Munroe's F-150 Lightning Underbody Review (Independent Rear, Trailing Arm Suspension, Etc.)

[Mr. Flibble]

The detail begins! Undercarriage review of F-150 Lightning

Sponsored

 

[Maxx]

Looks like it should be less costly to do repair work on this than on a a RIvian. Looking foward to see what they find out about the motor.

 

[Greased Lightning! ⚡️]

I'm excited about the next gen and whether Ford will stay on the serviceability path or change to max range optimization. Like they said, this is the "first isolated pack they have seen, will it be the last?"

 

[petemill]

I'm still wondering what the two black plastic buckets on each edge under the cab are for? There doesn't seem to be anything in them nor do they seem protective or for aero.

 

[Maxx]

Do all new vehicles get this rusty this fast? Does anyone plan to paint/protect these?

 

[GarageMahal]

Yeah, I noticed that rust too. Pretty sure it is completely harmless but it does bug me cosmetically and wonder if there any risks to painting them.

 

[jerock]

I’ve noticed that rust on almost every review I’ve seen on the Lightning. I checked mine that just arrived today. No rust but probably will see it after driving in the first rain. My guess is it’s nothing to worry about

 

[sotek2345]

Well from their comments it is built like a brick shithouse and optimized for ruggedness and repairability vs. ease of assembly and weight reduction.

I am OK with that!

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

Do all new vehicles get this rusty this fast? Does anyone plan to paint/protect these?

My 2010 F150 came like that brand new and I had no issues with them for 12 years.

 

[Maxx]

My 2010 F150 came like that brand new and I had no issues with them for 12 years.

My current truck is 20 years old so I may need a larger sample

 

[Pioneer74]

While not very appealing to spend the money we are on these trucks and find those untreated parts rusting, that surface rust will not affect the life of those parts. They will probably outlive the battery.

 

[BennyTheBeaver]

I didn't know about the Air Dam, pretty cool.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I found this interesting, and am uploading some of my own PRO with Max Tow and Tow Tech and 9.6kw ProPower... and some things to point out, as well as some questions, after crawling around underneath this morning

:

Nice to have 'instructions' right on the TOWING CONNECTIONS : )

after 4,000 beautiful miles, I don't see much of any of the rust 'issues' some of the other Lightnings show on the wheel sets...

interesting find, though - some type of tiny shock/connection between the trailer arm and the frame, with a 'sensor', maybe... (?)

interesting find: a yellow 'donut' mounted below the frame... I'm guessing a 'bump stop' for the trailing arm, below.

view from above the trailing arm...

rear motor manufacturing labels...

the 'module' attached to the brake housing... I 'm guessing for the electronic 'braking'... 'one pedal' action, 'brake hold', 'electronic parking brake', etc.

found that it looks like I have TWO units mounted above the rear motor, below the bed... while it could be either INVERTERS, since I have 9.6kw ProPower, or could be COOLING UNITS, since I have MAX TOW... I'm going with Cooling Units since I see LIQUID LINES coming from both...

rear bumper wiring and harnesses for various sensors, power to rear OUTLETS, etc.

several 'connectors' around the truck are not in 'use'...or they are for potential tie-ins for 12v power/signals... I don't have 'zone lighting' and some other upgrades that these might be integral parts of the 'stock' wiring harnesses.

another 'end view' of one of the rear COOLING UNITS...

some views down the length of the truck, under the door areas... showing partially the inside of the plastic 'covers' that run a good length of the battery - I'm guessing these are for additional protection of the battery pack, although they seem fairly flimsy - could also be for 'aero' ... rock protection, etc. Also, the runs of hydraulics to rear brakes, power lines to the rear outlets, and even my additional aftermarket 'running board' mounting brackets.

a view toward the rear 'power connections'... which looks like exit/enter a different module from the battery pack - probably the INVERTER.

right behind the FRONT WHEELS - the power entry/exit from the BATTERY PACK... a wiring cluster, for sure, all behind and underneath the 'frunk' insert... including brake hydraulics and air conditioning routing... and what looks like a torsion bar... and lower 'guard'.

below the front passenger wheel well, and maybe mounted on the frame, some type of 'module' that is peaking thru, under the frunk...

and I found this interesting 'foam' type box that a cooling hose enters/exits at the rear, right below the front of the motor... maybe rock protection for the cooling hose/connection to the motor...

 

[hturnerfamily]

and a few notes about the discussion from the Munro team:

The automatic 'aero dam' drops down at 45+ mph...

The radiator is certainly laying at 45degrees or so, and interestingly is used in the OPPOSITE way of an ICE vehicle - meaning that the radiator is for cooling the battery mainly when the truck is PARKED, and typically while it is CHARGING, especially DC Charging, which creates a lot of heat. The FAN comes on as needed, and the front radiator self-opening VENTS deploy automatically, as needed. So, the radiator doesn't need to stand 'up' as in most other vehicles.

The didn't mention at all the plastic 'covers' that run along the sides of the battery pack... interesting that they didn't point that out since they are so into 'why' manufacturers do certain things.

 

[hturnerfamily]

and here's the front of the BATTERY PACK, with high-voltage 240v and 120v connections and a LIQUID Cooling line on each end...

from the driver side...

the passenger side...