How many manufactures use Hydroforming? Dodge seems to be making a big deal about its frames being Hydroformed

 

What a big diferens between C chanel and Hydroformed frames?And what is best?Can You explain,please.

 

C channel can be made with a steel break, basically just bent. C channel can be hydroformed as well to make complicated bends if needed. Hydroforming is most typically used in boxed frames, where high pressure liquid hits the steel with so much force, it actually causes the metal to bend. It makes it easy to bend square tubing into a proper shape for an automotive frame.

Boxed hydroformed frames are the strongest, followed by two pieces of C Channel welded together to make a boxed frame, and then finally C channel frames. C channel is find for most purposes in reality though, boxed frames are nice to have, but add un needed weight and can trap water.

Ever have a cheaper step ladder, and notice that its very easy to twist the legs of the ladder or make the ladder twist back and forth. You can't do that with boxed frames

 

So,what way use Ford fo F350,C chanel or Hydroformed frames?

 

The F-350 is a c- channel.

 

I understand,the C chanel is best,look this: YouTube - Video 2008 Ford SuperDuty - Frame Strength

 

the boxed or hydroformed frames on dodges and GMs are quite a bit weaker than the superduty C channel frames. Chevys, GMCs are super weak at the firewall area.

 

WOW grate to know that Fords are sooooooo much stronger then the rest.

Even tho Gm dodge use box frames.


I bet even the 150 box frame is stronger gthen the doDge Gm 1 ton frma.

 

I bet you'd be crazy to think that.

 

Im just going buy what a-rod is saying.

If the competshon is quite a bit weaker and the 150 is the strongest.

 

Actually the F-150 frames a pretty dang strong, Ive had to pull a few of them on the frame machine and I was impressed. I pull bent frames for a living so I kinda know whats tough and what isnt.

 

Ford! frame is better by far!

 

Good job resurrecting a dead thread. I swear, you must just search for every thread with Dodge, Chevy or Toyota, just to post in them.

 

IMO: I like the 99-04 superduty suspensions best, Followed by the Dodge, then the 05 up superduty. hate IFS in heavy trucks. GM HD frames may get the nod from me because they are BIG, then Ford , then Dodge.

As to the boxed frame thing, Most manufacturers say how stiff their frame is, there is a BIG difference between stiff and strong. IMO frame are like buildings, if the don't give a little under load, then they are eventually going to break.

 

Does Ford still have the Twin I Beam suspension ? I always liked the Ford frame,rear suspension....I drove a lot of Ford trucks, commercially about 35 years ago. Lots of overloads, E300's. E350 dually with 16-18 foot box, F350, F600/700, etc. Thousands of miles.

The only problem was that #$@% Twin I Beam suspension. Short mileage on tires, highway wandering, lots of steering correction on anything with a Twin I Beam.

I don't know if it's still around, or if they got it fixed in the ensuing years. Other than that, I ran plenty of overloads (not real big ones) and those Ford trucks did the job.