Are the Dana 50 front ends worth a Sh*t? What exactly are they? Not a 44 and not a 60, so WTF? Any info appreciated.

Better than a 44 in some ways ie: 9" ring gear so bigger carrier but less options on lockers and gear options. Hold onto it if you hav eone because I would expect some options will be comming but not sure.

I don't know about available ratios but you can get an ARB for a 50. But then again, all the gears and lockers in the world won't cure the fact that it's a TTB axle.

Could have a 50 from a super duty.

A Dana 50 straight axle is worth something to sell to guys with Jeeps, who want to upgrade from Dana 30s or 35s.
Charlie

my understanding is that the 50 has smaller u-joints than a 44 and the knuck's are not real strong either...but then, I don't understand a lot:rasta: but like '66CJDean' said, if you got one , stuff will be coming out for it and guys will be adapting things to it, so hang on to it. Maybe give SunRay a call, they are kings of the 'hybrid' front axle.

Just found out it's a TTB so it's not worth a crap to anyone, If it was from a super duty then I might get it for the $175 asking price. Thanks for all you input.

If you got a straight axle 50 cheap enough you should be able to cut out the center section and replace it with a rear 60 or 70 pig, for either for a front or rear steer unit.

I believe Turtle is talking about the new 50 axles that are popping up. Tera flex now makes one with a rotated housing. The idea is a larger, stronger ring gear in a 44 sized pumpkin. The main purpose behind it is that you can then build the axle utilizing Dana 60 axle shafts and u-joints. It weighs a bunch less than a full on 60, doesn't hang as low. But the only options differential wise(due to the 35 spline shafts) are a Lockrite, a spool, and I believe an ARB.
Teraflex just came out with theirs, but a company called MAXLES ENGINEERING in the Rapid City, SD has been building Dana 50 straight axles with 60 shafts for quite some time, now. A buddy of mine is the man to talk to. His name is Bradley Williams. His number is (605)381-3854. They also respline 60 shafts cheap and narrow housings for around $150!

The tera 50 isn't the same as a dana 50. I believe that they are designed as a housing to place your 44 diffs and such into. If you read the ads they talk about putting your existing d44 parts into it.

Originally posted by locrwln
The tera 50 isn't the same as a dana 50. I believe that they are designed as a housing to place your 44 diffs and such into. If you read the ads they talk about putting your existing d44 parts into it.


TERA 50: D44 R&P in cool new rotated High Pinion housing for more clearnace from D44

DANA 50: used as a TTB front end of F250 models in the 90's with D60 u-joint's and outers, then with the introduction of the Super Duty (99) they are a solid axle with D60 joint's and knuckles, 30sp inner's 30sp outers 9in ring gear, gear's avail as low as 5:38 currently... ARB and a few other lockers availiable, no 35sp upgrade to my knowledge yet, but am looking into it for personal reasons ;) another downfall of finding a 99-newer D50 is they are an 8 on 170mm lug pattern!!!

The TTB 50 doesn't use the 60 u-joint but it is bigger than the 44 joint. The 44 u-joint is about 3.250 cap to cap where the 50 is 3.875 and a 60 is 4.125 aprox. The 50 u-joint uses external clips and looks to be a 1350.

I know they are different, I was just assuming Turtle was wondering about the new hybrids rising up. As I was saying, the boyz up here are running 50 centers with 60 outers. And the apparent problem with the SuperDuty axle is that the F-450 stub shaft is weaker than a Dana 44's stub.

but my buddy beats the piss outta his in the mud with 36's and a powersmoke, he has broken a stearing box housing :confused: but never the front end at all.

Originally posted by foley
but my buddy beats the piss outta his in the mud with 36's and a powersmoke, he has broken a stearing box housing :confused: but never the front end at all.



in mud with open diff's...