We Put $5,000 Brakes on our $500 Ranger
Summary
TLDRIn this exhilarating video, the team embarks on a thrilling adventure to transform a $500 Ford Ranger into a desert racing machine for the Nora 500. They invest in significant upgrades, including a Willwood front and rear brake kit, new wheels, and tires, aiming to enhance the truck's performance and stopping power. The video documents the meticulous process of installation, testing, and the triumphs and challenges faced along the way, culminating in a series of tests that showcase the truck's improved capabilities. The team's determination and ingenuity shine through as they push the Ranger to its limits, proving that with the right upgrades, even a modest vehicle can become a formidable off-road competitor.
Takeaways
- 🚗 The Ford Ranger was purchased for $500 with plans to race in the Nora 500.
- 💰 Major upgrades were required for the truck to survive the desert race, including a $5,000 investment in a Willwood front and rear brake kit and other accessories.
- 🔧 Upgrades included new wheels, tires, front hubs, knuckles, and rear end components to handle the increased force and power.
- 🏎️ The team replaced the stock drum brake system with a disc brake system for better heat dissipation, responsiveness, and reliability.
- 🔩 The installation process involved preparing axles and hubs, installing calipers and rotors, and adding a brake proportioning valve for optimal braking balance.
- 🛠️ Modifications were necessary to fit the new components, such as cutting and welding parts to ensure compatibility with the upgrade kit.
- 🏜️ Testing was conducted in California City to evaluate the performance of the upgraded suspension, brakes, and tires.
- 🏁 The truck's 0-60 mph time improved by almost 5 seconds with the new tires, despite the added weight.
- 🛡️ Despite the improvements, there were still safety and durability concerns to address, such as the drive shaft support and the need for a longer drive shaft.
- 🎽 Merchandise related to the Baja blaster build was released, including a new shirt, sticker, and hat.
- 🏁 The overall lap time improved significantly after the upgrades, showcasing the truck's enhanced capabilities.
Q & A
What was the initial purchase price of the Ford Ranger mentioned in the script?
-The initial purchase price of the Ford Ranger was $500.
What race event are the characters planning to participate in with their Ford Ranger?
-The characters are planning to participate in the Nora 500 race event in the deserts of Mexico.
What upgrades were made to the suspension in the previous video mentioned in the script?
-The suspension was upgraded, though specific details of the upgrades are not provided in the script.
How much did the Willwood front and rear brake kit and other braking accessories cost?
-The Willwood front and rear brake kit and other braking accessories cost a total of $5,000.
What type of tires were purchased for the Ford Ranger?
-Raceline Rhinos tires were purchased, which are 37 inches tall and have a bead lock to physically grab onto the tire and keep it on the wheel.
What is the purpose of the proportioning valve installed in the engine bay?
-The proportioning valve modulates how much brake fluid can get through to the rear axle, affecting the bias between front and rear braking, for better control and responsiveness.
What was the outcome of the 0 to 60 mph speed test after the upgrades?
-After the upgrades, the 0 to 60 mph speed test resulted in a time of 30.78 seconds, which is almost 5 seconds faster than the previous test.
How did the upgraded brakes perform during the braking and cornering test?
-The upgraded brakes performed excellently, allowing the truck to stop much shorter than before and with better control.
What issue occurred with the drive shaft during the testing?
-The drive shaft support bearing was completely gone, causing the drive shaft to move excessively and require a replacement for the remainder of the testing.
What was the overall improvement in the truck's performance after the series of upgrades?
-The overall improvement included better braking, increased tire grip, enhanced suspension capability, and a faster lap time in testing, making the truck significantly more capable off-road.
What future upgrades are hinted at in the script for the Baja Blaster project?
-Future upgrades hinted at include adding more power, as well as safety equipment such as harnesses, seats, a hood, and fenders.
