The '80-to-'96 twin traction beam (TTB) Ford half-ton truck is now three generations outdated, but it still remains extremely popular in the off-road scene. In fact, Ford still uses the 2WD version of this suspension on its vans and Super Dutys to this very day. The TTB was an excellent cross of independent and solid-axle suspension technologies combined to make one hard-to-beat system (in the dirt). The TTB is simple to modify for lots of travel, but it does have one downfall: its handling characteristics are not stellar because of the camber change the beams undergo as the suspension oscillates (and the more travel the TTB has, the more the camber changes). Nevertheless, enthusiasts have found the camber change a small price to pay for a heavy-duty, high-travel, off-road worthy suspension. Rough Country's standard 4- and 6-inch kits take advantage of all the attributes of the TTB suspension and improves it even further by adding some extra travel, and by doing it for less than $500! That's right-an entire suspension that you can purchase with less than a full paycheck. Installation of Rough Country's TTB kit should be something you could do in your driveway with reasonable mechanical knowledge and some good jackstands. The first steps are to jack the vehicle up, properly secure it, and remove the tires, shocks, coils, and knock off the radius arm brackets. Ford sometimes bolted these on (if you are lucky), but most '80-to-'96 F-150s and Broncos came with these brackets riveted on. If you have rivets, removing them will be the most time-consuming part of the install as you try to grind, drill, or torch them out. Once the factory radius arm brackets are removed, you'll need to drill out the holes to a 7/16-inch size.Installation of Rough Country's TTB kit should be something you could do in your driveway The new Rough Country (RC) radius arm bracket bolts directly to the frame using the supplied hardware. You will reuse the factory radius arm on the new RC drop bracket.The new Rough Country (RC) radius arm bracket bolts directly to the frame using the suppli With the twin traction beams dropped out of their original brackets, you'll need to work on getting the riveted (or bolted) TTB pivot brackets off the frame.....With the twin traction beams dropped out of their original brackets, you'll need to work o .....Once they are removed, RC provides new drop beam pivot brackets to compensate for the added lift. You'll have to drill the holes out to a 9/16-inch size to use the provided hardware......Once they are removed, RC provides new drop beam pivot brackets to compensate for the Rough Country also provides a new pitman arm to account for the extra lift in the suspension. This keeps bumpsteer to a minimum and allows the geometry of the steering and suspension to stay within factory parameters.Rough Country also provides a new pitman arm to account for the extra lift in the suspensi Rough Country provides a new replacement coil instead of giving some type of spacer. We are pleased with what a good deal this kit is, considering we've paid more than the cost of this entire kit for just two custom springs before.Rough Country provides a new replacement coil instead of giving some type of spacer. We ar With the radius arms, twin traction beams, and coils back in place, you'll add either one or two shocks per side (depending on what your Bronco came with from the factory). If your Bronco has a single shock coil bucket on the frame, you can buy the dual shock coil bucket from Jeff's Bronco Graveyard and replace your single shock buckets.With the radius arms, twin traction beams, and coils back in place, you'll add either one Whether you're installing the 4-inch or 6-inch kit, the install of the entire front kit will be the same. The only difference in the rear will be the addition of an add-a-leaf to the spring pack with the 6-inch kit. If you're installing the 4-inch kit, you'll only have to add the block to the rear.Whether you're installing the 4-inch or 6-inch kit, the install of the entire front kit wi Rough Country also provides a pair of Hydro 8000 shocks for the rear to match the fronts. These are a twin-tube shock design that will usually still work fine, even if you dent the body of the shock.Rough Country also provides a pair of Hydro 8000 shocks for the rear to match the fronts. Sources Rough Country Suspension 1400 Morgan Road Dyersburg TN 38024 800-222-7023 www.roughcountry.com Jeff's Bronco Graveyard 7843 Lochlin Drive Brighton MI 48116 248-437-5060 www.broncograveyard.com By Dirk Saters Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!
