1986 F250 4x4 Conversion
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 8
From: In the garage
The TTB isn't a bad setup really. There is no real difference in strength between a straight axle D44 vs. a ttb D44. Most people just get tired of the problems associated with the ttb setup, but with some research you can set a ttb up to work.
Here's a good thread about the TTB axles: GoFastBroncos.com - View topic - TTB vs. THE WORLD (AKA differences between Ford TTB axles)
Here's a good thread about the TTB axles: GoFastBroncos.com - View topic - TTB vs. THE WORLD (AKA differences between Ford TTB axles)
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 5
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More questions...
More questions...Thanks for the help.
I understand the 7th gen front suspensions came with leafs for the 4wd drive versions and my truck since it is 2wd has coils.
I was not able to get a clear answer from anyone.
Can I pull the axel and leaf springs off a donor 4wd (F250 or F350) and bolt it up to my 2wd chassis?
Thanks!
I understand the 7th gen front suspensions came with leafs for the 4wd drive versions and my truck since it is 2wd has coils.
I was not able to get a clear answer from anyone.
Can I pull the axel and leaf springs off a donor 4wd (F250 or F350) and bolt it up to my 2wd chassis?
Thanks!
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
More questions...Thanks for the help.
I understand the 7th gen front suspensions came with leafs for the 4wd drive versions and my truck since it is 2wd has coils.
I was not able to get a clear answer from anyone.
Can I pull the axel and leaf springs off a donor 4wd (F250 or F350) and bolt it up to my 2wd chassis?
Thanks!
I understand the 7th gen front suspensions came with leafs for the 4wd drive versions and my truck since it is 2wd has coils.
I was not able to get a clear answer from anyone.
Can I pull the axel and leaf springs off a donor 4wd (F250 or F350) and bolt it up to my 2wd chassis?
Thanks!
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
Here's a link that tells you all about it and has pictures. It's pretty bad, almost nothing will interchange out at the spindle. If you do a search, you can convert the f150 dana 44 ttb to 8 lug if you use some parts from a older chevy axle.
FullSizeBronco.com - 78 - 96 Ford Bronco offroad club, forums, tech, installs
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New User
Joined: Jan 2011
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I am not sure what a 7th gen Ford truck is(I don't keep up with that lingo too much) but what you are describing pertains to the 80-I think 97 trucks. No, the leafs will not bolt in. The almost will, but not completely. There is some modification that needs to be done around the front of the frame to make the shackles work. After that, it all bolts in, with possibly a little rivet grinding here and there.
Thanks!
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
More questions...Thanks for the help.
I understand the 7th gen front suspensions came with leafs for the 4wd drive versions and my truck since it is 2wd has coils.
I was not able to get a clear answer from anyone.
Can I pull the axel and leaf springs off a donor 4wd (F250 or F350) and bolt it up to my 2wd chassis?
Thanks!
I understand the 7th gen front suspensions came with leafs for the 4wd drive versions and my truck since it is 2wd has coils.
I was not able to get a clear answer from anyone.
Can I pull the axel and leaf springs off a donor 4wd (F250 or F350) and bolt it up to my 2wd chassis?
Thanks!
There is a kit you can buy from a place I think it's called Sky Manufacturing. It's a kit to move the shackles on a Ford 350 from the front to the rear, called a front shackle reversal kit. This gives you some lift and they claim a better ride, but I would have to think the Ford engineers put the shackles up front for some good reason. Anyway, it just so happens you can use this kit to install a axle under your 2wd if you use a f350 dana 60 straight axle. I am thinking it's not made to work with the dana 50 ttb or the dana 44hd ttb.
I will look and see if I can find the specific mods for the front factory shackle install.
This space for rent...
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,001
Likes: 8
From: In the garage
Here's a link that tells you all about it and has pictures. It's pretty bad, almost nothing will interchange out at the spindle. If you do a search, you can convert the f150 dana 44 ttb to 8 lug if you use some parts from a older chevy axle.
FullSizeBronco.com - 78 - 96 Ford Bronco offroad club, forums, tech, installs
FullSizeBronco.com - 78 - 96 Ford Bronco offroad club, forums, tech, installs
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 282
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From: Texas
Do yourself a favor and go with a Dana 60 High Pinion front axle and a coil spring/link bar setup. You can buy spring buckets that weld/bolt to your frame for cheap. You can buy Spring pads that mount to the axle for cheap. Same goes for shock mounts and link bar mounts for both frame side and axle side. Get some SuperDuty (99+) front springs, or aftermarket front springs. Make or buy some link bars with heims or bushing ends. There's some fabrication work involved, but nothing serious, just brackets really. If you can't do the fabrication work yourself, ask a friend who can, or find a shop that can do the work for you. It's not hard.
If you're going to go through all the work of making your 2wd a 4wd, why use the stock crappy front suspension? Why not upgrade while you upgrade? Have you ever ridden in a TTB 4x4 truck with leafs? You like your kidneys intact? A Solid Axle Coil Spring front suspension will ride as smooth as your stock 2wd coil spring setup.
If you're going to go through all the work of making your 2wd a 4wd, why use the stock crappy front suspension? Why not upgrade while you upgrade? Have you ever ridden in a TTB 4x4 truck with leafs? You like your kidneys intact? A Solid Axle Coil Spring front suspension will ride as smooth as your stock 2wd coil spring setup.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
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From: Virginia
Yeah, I know about the Chevy conversions, they're a pita. I was wondering why you can't convert the 2wd over using the 1/2 ton D44 though, ignoring the knuckle issue. Are the I-beam lengths/pivot location different between the D44 arms? Does anyone have a pic showing 2wd I-beam lengths vs. 4wd D44, D44HD, and D50 arms? I may have to go bust out my tape measure and hit the snow.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,984
Likes: 2,738
From: Virginia
I think I would seriously look at the shackle conversion kit and see if it would work ok. Unless you can mount the factory shackle and add some support to it.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 725
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From: New Lexington, Ohio
*bang!*.....that's the sound of that theory being shot to death. Thanks for the link! Very educational. Cool stuff, but they kinda condemned 1/2 ton guys to staying just that no matter what, huh? Oh well. And sry for hijacking the thread with my wild contraption-esque theories. 
...off to f&$k somethin else up now lol
...off to f&$k somethin else up now lol