Oh Snap! A Steering Upgrade Options & Considerations Write-Up

[popo_patty]

I appreciate everyone’s input on this thread! Lots of good stuff. I’ve been away a lot but I’ll comb through when I get back home and answer any questions that are in here.
When everyone chimes in with good stuff that’s what makes this such a great place to learn and educate anyone looking for answers to questions!
Thanks @NORCALGXP for the info on RC. If you ever upgrade your rack I’d love to check it out.
I will be upgrading my 2.0 rack soon and I’ll post up the look at my BB stuff since it’s been in there awhile.
Sorry if some people think I’m biased. I run a group and sometimes we get offered discount codes. I don’t hide those codes for anyone looking to save a little money. I’m hoping I’ll get one for 74weld one day and have been chatting with them a bit. I do recommend and have recommended 74weld to a few people now. I’m not associated with anyone.
I’ll get back to the questions on overheating as that’s a good one! I believe @Oscargrouch323 has valuable input in the overheating issue from more of a mechanical perspective as well as @Snacktime.
In a nutshell I believe the smaller motor is working harder and gets overcome while a bigger, stronger motor doesn’t. Super simple and I’ll get back to this. In the meantime! Thanks everyone for being cool and for your valuable experience and input. Glad to see everyone’s input has helped a few people as well!

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[MadMan4BamaNATL]

That's what I was driving at.

Suspension is almost witchcraft to me between the geometry and options...having that thread just shit the bed made that middle section an absolute slog to read through. Besides @NORCALGXP up there giving his short review on the RC bushing I don't know if I saw much else about it or if it was worthwhile to pursue versus more expensive options. I've been poking around at the folks you mentioned along with @Tricky Dick, @BigMeatsBronco, @V1Rotate, and others learning and absorbing the tendencies and deficiencies of our Broncos.

Ohh gosh I left off some key names! I'm such a dumb ass. Sorry guys!

But yeah, add them wheelers to the list of what "real" influencers look like, or sounds like.

Much respect to so many here, that's why I love the forum. I try to chip in and help where I can, but when the mechanics start typing, I sponge, say thank you, then do better.

These guys have saved so many of us so much time, pain, and money. To then watch these most valuable threads spiral into crap is just so sad to me and makes info hard to find like your example.

Best to follow those guys and follow their threads so you don't miss anything good.

 

[jbandc122]

I appreciate everyone’s input on this thread! Lots of good stuff. I’ve been away a lot but I’ll comb through when I get back home and answer any questions that are in here.
When everyone chimes in with good stuff that’s what makes this such a great place to learn and educate anyone looking for answers to questions!
Thanks @NORCALGXP for the info on RC. If you ever upgrade your rack I’d love to check it out.
I will be upgrading my 2.0 rack soon and I’ll post up the look at my BB stuff since it’s been in there awhile.
Sorry if some people think I’m biased. I run a group and sometimes we get offered discount codes. I don’t hide those codes for anyone looking to save a little money. I’m hoping I’ll get one for 74weld one day and have been chatting with them a bit. I do recommend and have recommended 74weld to a few people now. I’m not associated with anyone.
I’ll get back to the questions on overheating as that’s a good one! I believe @Oscargrouch323 has valuable input in the overheating issue from more of a mechanical perspective as well as @Snacktime.
In a nutshell I believe the smaller motor is working harder and gets overcome while a bigger, stronger motor doesn’t. Super simple and I’ll get back to this. In the meantime! Thanks everyone for being cool and for your valuable experience and input. Glad to see everyone’s input has helped a few people as well!

For the record, everyone is biased and it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just nice to know to what degree when reading comparisons.

Personally, I am biased towards innovation even if it costs more. In your writeup you show obvious bias against steering components made by RC. Not a big deal since you make it known upfront, and it helps readers understand that your opinions on this particular part aren't based on the part itself but previous experiences with the company.

You wheel hard, contribute a great deal to this community, and are always looking to improve. I hope you don't take what I've said as a slight of any kind.

 

[popo_patty]

For the record, everyone is biased and it's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just nice to know to what degree when reading comparisons.

Personally, I am biased towards innovation even if it costs more. In your writeup you show obvious bias against steering components made by RC. Not a big deal since you make it known upfront, and it helps readers understand that your opinions on this particular part aren't based on the part itself but previous experiences with the company.

You wheel hard, contribute a great deal to this community, and are always looking to improve. I hope you don't take what I've said as a slight of any kind.

Not at all! You speak truth! I definitely do have bias lol. I tried to hide it but not hard enough. we are totally fine. I also understand that there are a vast difference in opinions so I welcome opposite opinions!

