Truck Trend Garage: The Truth About F-250s and F-350s Front Axles
Q: Your answer to this question will settle a bet: My friend says that four-wheel-drive F-250s and F-350s always had solid axles up front. I say that from 1980-1985, all 4WD F-Series had TTB up front. Half-tons had trailing arms and coils, while 3/4- and 1-tons had leafs with TTB. Halfway through 1985, the F-350 went from TTB to a Dana 60 solid axle, while the F-250 went from a Dana 44TTB to a Dana 50TTB. Please settle this wager, which is for a full tank of gas!
A: TTB (twin traction beam) was an independent front drive-axle suspension system manufactured by Dana Corporation for use in a variety of 4WD Fords from 1980 to 1997. It's somewhat similar to the infamous 2WD twin I-beam front suspension, but with the axle housing/differential as an integral part of the driver's side beam. I believe your buddy's going to have to pay up, and with any luck you've got dual tanks. According to ALLDATA, four-wheel-drive Ford half-tons used the TTB setup with coil springs and radius arms from 1980 to 1987. The 1/4- and 1-ton trucks used the TTB with leaf springs from 1980 to 1987 -- with the exception of the 1986-1987 F-350 with the Dana 60 (monobeam) solid front axle.
| YOU BET
How To Reach Alex
If you have a technical question regarding your pickup, SUV, or van, feel free to contact Alex, a master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Send a letter to him in care of Truck Trend Garage, 831 S. Douglas Street, El Segundo, CA 90245, or e-mail us at trucktrend@sourceinterlink.com. Please include the VIN with your question. Due to the volume of questions received every month, we cannot guarantee that everyone's question will be personally answered or will appear in the magazine.
Can't wait for help with a problem you're having with your Truck or SUV? Ask the expert we trust here at Truck Trend Garage -- visit Alex Steele at www.RealWorldAutomotive.com.