Outlines
🚜 Upgrades and Preparations for the Baja Blaster
The script begins with the narrator discussing their plans to upgrade a Ford Ranger they bought for $500, with the goal of racing in the Nora 500 in Mexico. They detail the previous suspension upgrades and the need for better brakes, leading to the purchase of a Willwood front and rear brake kit and other accessories for $5,000. The plan includes upgrading wheels and tires, adding more power, and testing the new components in California City. The script outlines the process of installing the new brakes, preparing the axles and hubs, and the importance of reliable braking components for the upcoming desert racing.
🔧 Brake Installation and Tire Selection
This paragraph focuses on the installation of the new Willwood brake system, including the challenges of fitting the rear brakes and the decision to switch from drum to disc brakes for improved performance. The narrator discusses the benefits of the new brakes, such as better heat dispersion and responsiveness. They also introduce the new 37-inch Raceline Rhino tires, chosen for their strength and ability to handle low pressures, which are crucial for off-road racing. The paragraph concludes with the assembly of the wheels and the anticipation of the truck's enhanced capabilities with the new upgrades.
🏎️ Testing the Upgraded Ranger
The team sets up various tests to evaluate the performance of the upgraded Ranger, including straight-line speed, braking and cornering, loose wash traction, and whoop section tests. Despite a driveshaft issue, the truck performs well, with improved acceleration and handling due to the new tires and suspension. The tests demonstrate the truck's ability to handle larger bumps and the effectiveness of the new brakes in controlling the truck's speed and momentum.
🌟 Final Testing and lap Time Achievement
After addressing minor issues, the team conducts a comprehensive test lap to assess the overall performance of the Ranger. The truck excels in all tests, including navigating a muddy section without getting stuck, thanks to the new tires' grip. The final lap time is significantly improved, almost a full minute faster than before, showcasing the effectiveness of the upgrades. The narrator expresses satisfaction with the truck's performance and readiness to tackle more challenging off-road scenarios.
💰 Reflecting on the Progress and Future Plans
The script concludes with the team reflecting on the progress made, acknowledging the $20,000 investment in the Ranger and the remaining tasks, such as adding safety equipment and addressing the power issue. Despite the challenges, the team is optimistic about the truck's potential, considering it the best they've owned. They plan to return to the shop to work on the next phase of upgrades, aiming to enhance the truck's power and overall off-road capabilities.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ford Ranger
💡Nora 500
💡Suspension Upgrades
💡Willwood Brake Kit
💡Wheels and Tires
💡Proportioning Valve
💡Drive Shaft
💡Off-Road Testing
💡Baja Blaster
💡Merchandise
💡Sponsorship
Highlights
The Ford Ranger was purchased for $500 with plans to participate in the Nora 500 desert race.
Major upgrades are necessary for the Ranger to survive the desert race, including a new suspension system.
A Willwood front and rear brake kit was purchased for $5,000 to improve the truck's stopping power.
Wheels and tires are also being upgraded to handle the increased force and power of the modified vehicle.
The front hubs and knuckles, as well as the rear end, are being upgraded to accommodate the additional power and force.
The team plans to test the new suspension, brakes, and wheels in California City before heading to the desert.
The Camberg racing rear end is being installed for better performance and ease of assembly.
A 10-inch Evan Weller third member is used, which provides power to both axles simultaneously without slip.
Knuckles from a four-wheel-drive truck are used for their strength and durability, despite the need for modification.
The team is using a proportioning valve to modulate brake fluid distribution between the front and rear axles for optimal braking performance.
The new disc brake system replaces the stock drum brake system, significantly improving braking capabilities.
Raceline Rhinos tires, known for their strength and ability to run at low pressures, are chosen for their performance in off-road conditions.
The new tires and suspension upgrades allow the truck to handle larger bumps and provide a more enjoyable off-road experience.
The team conducts various tests, including straight-line speed, braking and cornering, loose wash traction, and whoop section tests.
The upgraded truck achieves a 0-60 mph time of 30.78 seconds, nearly 5 seconds faster than before.
