Structural Adhesive used in New F150

jerem0621 wrote:

The whole aluminum thing by itself is a case for my distrust, then the missing crash deflectors on the supercabs, and now learning that the F150 uses 'structural adhesive' just makes me want to steer away from the F150 (long time Ford guy here too.)

Just my opinion, but I think the aluminum body will be fine. GM and FCA will probably do the same in a few years. And, I'm sure the adhesive has been properly tested and will hold up well. I personally am just bothered about why they chose to leave off the crash deflectors on the regular cab and supercab models.

Golden_HVAC wrote:

Did it fall apart? Well one did over Hawaii a few years back, but usually it never happens, and they land without the front falling off.

For sure Boeing uses a lot of adhesives in their production of their aircraft, but that failure was due to corrosion/cracking of the cockpit to fuselage seam. It failed and allowed the cabin roof to tear off first class.
The 727 was a very old one too.

Well if you are looking for an adheasive that is put to abuse, while holding together aluminum in +120F degrees, then suddenly is -10 and pressurized to 8 PSI, think of the last time you where on a airplane.

Did it fall apart? Well one did over Hawaii a few years back, but usually it never happens, and they land without the front falling off.

However if you google 'front falls off' you will find something on youtube about this. . But it is rare, as the video will show.

And Ford did load test a aluminum body stamped out on the 2009 body stamps, and gave it to a mine! They tortured the truck a lot, and as a result, Ford decided to put in slightly thicker aluminum than what was used in the truck at the mine. So that body was 5 years old before they even told the mine workers they had a test bed on their F-150 worktruck.

Aluminum has been used in Range Rovers for many years in Africa they hold up much better than other brands of trucks . .. I would have thought that Range Rover would have stopped using aluminum by 1970, BECAUSE they lasted so long. .

Fred.

Grumman American Aircraft were bonded with epoxy, they are still flying after 40 years. When done properly the glue is better than bolts, nuts, and spot welds.