I'm eyeballing an 85 f250 4x4 online for sale. i notice that it has front leaf springs. i assume the difference from the F150 to the F250 4x4's is the coil spring to leaf? Can i also assume this truck would have the dana 60, or is 1985 too early of a year? Dana 44 maybe? And if i were to go look at this truck, what do i look for to identify the model number in case a previous owner had swapped out the axle? thanks for takin a look.

 

It can either have a Dana 44 of 50 stock. The easiest way to tell is if the hub through the center of the wheel tapers down, then it is a Dana 44. If the hub stays relatively the same diameter through the center of the hole, then it is a Dana 50 (that is if it is asolid front axle). If it has a solid axle, then it is swapped in, and likely a Dana 60 (the hub thing I talked about previously still applies).

 

If it has the regular cab, more than likely it's the dana 44 ttb.

 

-a dana 44 looks like an apple on its side and measures 10 3/8" across.

-a dana 50, 60, 70, 80 look like an apple to, but not as prominant. and there taller and wider. they measure 12 1/8" accross.

-all the above Dana Axles have 10 bolts, so dont let some chevy guy tell you different.

-ultimately, the best way to tell is to find the stamp on the case that annotates which dana series it is. It should read D23, D25, D27, D30, D35, D41, D44, D50, D53, D60, D70, or D80. Usually its located on one of the intergrated trusses, and its stamped onto the steel, so bring a wire brush with you, just search you'll find it. (those are all the dana models, however ford didnt use all of them. included for reference)

-After you locate the number, google it if there is a prefix. They all mean something. For instance, Jeep used a Dana 35 rear, some of them were stamped D35C. The C stood for custom. In which they are labeled because they are shipped incomplete from the Dana factory to Chysler and Chrysler completes the build.

 

Most of the 80-85.5 trucks (F250's) I see with the standard cab have the Dana 44, while the Extra cab trucks have the Dana 50, both axles are a TTB design. The dana 44 has a smaller diameter hub and will have a bit of space between the wheel center hole and the hub, while the Dana 50 will completely fill the wheel center, both are 8 lug and use the same wheels from the factory. The solid axle got the axe after '79, and didn't start appearing in the F350 again untill the '85.5 model year, and didn't come from the factory again in an F250 untill '98.

 

My 84 F250 4x4 came with the Dana 50 TTB, it's a RC LB; I think it came with the heavier axle because it's a diesel. I am swapping it out for a Dana 60 straight axle when the TTB wears out.

 

Diesels cam standard with the dana 44ttb. I suspect yours was special ordered with the 50. A guy I work with has a 86 f250 regular cab long bed with a 460, and he says he thinks he has a dana 50 also. I haven't been over to check it out, but if it does, his was special ordered too. There must have been a box you could check off if you wanted the dana 50. Otherwise, the 50 only came standard on the long wheel base f250 trucks with the extended or crew cabs, or f350's older than mid 1985.

 

The D50 came with the max front GAWR rating, and the packages that included that option, so, snow plow, a level of the camper package, and I think a couple others.
The ex cabs after 84 all had the D50 by default.

 

Are the TTB D50's from an F350 any good ?? eg for 35" tyres or bigger..
Found 1 cheap & was thinking of swapping out the bronco front end
thats in my 60 mod. f100 4x4, but if its no tuffer I'll leave it.

Jeff

 

I have three 85 F250 4x4s with 460's. The two trucks that came with 4 speeds have the Dana 50 and C6 truck has the 44. There was an option for the heavy front end as well as a heavy duty rear end. One truck was made in late 84 and it has a dana 60 rear and 44 TTB, one built March 85, it has dana 60 rear and 50 TTB, and one in June 85 and it has the Ford/Stirling 10.25 rear and 50 TTB. The early 85 also does not have the dual smog pump 460 setup, it only has a single pump. Many changes in the 85 year. This is also the year the D60 front axle started mid year with the F350 and when the dually 4x4 was introduced. One of the 85's I have worked to death plowing for 22 years, the D50 housing broke once, but other than that it has lasted. I figured it would give out early on, but it is still good. It is a shame though as the truck frame broke in two right under the motor, but I have not given up on it yet.
JWR

 

My 1980 has the 50, with the 351m. I believe it was a special order; at least on this one.

 

It makes sense what 82f100swb said in his post above.

Imagine yourself in the 80's sitting down at the dealer and ordering a truck. 1985.5 and earlier they are not going to ask you do you want a Dana 50 ttb or a Dana 44ttb in your truck? They are going to ask you what GVWR truck do you want, and what body style do you want. And do you want a camper package or a snowplow package? From that info the proper GVWR box was checked, and thats what GVWR package you got, which naturally determined the axle Ford said you needed along with everything else that went with it.