Bud Wheels Dana 50

catbird7

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Exploring alternate methods for installing "Bud" wheels on a dana 50 front axle. Obviously typical wheel spacers is one method however has anyone ever attempted to install factory F350 adapters on a Dana 50? Over the weekend I bought a set of these and the seller claims they will bolt right up. Figured I ask the folks here before tearing into the unknown. Curious if the dana 50 lockouts will fit and wheel bears the same??? Any help or advice will be appreciated.
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snicklas

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I believe it can be done....

When @FORDF250HDXLT sees this, he should have the best answer. Chip Truck was an F-250 when he bought it, and it's now a dually with the Dana 50 chicken wing under it.... not sure if he used Ford, or Arrowcraft adapters, but he had to do something.... since the D-50 didn't come factory dually..... ever.....
 

FORDF250HDXLT

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The seller was correct.Those will bolt right on.The D50 and D60 share the same outer hubs.I did use arrowcraft aa-4 series adapters as opposed to factory hubs like those because the 4wd versions like you have there are hard to come by.....at least right away.That is because those are only found on F350 cab and chassis trucks because the dually pickups didn't come in 4wd.
Anyway,your good to go.Direct bolt on.

Side note; tagging members works again.Cool!
 

junk

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The seller was correct.Those will bolt right on.The D50 and D60 share the same outer hubs.I did use arrowcraft aa-4 series adapters as opposed to factory hubs like those because the 4wd versions like you have there are hard to come by.....at least right away.That is because those are only found on F350 cab and chassis trucks because the dually pickups didn't come in 4wd.
Anyway,your good to go.Direct bolt on.

Side note; tagging members works again.Cool!


Yeah what he said! Bolt right on. Brakes, locking hubs, bearings, spindles it's all the same.
 

catbird7

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Thanks guys! Installed pics will follow!
 

franklin2

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I don't see why you can't... But added leverage on the beam mount.

But the wheel track is the same because of the extreme offset of the wheel. So is it really added leverage? Or just extra weight bouncing around out there.
 

catbird7

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The seller was correct.Those will bolt right on.The D50 and D60 share the same outer hubs.I did use arrowcraft aa-4 series adapters as opposed to factory hubs like those because the 4wd versions like you have there are hard to come by.....at least right away.That is because those are only found on F350 cab and chassis trucks because the dually pickups didn't come in 4wd.
Anyway,your good to go.Direct bolt on.

Side note; tagging members works again.Cool!
Seller had two sets, maybe I should've bought both? $150.00 / set with rotors and lug nuts.



Another nice aspect, while this truck currently has a Dana 50, very likely somewhere in the future we'll do a Dana 60 swap and the adapters are already there and interchangeable.
 

FORDF250HDXLT

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Seller had two sets, maybe I should've bought both? $150.00 / set with rotors and lug nuts.
Another nice aspect, while this truck currently has a Dana 50, very likely somewhere in the future we'll do a Dana 60 swap and the adapters are already there and interchangeable.

I had to pay over $350 iirc (and this was a few years ago now) for the arrowcraft if this helps you decide to grab his other set.
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Extra leverage on the balljoints which is already the weak point of the TTB's.

So far so good.:cool:

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Admittingly,I've gone away for the past couple winters though and left chip truck to hibernate.........and I should add,though I use my truck commercially,I don't to plow snow.Just my yard.(We call our drive ways and surrounding house area's "yards" here in Maine.:D )
 
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catbird7

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Yes I'll agree, arrow craft adapters are great (other than the price tag). I bought the same set you have back in 1993 (if memory serves), they're still on my old 74 F-250 highboy (dana 44 high pinion). Zero performance complaints! Does your truck have a dana 50 front? It appears the leaf springs are de-flexed (bowed up). Aren't F-350 usually straight or bowed down?
 

FORDF250HDXLT

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Yeah it's an F250 I converted to a dually.I didn't need the D60 front axle.In fact for this truck,I had to keep the D50 even if I wanted a D60 because I load the bed by hand and I can't have it sitting any higher.The dump bed already puts it up higher than preferred.A D60 swap would set her up another 2-3" all around.Not fun when your tossing up large chunks of wood.
I even went another step to lower the truck a touch by running 225/75/16's rather than the oem 215's the drw F350 pickups come with.Or worse yet,the 235's the F350 4wd cab n chassis came with.
When I had the truck re-painted,I put F350 emblems on it,because F250 emblems on a dually kinda looked out of place.

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catbird7

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Sharp Truck!
Arrowcraft on a Dana 50 used as a successful daily workhorse / plow truck speaks volumes for not only their quality, but also the durability of the often poorly spoken Dana 50!
 

FORDF250HDXLT

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Thanks man.I appreciate that.I've devoted a lot of time to her over the years to set her up just how I need her.

I've put just a touch over 100k miles on her so far in the 6 full work seasons I've had her.
I know people complain about heavy tire eating and such,but with the extra rear springs and custom overloads already slightly in action when empty,she doesn't squat when loaded so the front remains in alignment.

When I rotate my tires,the good rubber comes from the front and goes out back.Hauling heavy weight all the time is what wares my tires.Always ware them out dead even.I do have her lined up every spring (or sometimes every other) just for good measure.
I have no complaints at all with the D50 for my use.But with smaller than oem rubber and my "off road" being as you see there,just on lawns performing tree care,I wouldn't trade it for anything.
 

Macrobb

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My dad has a similar converted truck. 1988 F-250 single-cab IDI turbo with a 5-speed.
It's been converted to a dually, for use with a massive camper. Apparently drove quite a while that way before my dad bought it at auction.
No suspension or bearing issues on that truck.

Of course... the(fully floating) rear axle can handle the extra weight just fine. They used the same bearings in the dually trucks, and they are /huge/.
 

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