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Well I finally acquired all the Braptor front suspension parts I need to upgrade my FE with Bronco Raptor suspension. After installing my 73" wide ultimate Dana 60 rear axle, I need the front to match.
I bought new LCAs and a lightly used set of UCAs and new cut-to-length 4130 axle shafts (35 spline 1.5" thick) and had a set of Tie-rod-extenders made for the very beefy ICON 18mm tie rods. New CV boots from spicer, and a Braptor swaybar ( not pictured) on its way too.
Excited to dive in to this project, these are NOT completely bolt-on parts, some fabrication will be required. Obviously, once the parts are installed, I'll be doing some measurements, and ordering new longer coilovers as well. possibly Braptor s too.
I'll be adding to this thread soon with pictures and details of the swap.
UPDATE:
Made some progress doing a mock up tonight...the Lower control arms BOLT ON with no issues. the upper control arms have a different, wider mount, and use 2 short bolts instead of one long one. I will be fabbing up a new double shear mount for the UCA. my tie rod spacer worked perfectly.
as far as differences ...the Braptor UCA is 2" longer, the Braptor Lower control arm is 4" longer!!! so the average of both arms is 3" wider PER SIDE, than a SAS bronco.
So my new WMS will be almost exactly 75" in the front and 73" in the rear. the Braptor also has a wider front than back track width. I may change the control arm mounts (inwards)by 1" per side to make this match.
one issue is that Ford stupidly changed the taper on the ball joints on BOTH upper and lowers. COME ON FORD
Upper ball joint can be easily swapped out, lower is gonna be a bit more technical.
(got lucky with my only taper reamer tool being correct.)
might be able to utilize something like this for a solution.
https://www.afcoracing.com/store.as...le=Steel-Ball-Joint-Taper-Bushing-Adapter----
Still have lots to do like shorten the new 4130 axles' shafts and have them machined for spiroloc and compression rings.
Also, noticed my diff drop is gonna cause clearance issues with the LCA, so that will need adjustment as well.
overall I'm stoked and impressed with how inexpensive this undertaking will be. The whole shabang will be less $$$ than some of those overpriced billet UCAs out there! (not including shocks)
I cycled the suspension without shocks or CVs and 16" travel looks achievable with NO ball joint bind.
The same steel UCA is also used on the Bronco DR, and it gets 15.75" front wheel travel in that setup.
here some pics.
and a few others
here you can see how the Braptor arm is much wider (and stronger)
and the axles I'm using
Price list so far... I'll add to it as I finish things.
New Braptor UCAs $126 Xs 2 NB3Z3084B and NB3Z3085B
new Braptor LCAs $342 Xs 2 NB3Z3078A and NB3Z3079A
Tie rod extensions $225
speedmaster 4130 Axle shafts $111 Xs 2
Used Braptor swaybar $100
All new OEM bolts $73
shipping $100
.............$1431 so far............
I bought new LCAs and a lightly used set of UCAs and new cut-to-length 4130 axle shafts (35 spline 1.5" thick) and had a set of Tie-rod-extenders made for the very beefy ICON 18mm tie rods. New CV boots from spicer, and a Braptor swaybar ( not pictured) on its way too.
Excited to dive in to this project, these are NOT completely bolt-on parts, some fabrication will be required. Obviously, once the parts are installed, I'll be doing some measurements, and ordering new longer coilovers as well. possibly Braptor s too.
I'll be adding to this thread soon with pictures and details of the swap.
UPDATE:
Made some progress doing a mock up tonight...the Lower control arms BOLT ON with no issues. the upper control arms have a different, wider mount, and use 2 short bolts instead of one long one. I will be fabbing up a new double shear mount for the UCA. my tie rod spacer worked perfectly.
as far as differences ...the Braptor UCA is 2" longer, the Braptor Lower control arm is 4" longer!!! so the average of both arms is 3" wider PER SIDE, than a SAS bronco.
So my new WMS will be almost exactly 75" in the front and 73" in the rear. the Braptor also has a wider front than back track width. I may change the control arm mounts (inwards)by 1" per side to make this match.
one issue is that Ford stupidly changed the taper on the ball joints on BOTH upper and lowers. COME ON FORD
Upper ball joint can be easily swapped out, lower is gonna be a bit more technical.(got lucky with my only taper reamer tool being correct.)
might be able to utilize something like this for a solution.
https://www.afcoracing.com/store.as...le=Steel-Ball-Joint-Taper-Bushing-Adapter----
Still have lots to do like shorten the new 4130 axles' shafts and have them machined for spiroloc and compression rings.
Also, noticed my diff drop is gonna cause clearance issues with the LCA, so that will need adjustment as well.
overall I'm stoked and impressed with how inexpensive this undertaking will be. The whole shabang will be less $$$ than some of those overpriced billet UCAs out there! (not including shocks)
I cycled the suspension without shocks or CVs and 16" travel looks achievable with NO ball joint bind.
The same steel UCA is also used on the Bronco DR, and it gets 15.75" front wheel travel in that setup.
here some pics.
and a few others
here you can see how the Braptor arm is much wider (and stronger)
and the axles I'm using
Price list so far... I'll add to it as I finish things.
New Braptor UCAs $126 Xs 2 NB3Z3084B and NB3Z3085B
new Braptor LCAs $342 Xs 2 NB3Z3078A and NB3Z3079A
Tie rod extensions $225
speedmaster 4130 Axle shafts $111 Xs 2
Used Braptor swaybar $100
All new OEM bolts $73
shipping $100
.............$1431 so far............
Sponsored
....most Vendors want to sell you as much of their own stuff as possible tho.
the tires are 40s... because I cut and moved everything up in the wheelwells last year...battery and airbox and all the junk now sits several inches higher than stock, and It's gonna get chopped some more soon too.
