Shock tower cracks in a different place?

[Zeusmotorworks]

I’ve heard of people having their GEN 2 Raptor have cracks at the lower end of the shock tower. However, mine are at the top at the upper arm, trailing side. Thinking I’d be better off going to a good welder than Ford. Any suggestions from people who have fixed this?

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

@full-race geoff
@Old-Raptor-guy
@FordTechOne

Any of you guys see this? Asking more about the type of welding... I'm not familiar with what Ford uses in their frames.

I'm inclined to drill it, weld it, be done with it but don't want to weaken/en-brittle the metal at such a point.

 

[Old-Raptor-guy]

Holy hell, man I ride my Raptor harder than anyone I personally know (last weekend was a sh it. Show) and as of 2 weeks ago I had no cracks.

What are you guys doing??

Zeus I would weld that so fast, I kind of like doing "fish plate" on that sort of thing but that is me (I am NOT a certified welder in any way shape or form).

 

[Old-Raptor-guy]

I don't think the frame/steel is anything special. There are aftermarket buckets available (f150 Raptor conversions) and Foutz makes replacement lower control arm brackets (don't ask how i know) that are both welded on.

I do believe the F650/F750 have "no drill/no weld" frames. Anything below that I think you are GTG.

 

[Oldfart]

I’ve heard of people having their GEN 2 Raptor have cracks at the lower end of the shock tower. However, mine are at the top at the upper arm, trailing side. Thinking I’d be better off going to a good welder than Ford. Any suggestions from people who have fixed this?

Fucki ng ANIMAL!!!!

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

Holy hell, man I ride my Raptor harder than anyone I personally know (last weekend was a sh it. Show) and as of 2 weeks ago I had no cracks.

What are you guys doing??

Zeus I would weld that so fast, I kind of like doing "fish plate" on that sort of thing but that is me (I am NOT a certified welder in any way shape or form).

Seriously, wish I could say I "earned it". But alas, hardest hit this thing has taken is in depreciation. Sure it's seen a dirt road or two, some low altitude railroad tracks, but seriously nothing harder than I've seen in Raptor Assault.

I feel "shame" as I purchased it new with grand plans of trips out West... then South. Just have not made it happen in almost 80k miles (mostly toll road).

I don't want Ford to touch it with a 10 foot pole while holding buy back papers. I just was not sure about what I'd be burning some welds on without INCREASING the cracking as that IS a thing.

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

Should have hit up people like @GregFoutz but wasn't thinking since it was under Starbucks conditions. However, metal's no different.

 

[downforce137]

theres plenty of shops adding pieces to the stock frame. the steel isnt anything special, and maybe its a bit thin.. but once plating is added, everything seems to be holding up as far as i can tell..

it looks like both sides have a weld joint, so maybe its just the paint cracking thru to the weld?

edit: another look at the pics looks like welding to me..

the shock mounting area cracks are completely seperate..

Gen 2 Raptor spring tower corner weld in support gusset

The Gen 2 raptor frame has a small flaw that can show up when they are used aggressively off-road. The spring tower as it mounts to the frame will start to develop a crack near the lowest attachment point. this section starts to crack and will eventually cause serious damage. The kit is made...

www.foutzmotorsports.com

he has some high res cad pics in there so you can see theres multiple layers of steel welded together in that area.. i think we are looking at a weld or coating defect that appears as a cracked, but might not actually be..

I will post pics of my pretty heavily used 2019 tomorrow in the same area

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

theres plenty of shops adding pieces to the stock frame. the steel isnt anything special, and maybe its a bit thin.. but once plating is added, everything seems to be holding up as far as i can tell..

it looks like both sides have a weld joint, so maybe its just the paint cracking thru to the weld?

edit: another look at the pics looks like welding to me..

the shock mounting area cracks are completely seperate..

Gen 2 Raptor spring tower corner weld in support gusset

The Gen 2 raptor frame has a small flaw that can show up when they are used aggressively off-road. The spring tower as it mounts to the frame will start to develop a crack near the lowest attachment point. this section starts to crack and will eventually cause serious damage. The kit is made...

www.foutzmotorsports.com

he has some high res cad pics in there so you can see theres multiple layers of steel welded together in that area.. i think we are looking at a weld or coating defect that appears as a cracked, but might not actually be..

I will post pics of my pretty heavily used 2019 tomorrow in the same area

Thx... of course even though I looked, now I want to go back out and recheck the FRONT.

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

it looks like both sides have a weld joint, so maybe its just the paint cracking thru to the weld?

edit: another look at the pics looks like welding to me..

the shock mounting area cracks are completely separate..

I will post pics of my pretty heavily used 2019 tomorrow in the same area

Brake cleaner seeped through.

Thanks. I'd like to see the work on yours.