The new brakes and tires significantly improve the truck's stopping distance and control.
The truck easily navigates a riverbed test, showcasing the effectiveness of the new tires and suspension.
Despite a few scares and a drive shaft issue, the truck performs exceptionally well in the whoop section, demonstrating its off-road capability.
The overall lap time improves by almost a full minute, highlighting the effectiveness of the upgrades.
The team acknowledges the need for additional modifications, such as safety equipment and more power, to fully realize the truck's potential.
Transcripts
all right you got it Max
Speed we bought this Ford Ranger for
$500 and soon we'll be racing through
the deserts of Mexico in the Nora 500
but before we do that we need to make
some major upgrades in order to survive
yeah in the last video we upgraded the
suspension as you may be able to see and
as much as we would love to take the
truck to the desert right now and see
how good that new suspension is and we
probably need the truck to be able to
stop yeah so to do that we bought this
willwood front and rear brake kit along
with some other braking accessories for
a grand total of
$5,000 we're also upgrading our wheels
and tires and plan to add some more
power at some point so to handle all
that extra Force we have to upgrade our
front hubs and Knuckles as well as our
rear
end once we get our new brakes installed
we'll take it back to California City to
test them alongside our new wheels and
tires and the suspension that we
installed last
week so what do you say let's in all
this stuff so we can head to the desert
let's do
it okay quick plan of attack we'll need
to prepare our nude axles and hubs then
we'll put the calipers and rotors on the
rear axle then go to the front we need
to put a brake proportioning valve
somewhere in the engine bay and Plum the
lines from that valve to the calipers
that we installed we're going to be
putting a lot of force on these things
so we're going to try to make sure they
don't break so we've got some beefy
components here axles hubs Knuckles the
whole thing so we got Dean and Dean
knows how to do this stuff so he's going
to help us finish up in the time that we
have left we got to get cracking we got
this camberg racing rear end a lot of
the time you have to buy your brakes
axles differential and housing all
separate but cambering actually sells
these as complete packages which takes a
lot of the work off our hands we're
getting this axle all checked out make
sure our axle lengths are correct I have
these axles sitting around at my place
so hopefully they're the same thing the
odds of the axles fitting are about 98
99% as long as can use a tape measure
right we should be good so what we got
here is a 10-in Evan Weller third member
and this third member it runs what it's
called a school both axles will spin at
the same time there is no slip it's just
all power to the ground all the
time on the
[Music]
money we've got knuckles for the ranger
because they're big they're strong
they're beefy they're from a four-wheel
drive truck so they're built for heavy
duty stuff this is not a perfect bolt-in
solution though this line right here we
got to cut all this stuff off so it
works with the kit that we have got a
cutting wheel going to give that a shot
and uh just Lop all that stuff
[Applause]
[Music]
off that didn't
[Applause]
[Music]
work so uh while modifying these
Knuckles here I did go a little
overboard with the cutting wheel uh cut
in just past you know um it happens when
you're cutting 90° two ways you know I
don't know yeah dude not to you I guess
CU job's the master I would never say
that I want to fill this up it's not
structural at all so I it's not like a
safety concern it's just more of
Cosmetics I want to fill this in with
some wire some welds and then sand it
off make it look nice before we go ahead
and paint
it hell
yeah it looks
like but I'm gonna you know wait you're
already done yeah I fill it in it does
not look good Joby but uh you know a
grinder and paint makes me the welder I
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today's breaking news now back to the
[Music]
ranger all right it's time to slap this
stuff together and see if we've got the
clearance we need to have
brakes oh
yeah
clears I believe this needs to go on the
back of that red anodized piece
hopefully we don't have to take it off
to do that so here we
go clears The
Hub it doesn't go over oh oh oh is it
like a little puzzle
oh that was going to suck that didn't go
that was going to really suck job all
those years playing Uncharted really
paid off that was some Adventure
puzzle this is a pretty big freaking