 

[RubyRedGT]

Great thread. Does anyone know if BB drivers-side bushing is removable? Just installed 74Weld Stage 1 this week. The BB bushing is great but I’d like to replace BB drivers-side bushing with the one that came with 74Weld kit.

 

[Broncenstien]

Please write another article on preventing broken CVs from lifting bronco.

I’m trying suspension straps to prevent over articulation.

 

[popo_patty]

I’m trying suspension straps to prevent over articulation.

Bison off-road makes a kit!

 

[MEDISN]

Great write up. So far the HOSS 3.0 is holding up well (WT 2023) on stock rig. Will bookmark this post for the future.

 

[mcinfantry]

Just my observation; when guys here don’t know what they’re talking about, they tend to devolve into troupes such as political nonsense, conspiracies, and other foolishness.

This forum is a place to learn and discuss options. Nothing wrong with being new or not knowing, but when it’s clear that a thread DOES have some members who DO know what they’re talking about, it’s best to read and soak up some knowledge. Ok to ask questions for clarification and whatnot, but beyond that, wish guys would leave the agendas within their own heads.

The OP @popo_patty, @Bmadda, @Snacktime, @mpeugeot, you, and a host of others I’ve failed to mention, either have shops, are hard core wheelers, or hard core DIY wrenchers and share some serious knowledge and experiences on here regularly FOR FREE! It’s great. Hell, even auto journalists and YouTubers hang out here, read the comments from members, then go to publish or make vids. No, everyone isn’t an expert nor needs to be, but when learning, just learn, don’t hijack an informative thread with hot air.

Hope that makes sense?

I started the RC thread and bought the RC bushings and ran my rig in moab….. If my rack were to explode, ill use the $300 i saved on a 74 weld rack or at minimum a hoss 3.0.

 

[Broncenstien]

Bison off-road makes a kit!

Actually I reached out to them because I wanted to use their mounting hardware, but the bison strap kits only works up to 6 inch lift. Of course I have a 7inch…. … Rough Country lift. So I just mounted bigger straps to the top and bottom shock mounts.

Bison off-road makes a kit!
L

 

[Broncenstien]

I started the RC thread and bought the RC bushings and ran my rig in moab….. If my rack were to explode, ill use the $300 i saved on a 74 weld rack or at minimum a hoss 3.0.

I did the same, for the same reason! How much different can plastic spacers be?

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

I did the same, for the same reason! How much different can plastic spacers be?

Seriously? Well, plastic. And on a 5000lb vehicle no less with sustained heavy impacts.

So, as @mcinfantry stated, he’s acutely aware of the risks, but has accepted them. Why? Budget is likely, but that’s understandable. He and the wife went on an epic trip where they had to purchase several items for their new Bronco. Unless someone is rich, you gotta cut costs someplace.

However, what he also knows, is that those plastic bushings are likely temporary (couple of years maybe) since he wheels and he already has a plan for what to do next.

That 74Weld rack is a dream for me due to the cost while I continue to overpay for my Bronco , but I”m not likely heading out to Moab in the next 2-3 years either, nor will I personally go to 37s, if ever. It’s possible he’s buying some time; not sure, but the fact that he’s thought it out, is what makes it the smart move. Plus, they had an awesome adventure and we’ve enjoyed the pics and story of it, and he made it home; win!

RC stuff is cheap; let’s be honest and face that fact. However, there is a place in the market for them, as not everyone has max budget or wheel often enough to justify the outlay of funds.

In a perfect world, I’d already have the full Baja Kits set up, with Kings, 37s, and the 74Weld rack….. but my world is far from perfect, so I make do and figure shit out like many of you, and that’s just fine.

 

[mcinfantry]

Seriously? Well, plastic. And on a 5000lb vehicle no less with sustained heavy impacts.

So, as @mcinfantry stated, he’s acutely aware of the risks, but has accepted them. Why? Budget is likely, but that’s understandable. He and the wife went on an epic trip where they had to purchase several items for their new Bronco. Unless someone is rich, you gotta cut costs someplace.

However, what he also knows, is that those plastic bushings are likely temporary (couple of years maybe) since he wheels and he already has a plan for what to do next.

That 74Weld rack is a dream for me due to the cost while I continue to overpay for my Bronco , but I”m not likely heading out to Moab in the next 2-3 years either, nor will I personally go to 37s, if ever. It’s possible he’s buying some time; not sure, but the fact that he’s thought it out, is what makes it the smart move. Plus, they had an awesome adventure and we’ve enjoyed the pics and story of it, and he made it home; win!

