2013 Baja 1000 Carnage

[Phyguy]

Yikes, glad you're alright man. For an explanation of why your knuckle broke, look here: http://www.fordraptorforum.com/f9/bending-breaking-steering-knuckle-28639/

Thanks Bird. Yeah I commented on that thread right before I left that I was concerned with my knuckles...with all the abuse inflicted and all. Since I'm back to stock knuckles and I learned a ton about how to weld the knuckle to steel using ni-rod and a stick welder (which I own) I may give a shot hacking some gussets to these until I figure out an engine compartment cage for longer travel up front and a stiffer front end. Who knows. It'll be cheaper at this point and will do the job as I saw this weekend. Thanks again. Great writeup again..

 

[Madcowranch]

Shit, I coulda fixed that with some baling wire and duct tape.

Glad you're OK buddy. Can you describe what you hit, impact etc?

 

[MotuMute]

Thanks Bird. Yeah I commented on that thread right before I left that I was concerned with my knuckles...with all the abuse inflicted and all.

Indeed (from post #23 of that thread):

Sold me.

Awesome job of rescuing that injured rider and his bike


It's unfortunate that ya didn't have time to upgrade before embarking on your Baja adventure. Sooner or later a wrecked front end is in our futures if pushing hard before addressing this issue. Turns out I blew the driver's side IWE and also the rack when I bent both knuckles.


So we upgrade the ridiculously weak stock knuckles - which allows us to take harder hits. Now that the upgraded knuckles don't bend, the next weakest links to give are ___________? I guess we need to stay a step or two ahead...

 

[Biggest]

God has lots of pajamas but he does not sleep! How awesome he is! Why worry when you can pray!

 

[Phyguy]

BTW - tentatively scheduled for a cab cage dec or Jan. I'm going to have them stub the rear for a future bed cage and bedsides with some sort of LT in the back.

Here's a pic of the trailside fix. Longer explanation and some Baja stories later when I hit Denver.

 

[Phyguy]

God has lots of pajamas but he does not sleep! How awesome he is! Why worry when you can pray!

Lots of praying...

 

[Phyguy]

Indeed (from post #23 of that thread):

Awesome job of rescuing that injured rider and his bike

It's unfortunate that ya didn't have time to upgrade before embarking on your Baja adventure. Sooner or later a wrecked front end is in our futures if pushing hard before addressing this issue. Turns out I blew the driver's side IWE and also the rack when I bent both knuckles.

So we upgrade the ridiculously weak stock knuckles - which allows us to take harder hits. Now that the upgraded knuckles don't bend, the next weakest links to give are ___________? I guess we need to stay a step or two ahead...

Lower control arm ball joint. Ripped right out. And that sucker is hard to replace but doable with a BFH and another pair of hands.

 

[Phyguy]

Shit, I coulda fixed that with some baling wire and duct tape.

Glad you're OK buddy. Can you describe what you hit, impact etc?

Thanks rich. I was going too fast on unknown terrain and hit a washout on the passenger side about 1.5 feet deep. Ripped everything apart. At night.

 

[SwampKing]

I'm glad you guys are ok. Time to upgrade ya!!! :-/ ........

 

[KaiserM715]

More repair pics (courtesy of Locos Mocos):