Ok dumb ? here I know waht a solid axle is but what is the differance between a IFS and a TTB and are they both split axles.

my 86 Bronco has a split front end but I dont know if it's IFS or TTB
can anyone tll me and explain the differances in basic terms.

http://www.drivingwithchrist.com/images/colt.gif
Please visit our Web Page for JESUS!!!

http://www.drivingwithchrist.com


And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to
His purpose.
(Romans 8:28)

GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS

Agape: Jerry & Brooke Beasterfeld

 

You have a ford i beam front suspension. It flexes with a sissor like action. Ford used this front suspension for many years. A ifs uses A arms and they are seperate from each other. Ford invented and was the only one to use the i beam. Most other trucks with independant front suspension use the A arm set up.

 

thanks for the responce.

but arn't I beam fronts 2wd only or am I miss understanding the hole concept all together?

 

Yes I beam is 2 wheel drive (sorry) the four wheel version is the ttb but it is the same concept except the ttb is a four wheel drive front end. They both still work somewhat the same way. Niether uses a A arm instaed using the ford twin beams with rotating action. The ttb is a twin beam but with axles and diff.

 

cool so Ive got TTB ok got that.
I mainly gust play just play around in the mud do you think I need to do a solid axle confersion or does it matter?
sorry for the goofy ?s but Im new to all this funn stuff first 4X4 and all that but thank for all your help.
http://www.drivingwithchrist.com/images/colt.gif

 

Your front end will be fine for what you do. Dont get me wrong though I would love to have a solid axle front end. If you can afford one go for it. I would like to put a dana 60 front and rear on my bronco, then drop in a big block and tear up the mud , rocks and sand. But that is a long ways away yet. I have the same front end that you have and I offroad quite a bit and i have not broke it yet.

 

Good deal ill save the money and use it els ware on her to increase my jeep crushing capabilities...
and again thanks for all your help it's been priceless!!
http://www.drivingwithchrist.com/images/colt.gif
Please visit our Web Page for JESUS!!!

http://www.drivingwithchrist.com


And we know that all things work together for
good to those who love God,
to those who are the called according to
His purpose.
(Romans 8:28)

GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS

Agape: Jerry & Brooke Beasterfeld

 

Sorry, but aren't all Broncos solid front axles? Looking under mine and just knowing in general I have a Dana 44. Thats not a solid front axle your saying? Or what? I'm confused

 

No all broncos do not have solid axles. The Dana 44 TTB is a wanna be solid axle, but not a true Solid axle like those found in early full size broncos

 

Ford started with the Dana44 TTB front setup in 1980. They use the TTB in both the Bronco, 1/2 ton, and 3/4 ton applications. It seemed like a good idea at the time, as you get the strength of a regualar Dana44, with the ride of IFS (trucks aren't supposed to ride like cars though). Later down the line is when people found the real drawback to the TTB setup, alignment problems. The TTB is just as strong as a solid axle Dana 44, but the main problem with it is you just cannot keep them aligned, and when you get an alignment done, they are very expensive when it comes to a camber adjustment. They also have a lot of bump steer, which can cause unstability over very bumpy terrain.

I used to own a 1988 F-150 with a 6" lift and 35" tires, and the Dana 44 TTB setup held up to all kinds of rocks, mud bogging, and general off-road. If you are looking for just a general off-road vehicle, you won't have much trouble with the TTB. If you get into hardcore wheelin, you will want to upgrade to the solid axle. I am looking into a lift for my Bronco, and it seems that I can perform the solid axle conversion with a 6" lift included for less than the TTB lift by itself.

 

>
>I used to own a 1988 F-150 with a 6" lift and 35" tires, and
>the Dana 44 TTB setup held up to all kinds of rocks, mud
>bogging, and general off-road. If you are looking for just
>a general off-road vehicle, you won't have much trouble with
>the TTB. If you get into hardcore wheelin, you will want to
>upgrade to the solid axle. I am looking into a lift for my
>Bronco, and it seems that I can perform the solid axle
>conversion with a 6" lift included for less than the TTB
>lift by itself.

