Transmission crossmember braces - improve or remove?

[Gtrekker]

That's some crazy stuff!!! I saw you said you were taking it easy but, maybe our throttle modulation (taking it easy) has two different meaning... It sure looks like some hard hits! Hope it's a rental.... LOL

Sponsored

 

[Felix808]

The more I look at this mess the more I think to just cut it in 1/2 & unbolt the frame side when my Bronco arrives & test it. I would leave the frame brackets until I felt comfortable there wasn't any shimmy, then cut it clean off. If worst case I could just weld the 2 sections back together.

Hey @ Flip, do you happen to have a part number / price for the cross member just incase?

 

[Oldhippie]

I am amazed by everything hanging under these things...obviously the designers/engineers at Ford have no idea what happens off-road...

 

[VoltageDrop]

The more I look at this mess the more I think to just cut it in 1/2 & unbolt the frame side when my Bronco arrives & test it. I would leave the frame brackets until I felt comfortable there wasn't any shimmy, then cut it clean off. If worst case I could just weld the 2 sections back together.

Hey @ Flip, do you happen to have a part number / price for the cross member just incase?

I don't think your tag worked so let me page @flip again. Maybe a 2.3L xmember would work so you have a reversion plan? Flip, is the 2.3 automatic devoid of these braces or is it just the 7MT? If so, is the rubber transmission mount the same between the two engines? I'm OK with the sawzall method but if there's a cheap bolt-on option then I'm game since it would look less conspicuous for future warranty work. I'm afraid those frame brackets need to go, too.

 

[flip]

I don't think your tag worked so let me page @flip again. Maybe a 2.3L xmember would work so you have a reversion plan? Flip, is the 2.3 automatic devoid of these braces or is it just the 7MT? If so, is the rubber transmission mount the same between the two engines? I'm OK with the sawzall method but if there's a cheap bolt-on option then I'm game since it would look less conspicuous for future warranty work. I'm afraid those frame brackets need to go, too.

4D 2.3 wit under body protection

2D 2.3 w/o under body

Only serviced with the whole frame assembly.

RB goes to MB3Z-5005-BN

 

[Felix808]

I don't think your tag worked so let me page @flip again. Maybe a 2.3L xmember would work so you have a reversion plan? Flip, is the 2.3 automatic devoid of these braces or is it just the 7MT? If so, is the rubber transmission mount the same between the two engines? I'm OK with the sawzall method but if there's a cheap bolt-on option then I'm game since it would look less conspicuous for future warranty work. I'm afraid those frame brackets need to go, too.

Thanks for fixing the tag

I don't think I would bother with ordering the 2.3 cross member due to you still have the frame brackets hanging down that the 2.3 does not, shouting something's missing here . If no issues without the support brackets (post sawzall) then I would use a cutting wheel to remove the brackets from the frame, which looks like it wouldn't take much.
As far as warranty, I think they would have a hard time if the trans mount on the cross member had no signs of deterioration, as these are just braces and not supports. But that has never stopped warranty denials before. Magnuson-Moss be dammed .

 

[Oceanfabreze]

4D 2.3 wit under body protection

2D 2.3 w/o under body

Only serviced with the whole frame assembly.

RB goes to MB3Z-5005-BN

Where are people finding these drawings? I've seen quite a few in various threads.

 

[MNBigfoot]

Where are people finding these drawings? I've seen quite a few in various threads.

Flip is B6G Royalty

 

[BAUS67]

Where are people finding these drawings? I've seen quite a few in various threads.

Ford dealer parts dept.

 

[‘21OBX]

I have a half baked idea in my head to replace these. but like others I’m not in a rush to cut my Bronco up. But they get hung up on everything!!

 

[mcinfantry]

The consensus seems to be these are completely unnecessary and they do nothing?

 

[Snacktime]

The consensus seems to be these are completely unnecessary and they do nothing?

Depends, I don't think they are needed for strength. They seem to get tons of trail damage so I believe they are more of a semi skid/slider that I would not get rid of without putting another skid there.

 

[AMTRV]

Depends, I don't think they are needed for strength. They seem to get tons of trail damage so I believe they are more of a semi skid/slider that I would not get rid of without putting another skid there.

Yep, I assure you the engineers didn’t put those there because they “do nothing”.

 

[mcinfantry]

So they put them for what reason?

Yep, I assure you the engineers didn’t put those there because they “do nothing”.

I don’t know
I think since most people aren’t structural engineers they don’t do anything if value

it’s like the sway bars
Ford only puts them because they cost money and the more it costs the more you can charge!

 

[AMTRV]

So they put them for what reason?

I don’t know
I think since most people aren’t structural engineers they don’t do anything if value

it’s like the sway bars
Ford only puts them because they cost money and the more it costs the more you can charge!

ya think?

Sponsored