rotor pretty massive willwood four
piston uh caler as well I mean the
clamping force on these wheels is going
to be awesome and we need a lot of
braking power since we're putting 37in
tires on this thing that's a lot of
rotational Mass the wheels and tires
together weigh 120 lb and you know when
you're going let's say 100 m an hour
that has a lot of momentum going around
in the circle so you need to clamp down
as hard as you can and I think these
wheel Woods are going to help us get a
done just a little bit little dab will
do you just at flying some anti- Seas on
the back of the brake pads here just to
keep the system from binding up and
squeaking making noise better braking
operation that is something you should
really be doing uh on your daily driver
for sure and will only make the Baja
Blaster that much better to
drive so satisfying it's notched out so
just stays right there willwood rules
dud well noie what do we think how's it
coming all right well the rear brakes
are done they're not plummed up or
anything yeah sure yeah but the cool
stuff's done the cool stuff is done the
biggest change that we are getting with
this willwood system is that we're going
from a drum Brak system that came on the
truck stock to a disc brake system a
pretty beefy one at that job disc brakes
are pretty much better than drums in
every respect some recent Vehicles still
come with drums on the rear that's a
proven system they're cheap to
manufacture
but you can't beat a not to mention the
Ste that comes along with it that's
right buddy looks great dude thanks and
it be clear our upgraded brakes will
disperse heat better be more responsive
and more reliable however they won't
directly help us stop faster that's more
of a feature of our new
tires we got tires 37 in tall and we got
some raceline rhinos it's forged so it's
going to be super strong and it's a bead
loock to physically grab onto the tire
and keep it on the wheel without blowing
the beads off so we can run super low
pressures and get out of any tricky
situations they're going to be huge
they're going to be heavy they're going
to look great we just have to put them
together which means about a th000 bolts
need to go into these wheels so I've got
many hands boys them things are dirty
dude give me them clean
wheels
1080 that's my guy look at
that oh my god dude the
[Music]
difference wow wow wow wow you versus
the guy she tells you not to worry about
am I right all right I mean this truck
was pretty fun to wheel in a stock form
it was like pretty capable now just
seeing like the sheer size difference
gives you a really good idea of like how
capable the truck's going to be when
it's not only fully completed but even
just with the suspension system that we
have on there and these tires it's going
to be able to take much bigger bumps and
also with these really big blocky tires
here I think that River wash is going to
be uh pretty fun now let's continue with
the
[Music]
build all right so we've got a
proportioning valve here from willwood
this is a pretty nifty bit of Kit and
it's pretty simple the way it works is
it's got two inlets one for the front
axle one for the rear axle for your
brake power coming out of the master
cylinder this knob here modulates how
much brake fluid can get through to the
rear axle and by changing that amount
you affect the bias overall if you dial
out braking in the rear well you've got
more front bias if you dial up braking
in the rear you got less front bias so
it's pretty simple just got to make a
couple lines get a couple fittings on
here and then we'll be dialed
[Laughter]
in okay I'm starting to wonder if this
is the right fitting just trying to
thread in this fitting for one of the
front output lines from the
proportioning valve and for the life of
me I can't get it started I thought that
I was pretty sure this is the right
fitting but starting to think might be
wrong theme of the video the theme of
the video and all the videos and our
lives thus far we've got cool brakes but
I can't find the hardware with which to
install them so I'm going to keep
looking and uh yeah maybe have to go buy
some more
bolts so we have our our cables here uh
we've got a few of them Adam is
currently at the king of hammers he's
the one who ordered all these and
devised the braking system uh but he did
not leave us a drawing or any sort of
schematics or a heads up or you know
like hey here's a here's what I was
thinking I think we can figure it out I
think we can do it it's only breaks on a
race
car it's fine
so we're replacing our original hard
lines from the factory with these longer
braided lines they're more durable uh
and they're longer which we need because
now we have a lot more suspension travel
