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ttb rebuild

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Old Nov 16, 2010 | 07:31 PM
  #1  
93coleman's Avatar
93coleman
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ttb rebuild

Getting ready for some new tires soon,but first I need to rebuild my twin traction beam.Is there any tricks to this front diff(never worked on ttb).I want to replace both upper ball joints and both lower ball joints,tie rod ends,all the u-joints inside the ttb,as well as brakes,bearings,and shocks.Does the diff need to be pulled out of the truck to change the inside u-joints?Ant tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Old Nov 16, 2010 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by 93coleman
Getting ready for some new tires soon,but first I need to rebuild my twin traction beam.Is there any tricks to this front diff(never worked on ttb).I want to replace both upper ball joints and both lower ball joints,tie rod ends,all the u-joints inside the ttb,as well as brakes,bearings,and shocks.Does the diff need to be pulled out of the truck to change the inside u-joints?Ant tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.
If you're getting that far into it, go ahead and replace the center pivot bushings. Use the polyurethane bushings.
 
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Old Nov 17, 2010 | 04:16 PM
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I plan on replacing all the bushings with polyurethane.Has anybody ever had problems with the polyurethane bushings squeeking?Had a friend that put them on an explorer and it squeeked like crazy.Going to the junkyard and if I can find a F-350,I might do a straight axle swap after realizing how much time and money it is going to take to get the ttb back up to par.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 01:05 AM
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Before you consider a SAS, thumb through this thread and pay attention to page 10:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...ct-w-pics.html

Don't pay any attention to people who tell you that the TTB setup is junk. They're biased, and many of them have based their opinion only on either what they've read in the internet, or what their friends told them. Do your own research, ask questions, and make your own decision based on what you learned. It's your truck, you have to drive it, and you have to rely on it to get you to and from wherever you're going.

I've had plenty of chances to swap out my TTB for a solid D44...which I still have. Since I lifted mine, I have had ZERO problems or trail failures, and I wheel the crap out of mine. I've had it on trails where the suspension was fully extended on opposite corners and at full stuff on the others, even briefly had it up on two wheels, and I've driven it home every time. With the TTB still there.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 04:48 AM
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for the money you will be spending to rebuild the TTB, you should be able to buy a D-60 and freshen it up too.
just make sure if you get the D-60 get the steering linkage, trak bar, and trak bar mounting bracket too
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 11:47 AM
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Originally Posted by tjc transport
for the money you will be spending to rebuild the TTB, you should be able to buy a D-60 and freshen it up too.
just make sure if you get the D-60 get the steering linkage, trak bar, and trak bar mounting bracket too
Street value of a D60 is upwards of $1000. I just sold one recently to a guy over at Pirate for about that much. A TTB can be rebuilt for less than $300. Pivot bushings, radius arm bushings, wheel bearings, diff seals and u-joints are inexpensive and easy to come by with no guesswork. And it can be done in a weekend. Just takes a bit of elbow grease.

My neighbor struggled with his when he installed his lift on his F-150. He made it harder than it needed to be simply out of stubbornness. I told him that...and I still tell him that. I installed my lift and rebuilt my front end all by my lonesome. The hardest part was the pivot bushings, and that was more because I used a torch instead of the correct tool. I'm happy the way my truck behaves, and I'm satisfied with it's demeanor on and off road. That doesn't mean that 20 years down the road when cars are powered by pancake syrup and ride on magnetic rails that I won't have a solid axle under it. I'd be fortunate just to have a solid body panel by that time.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 12:02 PM
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i get offered D-60 balljoint rears all the time for $300-500, and kingpin rears for $400-600 from the local junk yards. this is for complete units with steering linkage and track bar and bracket.

