for some time now i been researching trying to see if there was a way to keep the ttb in my truck while also making it just as reliable as a solid axle. here is an article that i found and i was wondering what some of your thoughts are as to how much of an impact replacing the parts they did would do to my current setup. i want to have a suspension pretty much the same as what they did with a 4 inch lift and 33x12.5R15 tires. thanks. I know it would be easier to go to a Solid axle but i don't know a thing about weliding or fabricatiing so beefing up the ttb is my only option.
thanks for any input and help.
1992 Ford F-150 - Twin Traction Beam Rebuild - Four Wheeler Magazine

 

I don't understand why this suspension gets so much flak about being unreliable or weak, I have never replaced any component besides U and ball joints in any TTB truck I have owned.. which is quite a few starting around 1985. IMO the only time a TTB D44 is in any way weak is with large tires.... and I mean bigger than 35" large. Otherwise it's as strong as a D44 solid axle and much stronger than any other IFS ever offered by any manufacturer.

 

I've been trying to tell people the same thing for a wile now.. expecially with only a 33 inch tire.. Plus a 4 inch lift isn't needed for a 33 on this body style pickup.. no lift easier to keep it alined and dont need to worry about frame cracks due to poor made drop brackets

 

my complaint about it is the vague steering and the fact that the tires try to point in toward each other. i know something needs to be replaced just not sure what. I do know for sure that the ball joints and tie rod ends need fixed as well as the u joints could probably stand to be fixed. all of this is going to be fixed. The truck used to have 33" tires and then it was changed to 31X10.5R15. any suggestions you guys have to fixing all of my ttb problems i would appreciate most of the problems is due to lack of maintence on the behalf of the previous owner.

 

Replace the shot stuff, and get it aligned. Than it will be good to go, simple as that.

 

New ball joints and bushings will get it performing like it should. I should note that it is considered normal for the tire camber to go a bit wonky when the vehicle is reversed, but this will come right back to normal as soon as you pull ahead again. If the front tires appear to sit like this /--\ all the time then that indicates that the springs are sacked.
Also note that the steering will never be as tight feeling as a modern vehicle with a hydraulic rack and pinion setup, even with all new joints and a tight steering box it will feel a little vague on center but it should still go straight down the road without a lot of correction.

 

Of course... if money was no issue, getting all those nice parts would be great (basically everything in the freaking 1 through 9 issues). But the TTB is very reliable (mine has seen a lot of abuse, on and off-road with no major issues).

 

I'm with the rest of these guys, I have no major complaints with the three TTB equipped Ford 4x4 trucks I own. I have rebuilt the the front ends once since I bought the vehicles. I only use quality replacement chassis parts (Moog brand) and take care of them with proper regular maintenance. Both of my 4x4 F150s have seen their fair share of harsh off road use and abuse with larger than stock tires. I've had them anywhere from jumping sand dunes to slogging through deep mud pits. I have never broken anything on either of them. My 84 F250 has the 3/4 ton leaf sprung D50 TTB this truck's sole purpose in life is work. I plow snow, pull trailers, occasional off road recovery. Basically I pound the crap out of this truck and have never broken anything. During plow season I bring it in the shop at least once a week and grease everything. I have three seasons and counting on the same set of ball joints on my D50, however the tie rods are starting to get a little sloppy. The only complaint I have with the TTB is the tire wear issues, that can be helped greatly with regular maintence, proper alignments, and regular tire rotations. I am however planning a straight-axle-swap on my F250, I am going to a Dana 60. It's not that I don't think the TTB cannot handle it, it's simply because of tire wear reasons. I never have the same amount of weight on the front end at any given time, this does throw the alignment off.
I wouldn't hesitate for a second to put a TTB against any other IFS. For what it is, it's the toughest IFS out there.