Thread: Interest in D44 TTB mounts for rangers

Just wondering what the interest is in Brackets for mounting a D44 TTB in a ranger/Explorer/BroncoII would be.

I've started on a design that is similar to the 4-6" brackets I have. These new brackets will have a 1.5" lift (Highrider style) point and also have both hole locations for the D35 and D44 TTB's

Nothing on the radius arm parts yet.

PM Sent

i think it's a cool idea having both hole locations for d35/d44, that'd make upgrading down the road a lot easier. interested in seeing what you come up with.

Here are a couple images of what I have so far. The parts will be indexed and keyed to only fit one way.

I may be able to swing a WIY kit as alot of guys want to save on cost, and it saves me the hassle of welding them up.

looks good
how much u looking to get for a set?

Very interesting... That would be awesome, with both bolt holes.

looks good, what beam brackets did you use to compare your idea to? just curious on the mounting hole locations connecting the beam bracket to the engine cross member. just an observation, i could be looking at the picture wrong, but it looks like on the drivers beam bracket (the one with the pumpkin), that there should be a break in the metal on the front side. here's a picture with the adjustment i made. let me know what you think. unless, you drew the picture without the break to show the mounting holes?

How much space is in between the 2 mounting holes?

Originally Posted by mt93ranger

looks good, what beam brackets did you use to compare your idea to? just curious on the mounting hole locations connecting the beam bracket to the engine cross member. just an observation, i could be looking at the picture wrong, but it looks like on the drivers beam bracket (the one with the pumpkin), that there should be a break in the metal on the front side. here's a picture with the adjustment i made. let me know what you think. unless, you drew the picture without the break to show the mounting holes?

I used a FaroArm to digitize the mounting pattern and faces off a stock bracket. I then filled in the gaps to make a bracket.

The part you modified is part of the factory setup. I just added another hole further down the crossmember to spread out the load.

The brackets are not done yet. Those were just preliminary images of what I had so far. I had a bunch of guys asking what they would look like. So I tool some screen shots.

The spread between the beam pivots is 1". The D35 mounts have been moved closer to the center by 1/2" total. I find this helps the center slip spline.

I have been waiting for someone to make these. Are you going to make all of them with both holes or would you do just the hole for the D44? Do you have a price yet?

Seems like drilling the beam mount holes undersize might be worth a thought. This way the D35 guy can just drill his holes out, and then do the d44 holes if he upgrades, and the d44 guy can have a little more meat around his bolt hole if he skipped the d35 phase.

I think this a good idea. Assuming they are going to be "stronger" than a normal lift bracket. I was considering removing mine and adding some metal to them, but this seems to a better idea. Plus you say they are only 1.5'' lift where mine are (I think) 4''. My truck sits too high and aswell as need something stronger. I will be keeping track on these. And to say it for the 10th time....PRICE.
LOL

Yes they will be stronger than the other brackets. I'll be making them out of 1/4" steel and will all be laser cut. Yes as it stands right now I'm making the 1.5". And plan to cut a set of beams for the rest to make up for the 3.5" lift I'm running. I'm using a set of 4" brackets I made too and it's too much for the 3.5" lift. That's the reason I'm going this route. I do plan to design the brackets to accommodate a 3", 4" and 6" lifts if the request is high. but they will not have the D44 mounts on them. The 1.5" brackets seem to be the most popular and Coming across a set of the STX brackets now are slim, as Ford's stock has dried up.

Brandon that is a good idea about making the holes undersized.

I'm still working out the details on these brackets so one I have a design finalized and that I'm happy with I'll send it out for a quote. I hope to have the design finished late next week. I can only do so much over my 1 hour lunch breaks.

Originally Posted by Brandon_Charley

Seems like drilling the beam mount holes undersize might be worth a thought. This way the D35 guy can just drill his holes out, and then do the d44 holes if he upgrades, and the d44 guy can have a little more meat around his bolt hole if he skipped the d35 phase.

arn't stock bolts 14mm or something stupid like that anyways, so depnding on what people do with the pivots on the beams they could be using a 1/2in or 9/16ths bolt..

