A car mechanic's review of a Wildtrak Bronco

[heavyD]

He is from the great white north and no matter what everything rust up there.

Not true. It's pretty dry in Western Canada. Cars last much longer here than Ontario and Quebec where it's considerably more humid.

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[Bronco cat]

Seems the main concerns I've picked up from reading articles are:

a) lower control arms - exposed bolts could potentially shear when wheeling
b) tie rods - too small / skinny
c) coolant hose not clamped well / rubs on exposed bolt inside which can cause leaking
d) the panel alignment / paint issue in some spots
e) MIC hard top 2.0 weathers faster than expected with exposed edges

A+B are wheeling specific - just need to be careful there, C I'll def check myself when I pick up mine (sometime in 2052 I think)... D+E - not sure what you can really do.

Just my two cents but ford spent a long time and many months If not years wheeling these things pretty hard and ran into none of these “potential” problems. Keep that in mind. No need to solve for something that probably hasn’t or won’t happen.

 

[2Jeeps&PatriotX1]

On my jeep, I used Eastwood Internal Frame coating and every fall/winter before cold weather hits, I coat everything under the tub with Fluid Film. With this practice, in 5yrs living in CO after moving from FL, I have zero rust. They use mag chloride on the roads out here in CO.

 

[ICUGAZN]

Seems the main concerns I've picked up from reading articles are:

a) lower control arms - exposed bolts could potentially shear when wheeling
b) tie rods - too small / skinny
c) coolant hose not clamped well / rubs on exposed bolt inside which can cause leaking
d) the panel alignment / paint issue in some spots
e) MIC hard top 2.0 weathers faster than expected with exposed edges

A+B are wheeling specific - just need to be careful there, C I'll def check myself when I pick up mine (sometime in 2052 I think)... D+E - not sure what you can really do.

The tie rods on the Bronco are the same size as the ones on the Raptor. I haven't seen any issues with those. I know there is the one Bronco on 37s that snapped but other than that there have been a number of Broncos doing some hard wheeling with 35s and 37s and not breaking tie rods

 

[ICUGAZN]

Just my two cents but ford spent a long time and many months If not years wheeling these things pretty hard and ran into none of these “potential” problems. Keep that in mind. No need to solve for something that probably hasn’t or won’t happen.

I agree with this fully.

 

[indio22]

Sounded pretty positive. The only concern that stuck out to me is the following. In humid norther climates where heavy road salting is used in the winter this could be a bad thing.

At the 8:18 minute mark, the reviewer mentioned the new Bronco main boxed frame rails have holes for water to get out. That is key over the long term for rust prevention.

Jeep failed miserably with their TJ frame rails by not putting drain holes in the bottom of the rails. That allowed water and crud to collect inside the center sections of the rails, rusting them out from the inside.

If Ford ever produces a 2-door Bronco for me to buy, I'll inspect the frame rails, and if needed drill a few drain holes in the bottom of the rails. Also in the rust belt, consider spraying the inside of the rails with some oil or lanolin compound.

 

[Blue's B6G]

‘I’m going to give you kind of a mechanic’s point of view on the vehicle, something you might not normally hear about. The front bumper is modular.’

 

[Triceratops]

‘I’m going to give you a mechanic’s point of view, something you might not hear about. The front bumper is modular.’

Seriously... and really worried about the location of the washer fluid bottle as it may cause rust on the........ aluminum fenders...

 

[stonerdoom]

Sounded pretty positive. The only concern that stuck out to me is the following. In humid norther climates where heavy road salting is used in the winter this could be a bad thing.

What is that exactly as this will be me in f'n Chicagoland.

 

[RubyRedGT]

the other thing he was hung up on was the uneven gaps around the panels and doors. I couldn’t see them. Anyone notice this in person?

My BL was built in July and I got it early August. The gaps in the doors, hood and tailgate are all about perfect. No major defects found.

 

[mcinfantry]

I've watched him for years. Honestly if he says he would buy one, it is a good vehicle. That being said, it was a one day review. 10 years down the road he will probably stuff a 4bt in one.

I’m a 4bt guy
Done swaps
67 Jeep m715
42 dodge wc53
3 80’s broncos and

there is a couple neat other Cummins packages availabe
Done wrenching though I think

 

[Jhuff]

On my jeep, I used Eastwood Internal Frame coating and every fall/winter before cold weather hits, I coat everything under the tub with Fluid Film. With this practice, in 5yrs living in CO after moving from FL, I have zero rust. They use mag chloride on the roads out here in CO.

Awesome! I have been searching for a product like this, as I am sick of working on perma-rusted suspensions and even sicker of seeing rust developing on visible suspension components that are less than a year old. (Yucky Michigan)

 

[ExJeePowner]

I latched onto that too.

My Location: Chicago

Have you looked at underbody sprays? I have done all my vehicles since I was 18. It is worth it. I am talking oil btw...not some weird coating. Some mechanics ask why the hell there is oil all over the place.

 

[Chief1301]

On my jeep, I used Eastwood Internal Frame coating and every fall/winter before cold weather hits, I coat everything under the tub with Fluid Film. With this practice, in 5yrs living in CO after moving from FL, I have zero rust. They use mag chloride on the roads out here in CO.

Fluid Film is great stuff. I always have a can or two in my Garage.

 

[vrewald14]

Where’d this info come from?

I’d like to hear more about the tie rod and steering rack options.

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