bushing inside the spindle, and the axle shaft U-joint if it is worn.
The wheel bearings are packed with high-temperature wheel bearing grease. The differential uses gear oil, typically 75W-90, which is separate from the spindle job.
