The Lightning Returns!

[Blmpkn]

Cool piece of information from one of my supplier - Ford is having the axles on the new F-150 Lightning gun drilled so they can charge 3x as much for replacements

 

[bobbywalter]

Cool piece of information from one of my supplier - Ford is having the axles on the new F-150 Lightning gun drilled to save weight..

...Well, I found it interesting...

That is ignorant.


They have to be done that way to take the trainload of torque that has never been available in a passenger vehicle before.


You can harden and property the alloys in a specific way to take radical twist....anybody that wheels high power in rock has been doing it for decades to get 35 or 40 spline full floater 9 inch axles to live with 44 in plus tires.....instead of running massive 14 bolts or larger axles.

 

[don4331]

That is ignorant.


They have to be done that way to take the trainload of torque that has never been available in a passenger vehicle before.


You can harden and property the alloys in a specific way to take radical twist....anybody that wheels high power in rock has been doing it for decades to get 35 or 40 spline full floater 9 inch axles to live with 44 in plus tires.....instead of running massive 14 bolts or larger axles.

It isn't ignorant - I can give you all the engineering bs on how the center of a shaft is basically just along for the ride if you want.

When I was drag racing in '80s, 40 spline gun drilled axles were 10% lighter and >50% stronger than 35 spline solid axles in Ford 9"/Dana 60s.​

​

No argument that having center hole does allow easier thru hardening as you aren't fighting the mass/distance to center.

And none that the torque curve of electric motor is very different - maximum occurring just before motor stalls which is very different from an ICE.

 

[bobbywalter]

It is instant. Very different.


The decision was made the hard way due to failure.

You don't spend that kind of coin unless you have to. They already sell 4 digit torque diesels.

That weight is justifiable in a one ton..or 450 or 550 where the mass and braking for 30 k is needed.......but in a 1/2 ton Luxo barge that you want to float on a quiet cloud powered by lightning......a Dana 2000 is going to cut into the battery pack weight....and unsprung weight like a mofo.


I conflated your post with the "fixed" post.....

Though....the lightest strongest is the gun barrel. Not cheap. And deemed necessary.

You won't believe what has gone into this truck....it ghosted the 150 diesel...

Of course I hated that pos the second I seen it....and after running Ike and Vail in my powerboost.....good riddance.


The tight secrecy here eclipses the bronco.

 

[Dirtman]

My butt itches

 

[don4331]

I think you'd be very lucky to only pay 3x. Changing from solid axles from 1039 (OEM steel commonly used in bolt in axles)/1050 (Common steel for "C" clips) with induction hardening for only the outer 0.125-0.150" to gun drilled axels from 4340 or 300M* which are thru hardened might have you thinking you are purchasing airplane parts.

*I hope they aren't having to run more exotic steels (read expensive) than 4340 or 300M.