Solid Axle Conversion Tech

[GreaseDog]

Twin Traction Beam, a driven version of Ford's Twin I Beam suspension. its crap.

[rob]

Originally Posted by GreaseDog

Twin Traction Beam, a driven version of Ford's Twin I Beam suspension. its crap.

it may be crap, but's probably 10x's stronger than GM's SLA IFS crap they still use.

not as nice as a solid axle, but atleast you can get a TTB setup to flex, unlike anything with torsion bars....

[GreaseDog]

fair enough, but its alot more work to get one to work than a straight axle. the Twin I Beam setup is popular with the prerunner crowd because of its better ability to flex than a SLA setup.

[rob]

Originally Posted by GreaseDog

fair enough, but its alot more work to get one to work than a straight axle. the Twin I Beam setup is popular with the prerunner crowd because of its better ability to flex than a SLA setup.

true, but when you get in to the SERIOUS pre-runner stuff, everyone goes back to the SLA, kinda weird how it comes full-circle, huh?

who woulda thought the worst design in 4x4 suspension is by-far, THE best in 2wd suspension?

I guess the nicest thing about buying a ford leaf-sprung TTB, is you can bolt in a dana60 from an f-350 with ease.

if I ever bought an OBS f-250, that's what i'd do for sure!

[blazen08]

Maybe you guys can conirm my logic here. Im doing an sas on my 98 and im using the ORD kit and a 78 ford dana 44. The cite says to get 4 inch springs if i want a total of 7 inch lift. If i get a 4 inch lift kit for an 87 and older truck will that be the same 4 inch springs they sell? This would be easier for me because i found an older truck with a 4 inch suspension lift with the rear axle i want for dirt cheap.

[GreaseDog]

IIRC they use 88-91 front springs, which are the same springs, just different bushings and bigger bolts. i'm running ORU brackets and 4" TC EZ Rides.

[intimidator4x4]

Originally Posted by rob

it may be crap, but's probably 10x's stronger than GM's SLA IFS crap they still use.

not as nice as a solid axle, but atleast you can get a TTB setup to flex, unlike anything with torsion bars....

I may be wrong here, but doesn't Ford use that so called junk suspension on their 1/2 tons ? I would trade a IFS suspension for that pile of crap TTB Ford used.

[blazen08]

but i dont have to buy their springs for $225 because any older chev lift kit will be +3 inches? in other words "6 inch old chev lift=9 Newer Chev lift with sas"? 88-91 springs are what the kit is specifically designed for?

[GreaseDog]

eh... kinda. you'll have to buy bushings for an 88-91 truck and your specific springs (some brands dont use stock sized spring eyes), other than that the springs are the same.

[blazen08]

i got my 14 bolt ff today and did some very quick measureing and it looked like i might need to move my spring perches out a little bit. Is my quick measuring the cause or is this the case.

[GreaseDog]

what did your 14 bolt come out of? if its anything other than a comparable year 2500 or 3500 truck, you're probably going to have to move them.

[Bad Ass Z71]

are the axles out of this truck any good? I can deal with the coils. http://www.usedottawa.com/classified...ory=4x4-trucks

[Bad Ass Z71]

didn't work. Try this link.

http://image1.usedottawa.com/YOW5751527.1.jpg

its a 71 ford bronco. How many lugs would it have? I can pick it up for like 300... rolling chassis.

[YGF]

so is a 14 bolt from a 1981 2500 chev 4X4 the same or pretty close to say a newer ff 14bolt?????

[bggrnchvy]

You have to modify spring perch mounting for rear axle if you swap between body styles, so yes 88-98 using a 73-87 axle will require perch modification.

I wouldn't touch pre 77.5 Ford axles.

[GreaseDog]

Originally Posted by Bad Ass Z71

didn't work. Try this link.

http://image1.usedottawa.com/YOW5751527.1.jpg

its a 71 ford bronco. How many lugs would it have? I can pick it up for like 300... rolling chassis.

no. there is absolutely no advantage to putting a 9" Ford under a fullsize truck that you plan to install larger tires on. as has been stated numerous times, Ford coil axles commonly CANNOT have the radius arm wedgfes removed, thus are useless.

not only that, but the axles are WAY too narrow. have you ever seen the size of a 66-77 Bronco? they'd be PERFECT under an S10 though.

[Bad Ass Z71]

I know almost nothing about old Fords. I am learning though. Just not learning as quickly as I'd like. I'm having a hell of a time finding some axles. I now know, I won't go with anything less than HP 60 though.

[GreaseDog]

a 78 or 79 HP 44 out of an F250 would do just fine. its plenty wide.

[jhc]

I've got a chance at an HP Dana 44 from a 78-79 F-150. It's not the 1/2" thick axle tubes. I'm just getting into wheeling... should I wait the heavier duty axle for double the price? or bite on this one? Any advice is much appreciated.

[b454rat]

Dont' use that axle inless your gonna run the suspension too. Where the radius arms on the tube, it's actually part of the tube. Start grinding them off, and your grind right through the tube. Best bet is look for a 3/4 ton, or get a 1/2 from a 77 and older truck....