Front TTB skid plate from Baja Concepts

[BKennedy]

Baja Concepts is modifying their front TTB skid plate in the near future. Instead of going straight back, its going to curve upward slightly to avoid hanging up on rocks, trees, etc.. They are redesigning it to be more rock crawler friendly. The current design is for racing trucks that as they said, "don't back up", so getting hung up is not a problem. It will cost the same as the current design ($65.00). I went by their shop today, they have a lot of killer, very expensive stuff for the Ford TTB's. They are also designing a rear 8.8 skid plate.

 

[leebo]

DOH!!!

 

[JamminG4Jim]

Sure, NOW you tell us!!!!

LOL!!!!!

Hmm.. Anybody want to buy a skid plate? he he Just Kidding. I'm gonna keep mine.

Jim

 

[fixer]

coooool!

 

[becker69]

If you could post a web address or something similar, on where to order the current model, I'd appreciate it. You said the new one is for the TTB front end? Is the current one not able to fit on a 2001 TTB front end? Thanks, Becker.

 

[fixer]

www.bajaconcepts.com

 

[RangerX]

Becker, a 2001 does not have TTB, it has IFS. The current model mentioned fits '91-94. Sorry, dude.

 

[becker69]

RangerX and Fixer, thanks for your replies. I am not clear on the difference 'tween IFS and TTB then. I know of people that have the same truck I do (01 Sport Trac 4x4) that have adjusted their torsion bars... ie; done the 2 in front lift by tightening the Torsion bars. I know that I have 2 Torsion bars running parallel to each side of my truck... yet I know that I have a "Dana 30 IFS" Front diff. So what am I missing? I'm still trying to learn components, and I thought that I had the Front end figured out. I figured that the Front was an IFS that utilized Torsion Bars or twin torsion bars (TTB) in our case; to provide lift for the front. Is this wrong? Thanks for any information. Cheers, Becker.

 

[Clint]

u have a torsion bars susp. with a regular cut dana 35 ....91-94 have a reverse cut dana 35 with the ttb setup TTB (twin traction beams)

 

[BislamJoe]

Ok, the TTB (twin traction beam) is an IFS (independent front suspension) however, it is almost completely unlike any other IFS out there. Second-generation Explorers have a more conventional IFS using upper and lower control arms (i think they're also called A-arms) and torsion bars in place of coils. The TTB has beam for each side mounted to the opposite frame rail, crossed in the middle. The driver's side beam (attached to the passenger side rail) contains a differential that, as best I understand it, is pretty much like the differential that you would find in the front axle of a vehicle with live (solid) axles. Apparently, the torsion bar system isn't easy to lift and the manufacturers have decided that there's probably not enough of a market to warrant the cost of developing it (and they're probably right). As for the TTB, I think almost everybody here hates it, since it's difficult to get the sort of wheel travel they want for rockcrawling. Me, I love my TTB. It seems to me the best compromise for just general bombing around and hitting open areas going waaaaay to fast offroad.

 

[becker69]

accoridng to Peterson's 4 wheel and off Road and my manual; I have a Dana 30 IFS. No, My torsion Bars don't cross each other... they are parallel to the sides of the truck. Am I missing something here?

 

[BislamJoe]

Your torsion bars shouldn't cross, they're mounted on either side going forward to act as springs. You do not have a TTB. Reread my previous post carefully. I'm afraid that I'm not very good with words, but I think I explained it as best I can.

 

[RangerX]

Becker, the best thing for you to do would be to find a 91-91 EX or a 97 or earlier Ranger and crawl under it and take a good look and compare it to yours. Way better than words on a page.

 

[becker69]

Thanks BislamJoe, RangerX and others... not to be a pain in the arse.... It's just a little confusing when you read "TTB twist lift" and the post makes reference to tightening the Torsion bar bolts... then others say that TTB actually stands for Twin-Traction Bars... Thanks for some clarification.

 

[BislamJoe]

No problem man. Where'd you see "TTB twist lift" though? I've seen references to "TT" as torsion twist. I can see where you'd get confoozed though, I thought the front suspension was similar for a long time myself. TTB is Twin Traction Beam. Ford came up with a 4wd front suspension called the TTB I think in 1980. The TTB was used as the front axle on the Broncos, F150s and some F250s until 1997. The F250 model (the Dana 50) may have been discontinued earlier in favor of a Dana 60 live axle though. But that's why you read these posts about solid-axle swaps talking about a '78-'79 (first years for the Bronc's to be fullsize) Bronco front axle or '79 F150 front axle. Those were the last years of a solid full-width D44.

 

[becker69]

Maybe you can help with what type of front I have (diffie that is ) I have 4.10 gears with an L/S in the rear, 01 Sprt Trac... I have Torsion bars as previously explained; I believe I have the IFS Dana 30 in front; others on this board have written that I have I have a 35; I have a copy of an old 4 wheel&off road issue that says I have a 30, and my manual (I know what I said earlier) doesn't get that specific. Any Help?Thanks. Becker.

 

[BKennedy]

So anyway, back to the skid plate;

I also asked "Mark" at Baja about a group purchase for a discounted price. I figured I could pick them up since I live about 25 minutes from the place and make delivery at Truckhaven 2002. NO DEAL. They said the price was already discounted enough and they could not go any lower than that, especially since they need to modify the design. I had to agree, since that is pretty cheap.

Mark says he will post the new version on this site when its finished. If its done prior to Truckhaven 2002 and you plan to attend, you could mail me a check and I could pick them up for all, since I need to go by there again anyway and drool some more (chromolly radius arms w/teflon coated Heim joints, extended TTB's, 17+ inches of travel w'4" lift, custom coil buckets, custom rear shock loops, oooohhhhhhh).

 

[wabbit]

I went to the Baja Concepts site...

But I could not find any reference to the TTB Skid Plate, or any other skid plate???
Are these products not listed on the website or am I missing something?

 

[leebo]

It's just listed as an option for their Explorer Lift. There's not much info on their site about it. We ended up emailing them for a pic of it before. You're best bet for info on it would be check out the thread on the board. I've got several pics and such there.

 

[BUCHVILLEMAN]

becker69,
a haynes or chilton's manual will tell you. the second gen explorers use a modified dana 35, its not a true dana 35 its a cross between a 30 and 35. others know a bunch more than me, but it is possible that you have the 30 as i dont know anythign about sport tracs. its alos possible that peterson's could be wrong, they have been in the past.

torsion bars replaced the coil spring. the only draw back to the torsion lift is that you are limiting your down travel as you are adjusting the control arms to a fixed lower position at a higher angle. i dont know where the "crossed torsion bar" idea came from but im pretty it dosnt and cant exist. suspensions are extreemly intersting to me as ive never really figured out the ford IFS. i understand coil and leaf and have done lifts on vehicles i own with them but damn these torsion bars. i want to go with a straight axle conversion then i will understand it from scratch.

sorry for the ramble. its slow today at work.
gabe