so our brakes are going to be further
away from the truck than they used to be
we need some extra line to make that
work so that's what these are going to
do they'll give us plenty of clearance
plenty of travel and they're very tough
so even if they do rub on something
which we're going to try to avoid they
won't immediately blow apart so it's
also going to be more resistant to
bulging which the stock stock rubber
lines would have been especially as they
get older and degrade when you put a
bunch of pressure on the brake pedal you
can bulge those lines and then your
pressure is going into the line rather
than into your brakes and slowing you
down we won't have that problem with
these no matter how hard we're pushing
on the pedal all the pressure is going
straight to the caliper to slow this
thing
[Music]
down W he saves the day again with some
fittings and lines cuz as usual we
missing a bunch of
stuff but now we're back in business
right no more trips to the hardware
store right
guys all right the brakes are officially
on the truck jooby we got bleed them and
then head to the desert for some
dessert hey it's me from the future now
before we hit the desert I wanted to
show you a new shirt that we made
specifically for the Baja blaster you
can see it's got the ranger on there
ripping through the desert and there's
even a little frog trying not to get run
over it's available in washed black and
natural and we even made a long sleeve
version for those chilly Desert Nights
and what's more we're also releasing a
new sticker and a new brown logo hat get
it all now at donut media.com and give
it the
[Music]
beans and we're back at the cctt DD what
does that stand for California City
Trophy Truck donut drum perfect we have
four different scenarios set up to test
all of our upgrades we have a straight
line speed test a braking and cornering
test a loose wash traction test and
finally a whoop section that means
jumps to see how much the weight has
affected the acceleration and power of
our truck we're starting off with our 0
to 60 test we've set up the same half
mile course here last time we hadit 34.9
seconds so we got a stopwatch here we're
going to see what Justin can do now what
do you think slow I think H yeah all
right Justin as long as you feel like
we're not about to explode uh you're
good to go we're checking it out I felt
the vibration and we're getting a little
bit of smoke so let me just diagnose
smoke oh sick okay well let us know I
guess he's got a vibration and a little
bit of smoke and he said he thinks it's
the drive shaft that drive shaft is
perilously close to the gas tank which
is one of the few things we really don't
want to rip open or have smoke yeah okay
it should just be something off the
exhaust we're good to
go okay on go 3 2 1
go he's already up the speed looks like
he's hauling look at that oh my God this
feels horrible but it feels faster
somehow 30 seconds 30.7 8 seconds so the
extra grip from the tires overcame the
added wait and got us across the line
almost 5 Seconds faster incredible it's
pretty cool something's making noise I
think that's the drive
shaft that was the scariest scariest 30
seconds of my life
[Music]
really the carrier is absolutely gone
our drive shaft support is completely
gone that carries the drive shaft just
kind of gives us some support in the
middle keeps it from doing a bunch of
this and it's not happy with the things
are at and uh uh it has left the chat
which isn't great you going to go grab
the part I'll go we'll go get it
yet here we
are got two of them not sure which one
we need one of them was a lot more
expensive than the other stupendous yes
one should work y for now this is
neither one of these is long for this
world I
think so this drive shaft is a stock
drive shaft and obviously our rear axle
differential all that is not stock and
we've got a lot more travel so we need a
longer drive shaft but we really only
need the stock drive shaft to get us
through today we just want to get
through this testing so while I do think
that even a new support bearing is not
going to solve our problems it will
hopefully get us through today that's
all I want trials and tribulations on
the
trails sounds good it looks smooth way
to go
Zach after that very fun Fiasco we're
back on the road the drive shaft is held
in place currently currently I don't
know what that beeping
is up next we've got our braking and
cornering test our new grippier tires
should let us stop faster and our new
brakes and proportioning valve should
let us do it with more control if you
remember last time we had a really hard
time stopping the truck no grip no grip
no grip so let's see how well this thing