TTB frame?

[Ranger850]

What is A TTB frame and is there somewhere here that will give me all the abbreviation answers.

 

[Denisefwd93]

"Twin traction beam" back in the day they were called twin i-beams I don't know where the word frame came from

 

[Curious Hound]

I could be wrong, but I always thought that twin I beam is the term for the version they put in rwd ( rear wheel drive) trucks and twin traction beam is the term for the version they put on 4x4's. I think the cross section of the twin I beams are actually I shaped where as the traction beams are shaped differently to hold the differential and allow the axle shafts to pass through. And, of course, the traction beam models when fully assembled and installed give the front of the vehicle traction.

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[Curious Hound]

Sorry. I forgot some of the answer. TTB or twin I beam refers to the design of the front suspension assembly. It is not a straight axle and it is not an A arm assembly.

I read in another thread the other day where someone mentioned that the actual frame rails for the vehicle are spaced differently for TTB or twin I beam vehicles as opposed to other Ranger frames.

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[adsm08]

"TTB Frame" refers to the frame of an 83-97 4x4 truck.

Sorry. I forgot some of the answer. TTB or twin I beam refers to the design of the front suspension assembly. It is not a straight axle and it is not an A arm assembly.

I read in another thread the other day where someone mentioned that the actual frame rails for the vehicle are spaced differently for TTB or twin I beam vehicles as opposed to other Ranger frames.

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They are spaced differently. It's not huge, not enough to prevent chaning one to the other. The 4x4 engine crossmemeber is maybe 1/2 and inch or so wider, and the horse-shoe channel is shaped different.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

"Twin traction beam" back in the day they were called twin i-beams I don't know where the word frame came from

Twin traction beams are just the 4wd version of twin I beam.

 

[Ranger850]

is there an advantage to this type of frame over a "regular" frame be sides adding traction to the front like ericphoto said. I it sounds like a 4wd thing so I don't think I'm a candidate for one. Is there a reason or advantage to TTB and 2wd.

Just asking for the knowledge,

 

[rusty ol ranger]

You cant have TTB and 2wd.

TTB is just I beams with an offset mounted differential and axle shafts running thru them.

I suppose you could gut it and run it on a 2wd, but then you would basically have....twin I beams.

TTB...

TIB....

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You cant have TTB and 2wd.

TTB is just I beams with an offset mounted differential and axle shafts running thru them.

I suppose you could gut it and run it on a 2wd, but then you would basically have....twin I beams.

TTB...

TIB....

The beams are different enough that they are not interchangeable. You have to change the brackets and engine crossmember to go from 2wd to 4wd or vise versa.

I have read that 2wd BII's used the same mounting points and have different TIB's that are a bolt in swap (and generic TTB beams vice versa) but I have no experience with swapping them.

 

[Curious Hound]

In normal driving conditions, I don't see any advantage. Offroading, the TTB or twin I beam can give more wheel travel or better articulation than the newer A-arm style setup because the beams are long and pivot from opposite sides of the truck. So, unless you were going to do some wild off-road driving with a 2wheel drive truck, I wouldn't bother with the twin I beam. I believe that a properly designed solid axle setup would most likely give the best articulation. But, again, for normal driving, use whatever came on your truck.

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[rusty ol ranger]

Twin I beams are far superior for bouncing down rutted dirt roads and pothole laden highways.

 

[adsm08]

is there an advantage to this type of frame over a "regular" frame be sides adding traction to the front like ericphoto said. I it sounds like a 4wd thing so I don't think I'm a candidate for one. Is there a reason or advantage to TTB and 2wd.

Just asking for the knowledge,

It is a "regular" frame. For the 83-97 years that was the frame. It isn't special in any way. It has some differences from the 98+ frames built for IFS, but it isn't some super special off roading upgrade.

 

[pjtoledo]

Twin I beams are far superior for bouncing down rutted dirt roads and pothole laden highways.

and breaking only 1 set light bulbs while driving on a railroad

 

[Ranger850]

Thanks. those pics really helped.
now is there somewhere that breaks down all the other abbreviations or will I have to do this every time I need an acronym explained.

 

[Curious Hound]

No central list that I know of. Just ask what you need.

SLA = short/long arm suspension
IAC = idle air control
IAT = intake air temperature sensor
ECT = engine coolant temperature
SAS = solid axle swap
FUBAR = f***Ed up beyond all repair
Lol = laughing out loud or laughing online

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