Oh yea? did you have to take the knuckle completely off? my seal doesn't seem to be leaking so i'm not goign to replace it
Explains why the Rock Crawl GOAT mode is 4L, rear locker only, buy default. Losing rear traction is the only time I use front locker and then turn it off once I'm over the obstacle.
While watching the video, I was thinking "where the hell are they?" until I heard the "eh's"
The Raptor is no less limited, just a different hard core edition, for a different part of the country. No reason it would not sell, especially after the aftermarket does the engineering, design, manufacture, and testing for Ford up front (which is already done on the steering rack).
A raptor is far from being considered hardcore. Even if I were building a non-competitive prerunner for fun, I would consider what the raptor has as a mid travel kit with middle of the road coilovers at best (yeah, even the active shock tech) and a conservative power increase that one could get from a retune on a 2.7L. For its size and weight, a 4dr Bronco would need at least 500HP before it could be considered a fun prerunner, but as it is, it's underpowered. I could see where some parts of the country might consider it hardcore I suppose, but a rock crawling version with the same approach to upgrades as the raptor wouldn't be so easily labeled as a hardcore edition for most of the country. I mean, you're not going to get Fun-Runner level chassis improvements from Ford and they won't be making a crawler version with beefier and better stuff than their flagship raptor...probably the same front and rear axles, probably the same 3.0 rack, basically everything you can get optioned currently in a Wildtrak with some graphics, maybe colorful upholstery stitching, or other irrelevant bolt-ons like 37" tires, "HD skidplates" or fender flares. I doubt they'd put longer a-arms or active coilovers with it to gain wheel travel because then you'd essentially have a raptor, and that wouldn't fly...it would diminish the royalty status of the raptor if you could just option a Wildtrak to be the same thing. We could go on forever about what Ford could do, but realistically, what you'd actually get from Ford would be a little disappointing and a miss for being a hardcore crawler. No doubt it would carry a similar raptor premium though, and with all of that expense in a setup that's not top tier, you'll probably end up replacing some or all of it with better stuff anyway.
I don't think it would be that difficult. It really seems like the front diff, front axles, and steering rack /tie rods are the weak points. If you can't at least "bump" into the drivetrain and get some wheelspin, while locked in front, and maybe a minor bit of hopping here and there, you will be VERY limited in snow, muddy/moss/leave covered rocks, wet hill climbs, etc.. Not talking something that can do this.
No, it wouldn't be difficult for Ford, it would be every bit as easy as making a regular Bronco. It wouldn't even be difficult for most ordinary people to do. They should've gone with tougher components from the start, but they won't change it. They're one of the biggest car manufacturers on the planet, and if they wanted to make a race ready street legal replica of a KOH winning 4600 Bronco in luxury format, it would be a walk in the park for them. They've already done most of the work and have a virtually unlimited budget and team and logistics to fill in the gaps, they make the hardware and program the software. It's about whether they'd make the same profits doing it or not, and whether people are going to buy it or really care about having that much additional strength. Based on how people are falling over themselves with hype and spending $20K over sticker price to buy a modest factory upgrade in the form of a raptor, I'd say it's absolutely not necessary for Ford to package tougher components than what they're already selling. Expecting something like the equivalent of tons front and rear on a Bronco is about like expecting a Godzilla powered Bronco. Not only that, but you'd have gnashing of teeth and rending of shirts from raptor owners if it was no longer the premier Bronco.I don't think it would be that difficult. It really seems like the front diff, front axles, and steering rack /tie rods are the weak points. If you can't at least "bump" into the drivetrain and get some wheelspin, while locked in front, and maybe a minor bit of hopping here and there, you will be VERY limited in snow, muddy/moss/leave covered rocks, wet hill climbs, etc.. Not talking something that can do this.
Talking something like this. (If I posted a 6G doing this, you'all would be out of your minds with a 86 page thread about everything done "wrong"). Sorry for the crappy older vid, it was 2006, best to watch "part" screen........
http://luxjo.supermotors.net/RAUSCH CREEK/28 AUG 06/27 AUG 06/KEVIN/MOV00992.MPG
WARNING, someone said a curse word at the end of this.
Manufacturers make the "GT500" so that the product gets a "rep" and even the lesser versions are very desirable (odd, but it works). If Ford wants to have such a limited rep for the Bronco, and most of it's buyers are fine with coddling it (and/or a full day's winchfest), then I guess times have changed, and that's kind of sad.
No foolin. I just posted a video of it happening. Yes it is a 60 front, but nothing special, 35 spline outers, locked up on an ARB on 42 rocks (double bead locks, about 8 PSI). Didn't break, did it? I probably have 100 more videos of the same thing. We do it constantly. And that particular rig has an EFI 460, 4:1 "doubler" and 5.13's (so not underpowered, or at least no lack of torque at the wheels).