RC stuff is cheap; let’s be honest and face that fact. However, there is a place in the market for them, as not everyone has max budget or wheel often enough to justify the outlay of funds.

In a perfect world, I’d already have the full Baja Kits set up, with Kings, 37s, and the 74Weld rack….. but my world is far from perfect, so I make do and figure shit out like many of you, and that’s just fine.

Theres NO support where RC/BB/74 adds support. So sell yourself on why or what you think is ‘better’ also im aware taht a deep dive by ford will probably result in warranty denial…


Ive built a couple rigs from the ground up. Hydro assist, one tons, etc.
looking and reading the plastic, is plastic. In my use/application i see the bushing as support. ANY support, my opinion, is better than none.

I have the money to buy portals, dont have the NEED, in my position in life today. Im still teetering on moving west and building a wc56 with a cummins 2.8 resto mod on 40’s. Sort of a last hurrah. But right now i can change tie rod ends, on my sasquatch bronco on 35’s in a couple minutes…. With my RC bushings….

if im going to negate a warranty for suspension then why not build a truly one off??

swapping to hoss 3.0 or 74 weld negates my steering rack warranty. So while i have the money and ability, why? I can change TRE in the field and get home. Blow the rack? Yeah pain in my a**… but its warranty at the cost of a tow… so im hedging my bets for now. I have steering rod braces…. But dont use them… i also dont skinny pedal destroy my vehicles anymore.

my budget limits at this time is my rationale, not my finances….. i stopped living paycheck to paycheck a loooong time ago.

And as i said in my other post…. This bronco is about as 90% as anything ive built, and it has a warranty Someone else has to do, as opposed to me warrantying my work.

 

[MadMan4BamaNATL]

Theres NO support where RC/BB/74 adds support. So sell yourself on why or what you think is ‘better’ also im aware taht a deep dive by ford will probably result in warranty denial…


Ive built a couple rigs from the ground up. Hydro assist, one tons, etc.
looking and reading the plastic, is plastic. In my use/application i see the bushing as support. ANY support, my opinion, is better than none.

I have the money to buy portals, dont have the NEED, in my position in life today. Im still teetering on moving west and building a wc56 with a cummins 2.8 resto mod on 40’s. Sort of a last hurrah. But right now i can change tie rod ends, on my sasquatch bronco on 35’s in a couple minutes…. With my RC bushings….

if im going to negate a warranty for suspension then why not build a truly one off??

swapping to hoss 3.0 or 74 weld negates my steering rack warranty. So while i have the money and ability, why? I can change TRE in the field and get home. Blow the rack? Yeah pain in my a**… but its warranty at the cost of a tow… so im hedging my bets for now. I have steering rod braces…. But dont use them… i also dont skinny pedal destroy my vehicles anymore.

my budget limits at this time is my rationale, not my finances….. i stopped living paycheck to paycheck a loooong time ago.

And as i said in my other post…. This bronco is about as 90% as anything ive built, and it has a warranty Someone else has to do, as opposed to me warrantying my work.

Wasn’t implying you’re broke man or anything. Saying you were making a rational decision and a plan for if something goes wrong.

Definitely agree on TREs not being a big deal. Hell, they’re meant to fail to save your rack. Think YouTubers very much oversounded the alarm with that. Where the criticism is for me is that Ford hasn’t upgraded the rack for the Badlands. Nor given Badlands the HOSS 3.0, but I digress.

No, I don’t like the plastic, but also saw that you understood what that means and it’s a part of how you use it.

By contrast, most readers here do not know how to change a tie rod on a trail and likely don’t even go out with what would be necessary to do so or anything beyond maybe a tire change, so overbuilt components and careful driving should be safer path home for most, because not all can turn a wrench.

 

[Broncenstien]

Wasn’t implying you’re broke man or anything. Saying you were making a rational decision and a plan for if something goes wrong.

Definitely agree on TREs not being a big deal. Hell, they’re meant to fail to save your rack. Think YouTubers very much oversounded the alarm with that. Where the criticism is for me is that Ford hasn’t upgraded the rack for the Badlands. Nor given Badlands the HOSS 3.0, but I digress.

No, I don’t like the plastic, but also saw that you understood what that means and it’s a part of how you use it.

By contrast, most readers here do not know how to change a tie rod on a trail and likely don’t even go out with what would be necessary to do so or anything beyond maybe a tire change, so overbuilt components and careful driving should be safer path home for most, because not all can turn a wrench.

I was just stating that I assumed my rack is gonna go out at some point with the lift and tires I’m running. So I decided to save $300 and add the RC Bushings that are plastic (same as the rest) to give me time on the stock rack. Then upgrade as soon as needed.

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