The Dana/Spicer Model 50 was an automotive axle manufactured by the

Dana Holding Corporation Dana Incorporated is an American supplier of axles, driveshafts, transmissions, and electrodynamic, thermal, sealing, and digital equipment for conventional, hybrid, and electric-powered vehicles. The company's products and services are aimed ...

for 25 years and was used solely in OEM

Ford Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

applications. Dana 50's were made as front axles only until it was revived in rear solid axle configuration in the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor. The Dana 50 has a "50" cast into the housing and is regarded to have more strength than a

Dana 44 The Dana 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and is used among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned wit ...

, but not as much as a

Dana 60 The Dana/Spicer Model 60 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Holding Corporation and used in OEM pickup and limited passenger car applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ford and Land Rover. There are front and rear versions of ...

. It was only produced in a reverse cut gear set aka a high pinion. The Dana 50 was made as a solid axle and as a Twin Traction Beam (TTB) which pivots in the center allowing the wheels to move independently of each other. A unique quality of the Dana 50 axle is the lack of variation in both TTB and Solid axle versions, which simplifies repairs and upgrades. There were no carrier breaks and only one spline count (30 spline). Gross axle weight ratings were lowered by Ford for safety and tire reasons. Dana50TTB

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General Specifications

* Ring gear measures 9.0"; 9.25" Bronco Raptor * Gear Ratios: 3.54:1 - 5.38:1 * No carrier breaks * Pinion shaft diameter: 1.375" * Pinion shaft splines: 26 * Axle shaft diameter: 1.50" * Axle shaft splines: 30 * Axle spline diameter: 1.31"

Twin Traction Beam

The Twin Traction Beam or TTB was used in the Ford F-250 from 1980 to 1997. The TTB Dana 50 was also used selectively in the F-350 from 1980 to 1986. The GVW was lower in a F-350 with a TTB Dana 50, than a F-350 with a solid axle. The GAWR of a TTB Dana 50 was 4600 lbs. *The Dana 50 TTB spindles will accept the Dana 60 hubs however the knuckles ''are not'' interchangeable. *All Dana 50 TTB axles were leaf sprung axles.

Solid Axle

The solid axle Dana 50 was used in the Ford F-250 and the F-350 from 1999 to 2003. This axle was also the only OEM axle used in

Four-wheel drive Four-wheel drive, also called 4×4 ("four by four") or 4WD, refers to a two-axled vehicle drivetrain capable of providing torque to all of its wheels simultaneously. It may be full-time or on-demand, and is typically linked via a transfer cas ...

Ford Excursion The Ford Excursion is a heavy duty ( Class 2), full-sized SUV that was produced by Ford. The longest and heaviest SUV ever to enter mass production, the Excursion was marketed as a direct competitor of the 2500-series (-ton) Chevrolet Suburba ...

s. The GAWR of a solid axle Dana 50 is 5000 lbs. The 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor utilizes an AdvanTEK Dana 50 solid rear axle with a 235mm (9.25 in) ring gear and electronic locking differential. The ratio is 4.70:1.

References

{{Dana Corporation Automobile axles Automotive engineering