$1,000+ is ebay prices.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 02:42 PM
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The TTB isn't that hard to mess with and really doesn't seem like too bad of a setup except for the steering geometry. Changing balljoints isn't that bad, changing 2 of the u-joints won't be bad. Changing the 1 u-joint that is on the passenger side by the diff could be a bit of a pain. If your going to change all the bushings, guess what? Your going to have the TTB just hanging by a thread. The ONLY thing left holding it on will the the spring and the shocks. Wow, 2 more bolts and you will have the driver side beam out and can change the other u-joint, install the bushings, and raise it all back up into place. This was the first TTB I've ever worked on and it really wasn't bad to get it all out of the truck.

All this stuff can be done cheaper than buying a D60 and take way less time than it will take you to do an SAS
 
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Old Nov 18, 2010 | 10:15 PM
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Originally Posted by tjc transport
i get offered D-60 balljoint rears all the time for $300-500, and kingpin rears for $400-600 from the local junk yards. this is for complete units with steering linkage and track bar and bracket.

$1,000+ is ebay prices.
You mean fronts?

$1000+ is the price you end up with if you find two or more people who want a kingpin 60 and get into a bidding war...forget Ebay. I paid $350 for that axle at the junkyard, but I had to pull it. I wouldn't let it go for less than $800. Call it greed, call it what you want. Even if you can find a 60 for $300-400, there's still all the parts that go along with it like the radius arms, steering brackets, rebuild parts...the list gets longer from there. Then there's the downtime. A simple overhaul, even a lift install, on a TTB front can be done in a weekend with the right tools and space, and the cost in parts can be covered by less than a whole paycheck. Having never put a lift kit on anything before, I had the front end completely out of my Bronco in 2 hours. I didn't have to torch anything.
 
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Old Nov 19, 2010 | 03:22 AM
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it usually takes me rite around 6 hours to do a D-60 swap by myself, 3 1/2-4 hours with a helper. and that is total from drive in to drive out.
i cut the ttb out, and use all new bolts.
parts usually is around $500, and i charge $400 for the install
i prefer the kingpin D-60's, but they are getting harder to find
 
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Old Nov 19, 2010 | 04:28 AM
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if you planing to put a lift on your truck then get a set of bushings that are adjustable for the top ball joint to help with alignment !!
 
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Old Nov 19, 2010 | 09:15 AM
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Personally, If you are lifting, go with tuff country, they have slotted holes for the pivot bolts that make alinment a brease.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2010 | 06:48 PM
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A friend of mine found a solid Dana 44 for me for $500.It already has 4.10 gears,and Im pretty sure I will be able to get all linkage and brackets with it for free.For the money,and time invested,I think the straight axle is the best bang for the buck.Hopefully everything goes smooth,any tips for the straight axle swap will be appreciated.Thanks for all the advise.
 
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Old Nov 22, 2010 | 07:06 PM
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WHAT year is it ? WHAT did it come out of ? is it a low pinion or a high pinion ? are the spring pads the same width as what you have now ?

if it is a low pinion then you will have to redo your crossmember so you front drive shaft will work , and may need a new shaft !!

and is this new one in any better shape than what you have now ?

dont forget you will need new steering linkage for that setup !

you will also need to put a 4 inch spring lift on it so the pumpkin will not slam into the front crossmember !!
 
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Old Nov 22, 2010 | 09:23 PM
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Originally Posted by cj06
WHAT year is it ? WHAT did it come out of ? is it a low pinion or a high pinion ? are the spring pads the same width as what you have now ?

if it is a low pinion then you will have to redo your crossmember so you front drive shaft will work , and may need a new shaft !!

and is this new one in any better shape than what you have now ?

dont forget you will need new steering linkage for that setup !

you will also need to put a 4 inch spring lift on it so the pumpkin will not slam into the front crossmember !!
The guy has several Ford trucks,and is going to let me pick the one I want.I dont know much about the 44,but I was told it would bolt in with minor mods.All I know is that it is coming out of an older Ford.If I have to use a 4 inch lift spring,Im going to have to find a different diff,because I tow a fifth wheel camper.Looks like I need to do more homework.Thanks for the advise.
 
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