? does that lift come with a solid axle or is the axle seperate?
also is that including the rear lift or not and do you have a link to it?
http://www.drivingwithchrist.com/images/colt.gif
Please visit our Web Page for JESUS!!!

http://www.drivingwithchrist.com

GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS

Agape: Jerry & Brooke Beasterfeld

 

It's not a kit, but a piece it together project. There are 2 good articles on the axle swap, and all you need for the front lift is new coils and radius arm offset bushings while you are at it. It will take longer to install, but the benefits are greatly worth it IMHO. I am gathering parts for mine here and there as they are available.

www.soderblom.net/bronco/tech/D44solid/
www.wt4wheeling.com/tech/SAS.htm

 

Why is the TTB so hated? It is the main reason I have a Ford. I had a solid axle Toyota and it was miserable off road because of a lack of suspension travel (with the leaf spring setup). There was a lot more bump-steer with the solid axle than I have with the TTB.

True IFS setups have CV joints that can get damaged and are expensive to fix. Ground clearance is better. The aluminum differentials with electric or vacuum disconnects are probably weaker than a Dana 44.

The only bad thing with the TTB (or Twin-I-Beam) is uneven tire wear. Rotate them every 5000 miles and you won't have problems.

Jim

 

I do not mind the ttb dana 44 either. Just rotate your tires. A solid axle dana 44 is stronger then a ttb dana 44 A solid axle front end does not have the moving parts that the ttb front end has. But with the strength, you get a rougher ride because it is a one piece unit.

 

I have discovered that the real reason most people don't like the Ford TTB setup is that they just don't understand it well enough. Die-hard old-school off road guys will say things like "Its just too complicated" or "Its impossible to align" or the most laughable response "Its too weak" I just keep thinking..."its tough to bend/break an axle that is already able to do so by design". Don't get me wrong, the stock TTB has much room for improvement. Greater range of motion and increased height are the first things to do. Keep in mind that Twin I-beam 2WD Ford trucks are much sought-after in BAJA-type racing circles because the setup allows for 20+ inches of wheel travel. (BAJA rules limit you to about 16" I believe.) And twin I-beam trucks only differ in that they don't have a front drive axle in them. Otherwise the suspension works in a nearly identical manner. Not to mention that TTB trucks keep at least one wheel much more ON camber than any solid axle. When trying to get good traction I have found that getting as much rubber in contact with the road, trail, rock, etc. is highly beneficial. I don't know, maybe I'm going about this 4 wheeling thing all wrong.
Think of it this way. Your solid axle drops one wheel into a mud hole the other is still up on dry ground. Now, the wheel in the hole is hub deep in mud and the other wheel is being pushed up...thats right UP into the wheel well and off camber the inner edge of the tire is the only part touching the dry ground. Why? Becasue a solid axle forces this situation. It doesn't bend.....well its not supposed to. Now here you sit one wheel in a hole and its deep enough to throw the wheels off camber and its solid thus straight across from one wheel to the other. With some luck the hole isn't deep enough that the middle of the axle is dragging on the ridge at the edge of the hole. Yeah right....how often does that happen? Now you are dragging the axle and have only half the tread on one front wheel to work with. Now, subtract the solid axle and put in the TTB. Hey look, the TTB allows the axle to bend in the middle thus keeping the dry wheel flat against the ground...not off-camber. and since there is that hinge under the center of the truck, that Dana 44 is up off the ground and the axle halves allow that muddy ridge under the center of the truck to slip by underneath with little to no dragging. Solid axle owners much love their winches an awful lot.
Last point...the real drawback to the stock Ford TTB setup lies more in the steering setup than the IFS itself. But there are people who realized this and there are ways to correct the problem.