TTB vs Solid axle
 

Can someone explain or point me to a thread that tells/shows the differences between the TTB (D50) axle and the Solid (D60) axle. I have been looking around at the differences and am not sure.

someone that I dont trust said that a truck had a solid front axle and I was like there is no way as it has to turn the wheels in 4x4 but now that I am looking I guess it is called a solid front axle. I would like to know the difference and find out what the truck has. Plus I feel I should appologise if I was wrong and he was right.

Thanks for the help.

All steering axles will not be "solid" at the knuckle, where the axle needs to bend to let the wheels steer. But that's not what we're talking about.

A solid front axle has a solid housing from knuckle to knuckle. Here's the first picture I found on the internet.
Google Image Result for http://www.watrd.com/mods/images/d44axle.jpg

Twin Traction Beam is a sort-of independent front suspension axle that Ford used in the '80s and '90s. There are two ("twin") beams that go from each knuckle to a pivot point about 3/4 of the way across the truck. Again, here's the first picture I found.
Google Image Result for http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/images/d44ttb1.jpg

Bob,
Thanks I think I get it now.

looks like i will be eating crow for dinner as I need to apologise, even though It does not sound like there was ever anything but a solid axle in a '97 F450.

A casual glance at the 4x4 TTB axle can leave one thinking it is solid. At least, much more so than, say, the IFS system GM used.

As far as I know, 4x4 F350s, 450s, and 550s (and, the old "Super Duty" trucks) have always had solid front axles. I don't know when the F150 and F250 went to TTB, but I thought it was before '80.

'80 was the first year for TTB in F-150, F-250 and F-350. It was the only front drive axle Ford used for a while (Dana 44 in F-150 and most F-250, Dana 50 in F-350 and some F-250).

Then in the late '80s or early '90s the F-350 went back to a solid axle (Dana 60). I don't know exactly when.

Thanks Bob,

I was sure Ford resisted the temptation on the heavier trucks.

My '90 F350 has the king pin D60.

Roy

does anyone have an idea of which axle has a beter turning radius? or does that have nothing to do with turning radius?

For offroad I'd say a solid axle is best but only for extreme offroading etc. My 44 TTB does exceptionally well off and on road and rides much smoother than a solid front axle. Granted, it likes to eat ball joints, but that's besides the point.

When the F350s went from leaf to coil springs, they got noticeably tighter turning radius. That would lead me to suspect the coil/TTB turns tighter than a leaf/D60 front end.

I think the conventional wisdom is that the D60 is a "stronger" set up. Better able to handle heavy and high-torque engines.

While I am sure the TTB gives a nice highway ride, so do the solid axle Super Duty F350s.

Roy

There is really nothing to compare..

I am looking for 2 Dana 60 right now, if anyone can help out!

Every one of the four TTB trucks I've had have had a noticeable vibration from the front driveline, while only one (my 6" lifted Bronco) out of five solid axle trucks has had any vibration. So I prefer solid axles from that standpoint.

nope, you will not be eating crow, because there is no such thing as a 97 F-450.

the first year for the F-450 was 1999.

mid year 1985 (86 model year truck) saw the reintroduction of the dana 60 solid axle in the F-350

It my not be called a F450 by ford, but it still is one

I agree with Brad. The pre-F450/550 years had the "Super Duty" trucks. As I remember, one could order a Super Duty with a range of GVWRs...making them similar to F450s or F550s.

So, '79 and earlier F150s had a solid axle. Which one?

MT4x4, too bad you are not in Rust Country. Rusted out F350s with D60s and 100k miles for 1,500 bucks are pretty common here. On the other hand, a fender is a different story.

Roy