I agree that it makes sense, and will incorporate that into the design.

Any Updates?

Not one bit. I've been so busy at work I've been taking 15 min lunch breaks. I normally get 1 H.

I've also been playing around with the Software for the new robotic arm, and water jet we are getting at work.

Should be able to get some work done on the brackets this week

For all the guys interested in these. I'm still working on it. I'm playing around with them on my lunch breaks, but as of the past two weeks, I've been stupid buisy and have only really taken enough time to get a bite to eat then I'm back to work.

Once things slow down I'll get more done. I want to redigitize the brackets once again with the faro arm just to make sure I've got things right.

I have a set from autofab that i paid way to much for but it worked out. THe only problem is he just modified the driver side beam mount so it breaks constantly on me. i am taking both brackets off and making my own set that is welded on so no more cracks.

Originally Posted by Dragon Ballz

I have a set from autofab that i paid way to much for but it worked out. THe only problem is he just modified the driver side beam mount so it breaks constantly on me. i am taking both brackets off and making my own set that is welded on so no more cracks.

Pictures of the Autofab parts would be cool!!

There should be a lot of demand for these. The D35 and D44 pivots are 1" different, oddly enough the D35 pivots are wider apart than a full size truck. The only reason I can guess is because of pumpkin clearance at full compression. Have you cycled a set of these to check clearance yet?

I'd be interested in a set, any idea on cost?

Originally Posted by philofab

There should be a lot of demand for these. The D35 and D44 pivots are 1" different, oddly enough the D35 pivots are wider apart than a full size truck. The only reason I can guess is because of pumpkin clearance at full compression. Have you cycled a set of these to check clearance yet?

my concern as well. But I'm down with the idea of a switch

..

Originally Posted by 92Xploder

..

x5000

I run 35's and the tires are about 2" front touching the fiberglass at full bump. i just heated up the frame rail above the pumpkin and bent it up. it is ok because it is in between the cross member so it wont hurt it. i cycle 17-18" of wheel travel. i had a hard time keeping the axle shaft in the pumpkin but it was due to some binding. Side note, spend alot of time cycling and checking axles. Also you have to mill out the center u-joint. With the autofab setup i had to cut the splines down pretty good also to get enough slip.

Originally Posted by Dragon Ballz

I run 35's and the tires are about 2" front touching the fiberglass at full bump. i just heated up the frame rail above the pumpkin and bent it up. it is ok because it is in between the cross member so it wont hurt it. i cycle 17-18" of wheel travel. i had a hard time keeping the axle shaft in the pumpkin but it was due to some binding. Side note, spend alot of time cycling and checking axles. Also you have to mill out the center u-joint. With the autofab setup i had to cut the splines down pretty good also to get enough slip.

sick ness

Damnit. I've been using the FaroArm for a project at work and I was getting some funky readings. Come to find out that there is a Ball Dia setting the MasterCam that I missed. So the brackets I digitized were out to lunch.

This is the reason I wanted to re digitize them to make sure I had them right. I thought some of the measurements seemed funky.

I should be able to get around to them later on this week.

shweet

OK I got one bracket re digitized. Double checked some measurements with my caliper and it's within 20 thou of original.

Got the other one digitized and checked measurements and I'm within 15 thou of original.

sweett =]=]

Got my check book ready =)

Originally Posted by 92Xploder

Got my check book ready =)

dam ballers

Copycat, do you think they will be ready by June-July? I want to get a set when I get home.

As soon as I can get my ranger on the road I'll be pulling the Bronco off the road for some front end surgery.

Do you have an expected eta and price? I'm interested in a set. Do you have someone to cut/fold the metal yet?

I used skyjacker brackets when i had my D44TTB in my Ranger. The brackets look almost exactly like the ones you have digitized.

Originally Posted by Josh40601

I used skyjacker brackets when i had my D44TTB in my Ranger. The brackets look almost exactly like the ones you have digitized.

Which pivot did you move or did you have a custom axle made?

HD 44 axle will work with a little grinding