In 1980 the Bronco went from a directly Dana 44 front axle to what Ford calls the Twin Traction Beam (TTB) front suspension. The TTB organisation is Fords version of an independent front end suspension, and was used on the Ford Bronco from 1980-1996. Mechanically, the TTB axle is similar to a direct axle, simply instead of a solid axle tube, the differential and steering knuckles are attached to beams. The inboard ends of the beams are attached to a frame-mounted crossmember past a bushing, while the outboard ends back up the steering knuckles and are attached to the frame through the springs and radius arms.

Dana 44 Specifications:

Specifications
Ring Gear Diameter 8.v-inches
Carrier Breaks three.73 Higher / iii.92 Lower
Band Gear Bolts (10) 3/8″ ten 24RH
Pinion Shaft Bore / Splines i.376 inch / 26
Inner Axle Shaft Diameter / Splines 1.31 inch / xxx
Outer Axle Shaft Diameter / Splines 1.21 inch / 19
Inner Axle Shaft Minimum Bore 1.ten inch (necked)
Outer Axle Shaft Minimum Diameter 1.10 inch
U-Joints (Dana 44) 5-297x (replaced by v-760)
Maximum Tire Diameter 35-inches
Axle Lugs 5×5.five
Pinion Bearing Preload 14-19 in lbs (new) 6-9 in lbs (used)
backfire .006-.010 inches
Band Gear Torque 55 lbs-ft
Carrier Bearing Cap Torque 60 lbs-ft
Pinion Nut Torque 200-220 lbs-ft

Dana 44 TTB Locking Hubs:

Nearly people are familiar with the locking hubs on Dana 44 axles. The Dana 44 TTB uses the aforementioned locking hubs, except for some 1987-1988 models.

For some reason in 1987-1988, Ford used a i piece flange style manual locking hub similar to the ones constitute on the Ford Ranger & Explorer.

Dana 44 TTB Axle Shafts:

  • 1980-1996 Outers (stub shaft at spindle) are all the same unless it's a 1987-1988 with flange style hubs (ix.81 inches)
  • 1977-1988 Outers (stub shaft at spindle) is not the aforementioned equally the to a higher place listed 1980-1996 shafts
  • 1980-1996 Driver side inner shafts are notwithstanding (15.77 inches)
  • 1980-1982 Passenger side axle shafts (intermediate) are different to accommodate commodities on inner shaft
  • 1983-1996 Passenger side axle shafts (intermediate) are all the same (24.77 inches)
  • 1980-1983 sideslip yokes are five.50 inches long
  • 1984-1996 slip yokes are 5.062 inches long

Dana 44 TTB 3rd Member Housings:

Hither's a setup you don't see that ofttimes. Information technology seems that the 1980-1983 Dana 44 TTB and Dana fifty TTB trucks that were equipped with a front limited slip differential also came with a unique housing that held the passenger side beam shaft in externally with (3) bolts. In the photo below, you can see the typical housing on the left that the passenger side axle shaft slides in to, and then the shaft is retained internally with a c-prune. Y'all'll discover that the housing on the right has a much larger opening to allow for a bearing, and the whole assembly is retained by (iii) bolts.

The photo below shows the difference betwixt the passenger side axle shaft that is held in with a c-clip, and the one that is bolted in.

Why would you desire this setup? Because you lot don't take to worry about a broken c-clip, and the shaft sliding out of the housing when the suspension flexes off-road. Some people put a spring in the passenger side skid yoke to proceed pressure on the shaft so it stays in place. This is permanent gear up to that trouble if you can observe the housing with the bolt in shaft all the same in identify.

