since they didnt make a d60 ttb, would that mean if you had an 84 f-250, you would have a d44ttb?

 

250s have D50 TTB's under em if i am correct. why did walker trash the IFS idea? i saw the pics of his buggy with the ifs then later in the year i saw it with the solids in the comps.

 

Up front, the F-250HD and pre-’85 F-350s used the Twin Traction Beam (TTB) setups. While called an IFS, it was really a semi-independent suspension. TTB came in coil or leaf spring versions, but the F-250s and F-350s used the leaf spring type. The F-250s had reverse cut Dana 44 IFS until the 1987 model year, when they began using the Dana 50IFS. Until about February of ’85, the F-350 used a Dana 50 IFS, after which it was upgraded to a Dana 60 solid axle. The Dana 50 IFS was available as an option in pre-’87 F-250 HDs (4,600 pound HD front axle option) and was routinely fitted to SuperCab F-250 HDs. By 1987, the Dana 50IFS had replaced the Dana 44IFS in F-250HDs. A front limited slip shows up in Ford data books through at least 1985

 

My 1997 F250 SD has a Dana 50 up Front and Dana 80 rear with leaf springs front and back with Detroit True Tracs front and rear.

 

You are correct for a rockcrawling competition rig. For a rig that is used in multiple types of terrain its a different situation. Forexample, I have to cope with loose soil on steep slopes with about 8.5 to 9 feet to fit the rig through for several hundred yards. There is plenty of opportunity to roll the darn thing. The paint on the F250 is scratched to heck and the Bronco is not to bad. This rigs get driven in traffic on the CA interstates and your not going to convince me that most people drive there competition rockcrawlers up and down the Interstates.

Rigs can be built for specific purposes and there are at least 4 basic types.

1. Mud
2. Sand
3. Rockcrawling
4. Desert Prerunners/Racers

I have 3 rigs and if I were to build them for specific dedicated purposes, I would adapt the F250 SD to mud, the Bronco to sand, and my Rodeo to a prerunner. I 'd have to get a rig to build into rockcrawler.

I wouldn't last 5 minutes in a boulder garden with any of my existing rigs. BUT a rock crawler wouldn't do well in some of the places I go. It would be fun to watch the roll done the hill though. And you certainly wouldn't tow with them.

Some guys play with their rigs and some guys make a living with them and to others its transportation. The last two don't require a SAS. Thats what 78s and 79s are for.

 

The SAS is worth it if you want to have modern technology mixed with an older axle. I thank god every day that i have fuel injection. Now i have a solid axle so i have the best of both worlds. I have a locked rear end and open front and i still dirve it every day. The solid axle really stabilized the ride as well. And I can align it so much easier. Camber is good. So many positives.

 

For a multi-purpose rig you really can't beat TTB except for the whole alignment thing. On the street it gives the ride of an IFS, off road it provides ALMOST solid axle capability (until you get to big tires), it just as adept in sand, snow, mud, light rocks, you will realize that it really is a good system if you take some time to understand it for what it is. Leave the solid axles under the trucks that came with them unless you are really pushing your truck to needing a solid axle. At that point I'd buy a pre-88 chevy or a pre-94 dodge. call it sacrelige but keep listening, That way I wouldn't be destroying a pre '80 ford.

Justin

 

In my opinion, If I had to make one (or if I was really lucky) two vehicles work for the different types of 'froading I do I think I would still have a sfa.The only time I would consider using an ifs is if I was building some kind of long travel sand rail. Other than that I think sa's shine in mud, rocks and sand.Pre-running would be another story, altogether.

 

ttb just sucks, especially when its lifted

i cant think of any reason i would rather drive a rig with ttb on the road over a properly SAS'ed rig

 

Actually, there is a way to lift it ~5" without the use of axle pivot brackets. It ends up costing about the same as the top SkyJacker 6" lift.

If someone wants to pay to upgrade my Bronco to a Dana 60 SAS in the front and Dana 80 in the back, I'm for it. Again, may as well build a 78 or 79 or a 68 Bronco.

 

cant delete posts?

 

yea i know that, but you still have ifs with the 3 peice passenger axle and little aftermarket available....only thing i would run ttb for is desert type stuff where you need tons of travel

you could also take the money you blow on the lift kit or modified beams, and just throw a solid 44 under the truck

 

what if you find a perfect conidition D60 salvaged from an f-350 like i did and put up under an f-250? (look in my gallery) TTB has absolutely nothing on a solid axle!

when you go off-road isn't the whole idea to get bigger tires?

more pivot points means more places for it to break! my SFA rides a helluva lot better than ANY ttb I have ridden in and it performs worlds better! Plus working on the chunk on a ttb is the BIGGEST p.i.t.a. trust me, i did it more than once!

BTW...I have a nice TTB D50 out back if anyone wants it just come get it!

-jason-

 

That's o.k. Fishmann, I'm getting rid of my SD. It has one in front. I wonder if the new guy would notice sd had an 8.8 under it instead of the D80?

 

Why is it the only people bashing SAS's are the ones who have never done one?