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

Dana Corp.

The Dana Holding Corporation is a supplier of axles, driveshafts, off-highway transmissions, sealing and thermal-management products, and service parts....

 for 25 years and was used solely in OEM Ford applications. Dana 50's were made as front axles only. The Dana 50 has a "50" cast in to the housing and is regarded to have more strength than a Dana 44

Dana 44

The Dana/Spicer Model 44 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and is used extensively among automobile manufacturers and in the automotive aftermarket area as well. The Dana 44 was first manufactured in the 1940s and is still being manufactured today, both front and rear axle variants...

, but not as much as a Dana 60

Dana 60

The Dana/Spicer Model 60 is an automotive axle manufactured by Dana Corp. and used in OEM "heavy duty" pickup applications by Chevrolet, Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ford. There are rear axle and four wheel drive front steering versions of the Dana 60. It can be readily identified by its straight axle...

. 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

Twin Traction Beam

The Twin Traction Beam is an independent suspension system for front drive axles in four-wheel drive Ford F-Series trucks and sport utility vehicles....

 (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.

General Specifications

• Ring gear measures 9.0".
• 30 Spline Axle shafts.
• Gear Ratios: 3.55:1 - 5.38:1
• No carrier breaks
• Pinion shaft diameter: 1.375"
• Pinion shaft splines: 26
• Axle shaft diameter: 1.21"
• 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

Gross vehicle weight rating

A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo....

 was lower in a F-350 with a TTB Dana 50, than a F-350 with a solid axle. The GAWR

Gross axle weight rating

The gross axle weight rating is the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by an axle of a road vehicle. Typically, GAWR is followed by either the letters FR or RR, which indicate front or rear axles respectively.-Importance:...

 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 1998 to 2002. This axle was also the only OEM axle used in Four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive

Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...

 Ford Excursion

Ford Excursion

The Ford Excursion is a full-size sport utility vehicle that was produced by the Ford Motor Company between model years 2000 and 2005 . Based on the Super Duty pickup truck platform, it served as Ford's largest SUV in its lineup during the tenure of its production and mainly competed against the...

s. The GAWR of a solid axle Dana 50 is 5000 lbs.