This is what you would likely meet if you lot were to crawl under one of these trucks and look:

Hither's the Spicer part numbers for the bolt in parts if anyone is interested:

  • Seal 35938
  • Begetting Associates 566075
  • Retaining ring 36121
  • Seal for the other side of the diff is 40710

Parts for the C-clip version are:

  • Bearing 566121
  • Seal 40773

Ring Gear Gear Carriers:

Dana 44s are reverse rotation howdy-pinion. Virtually are a 3.50 gear from the mill. A new carrier is needed for gears lower (numerically higher) than iii.92

At that place are (3) styles of carriers:

  • Type 1: 1980-1982 gear carriers used a bolt on axle retainer, used different bearings and seals than 1982-1996 (Types two & three)
  • Type 2: 1982-1992 gear carriers used a c-clip to retain the axle, used unlike bearings and seals than 1980-1982 or 1993-1996 (Types 1 & iii)
  • Blazon 3: 1993-1996 gear carriers used a c-clip to retain the axle, used unlike bearings and seals than 1980-1992 (Types 1 & 2)

Dana 44 Spindles:

Not all Dana 44 TTB spindles are the same.

  • 1980-1992 – These spindles are basically the aforementioned, simply the keyway slot is cut past the threads on one of them. These spindles have a half dozen-bolt blueprint.
  • 1987-1988 – These spindles ares completely different and shorter to work with the flange mode locking hubs
  • 1993-1996 – These spindles use a different size inner begetting, and the ABS versions of these spindles have holes cutting in to the flange for the sensors. These spindles have a v-commodities pattern

If for some reason you need to supplant a spindle, you demand to be certain that your ordering i that matches the one your replacing.

Encounter the photograph below for reference.

Dana 44 TTB Steering Knuckles:

  • 1980-1985 Duke have bolt on calipers and 6 bolts belongings the spindle to knuckle. (strongest?)
  • 1993 Knuckles have tension pin style calipers and five bolts property the spindle to knuckle
  • 1987-1992 Duke have tension pin manner calipers and 6 bolts holding the spindle to knuckle
  • 1994-1996 Knuckles accept ii bolt style calipers and 6 bolts holding the spindle to knuckle. Too accept ABS provision.

The photo below shows the departure between the typical Dana 44 TTB steering knuckle on the left, and the Dana 44HD TTB / Dana 50 TTB steering knuckle on the right. While it hay be hard to see, the balljoint spacing is about a 1/2-inch wider on the Dana 44HD knuckle.

Dana 44 TTB Brake Rotors:

The Dana 44 TTB used (three) dissimilar style of restriction rotors from 1980-1996.

1980-1986 & 1988-1993 Rotor Specifications:

  • Brake Rotor Casting Type Vented
  • Restriction Rotor Diameter, Outer 11.720 in
  • Brake Rotor Thickness, Discard 1.120 in
  • Brake Rotor Thickness, Nominal 1.185 in
  • Coating Bare
  • Summit, Overall two.704 in
  • Performance Level Standard Functioning
  • Packaged Weight 12.200 lb
  • Wheel Commodities Circle Diameter 5.500 in
  • Wheel Bolt Holes, Primary 5 Each

1987.5 – 1988 With Flange Style Locking Hubs Rotor Specifications:

  • Brake Rotor Diameter, Outer: 11.720 in
  • Brake Rotor Thickness, Discard: ane.122 in
  • Brake Rotor Thickness, Nominal: i.185 in
  • Height, Overall: 2.975 in
  • Surface Finish: Patently
  • Bicycle Bolt Circle Diameter: v.500 in

1994-1996 Rotor Specifications:

  • Vented or Solid Style Rotor: Vented
  • Bore:xi.72″
  • Height: 2.54″
  • Number Bolts/Holes: five
  • Commodities Circle Diameter: v.5″
  • Center Hole Diameter: 3.88″
  • Nominal Thickness: 1.025″
  • Discard Thickness: .960″

Dana 44 TTB Labeled:

Dana 44 TTB Diagrams:

Links:

1978-1998 Dana Axles Parts Transmission (Dana 44 TTB Starts on Page 121)

Dana 44 TTB Maintenance Manual

Resource: BlueOvalTrucks.com