The D50 TTB was used in some form of Ford truck for 17 years but I've yet to find an information on any changes and evolutions in all those years. Anyone know of any or are they all the same?

 

From what I have read online via these forums and others that are well known & trusted the D50 TTB has never changed. No factory upgrade type parts. I'm sure there is stronger aftermarket axles etc that one could get.

 

Ohh yes there certainly is, big bucks though. I'm just wondering if one donor vehicle was better then other. From all that I've found the answer is no so long as it is a D50TTB then they are all the same.

 

Not sure on the year change but somewhere along the line the inner passenger axle shaft changed from being held in w 3 retaining bolts(outside), to a C-clip on the inside

 

I know it's not TTB, but isn't it a solid axle D50 they started using in the new super duties in 99' or there about?

 

Yes, but that is not what the OP is asking about

 

I think the newer ones have different brakes. My 92 d50 uses the older style caliper... Mot sure about rotors.

 

Would the C-clip version of the axle be weaker then? I'm curious as to when the change was. Also how is the drivers side held in? Bolts or C-clip??

 

Drivers side just pulls out

 

Yeah this is an upgrade I'd be after if they did a later caliper on the later versions. Our caliper that slides on the clips is and strong and all but also tends to stick.

I'm curious about this to, in my research on the subject I've never seen anything but c-clip retaining versions. If this exists it must have been very early, like 80.

 

Appears to me they changed the calipers for the 95 model year, my 94 has the rubber/metal slides my 95 though has the later bolt on style.

Bolt on style is the one to have, I'm constantly replacing those retainers. Its either replace them or suffer rattling calipers to point drive ya nuts.

 

The 95+rotors are bigger as well.
But in order to put the 95+ parts on you need 95+ knuckles

 

Well then 95-97 is what I'd be after, will be a bit hard to come by, but I think the better brakes are worth it.

Did ford ever do an auto locking hub on these? I'd love to have a Superduty style lockout hub.

 

My 96 has the "Automatic 4x4" hubs installed still. I know they are different from the 99+ SD truck hubs.

 

Thanks, I'm assuming your truck is a D50TTB not a D44HDTTB, I don't think they did both options that late but better to ask.

Yeah I have no idea what it would take to put on superduty hubs with the manual override option, I haven't looked into it much yet. But from what I can tell from pictures the D60 Superduty hubs look like they mount just like all previous D60/D50 hubs. And cause the auto feature is vacuum operated the knuckle has to be built for that to even have a chance of that being a viable option.

Edit;
Just did a little quick research on the hub thing. So far I can't find any reason why someone with a setup like yours with vacuum operated auto hubs couldn't bolt on some stock superduty hubs and end up with auto + override lock.