Maverick Lobo Autocross Testing & Handling Upgrades

[Chops]

no, all Mavericks have that. someone saw it almost immediately in the first year of production, but others have still bought strut tower braces anyway - cosmetics, I guess?

Nothing wrong with cosmetics. Although some prefer the natural look.

Wonder if Ford put a strut brace on there for cosmetic purposes only?

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[alex lobos]

I've tried pressing the ESC button while in Lobo mode, but it doesn't seem to make any changes. I'll have to try holding it down for a few seconds & see if that does something. Hopefully Ford designed a way around it into the Lobo.

I'm waiting for someone to come out with tune for this thing that will fix these drivability issues + give it a launch mode. It's a bit sluggish off the line.

That’s because of the delay from the turbo waiting to spoil up. There’s like a 2sec delay

 

[colinl]

Wonder if Ford put a strut brace on there for cosmetic purposes only?

absolutely not, considering that it's mostly hidden and they did a lot of things to minimize cost and this brace just adds it.

I would guess that given the performance envelope of the vehicle, it might be primarily for crash resilience. bracing the strut tops is great for any vehicle, but when you're cornering a truck with a set of highway all-season 225s, you would not expect massive cornering forces.

 

[Chops]

absolutely not, considering that it's mostly hidden and they did a lot of things to minimize cost and this brace just adds it.

I would guess that given the performance envelope of the vehicle, it might be primarily for crash resilience. bracing the strut tops is great for any vehicle, but when you're cornering a truck with a set of highway all-season 225s, you would not expect massive cornering forces.

I agree with you that the OEM strut bar is effective. I installed mine not knowing there was an OEM strut bar.

 

[colinl]

That’s because of the delay from the turbo waiting to spoil up. There’s like a 2sec delay

that's actually not the main reason. turbo spool in anything other than 1st goes from vacuum while cruising to max boost in well under 2 sec, my datalogs are like 1.1 to 1.3 sec.

the reason it's slow off the line is that from the factory the ecu limits boost to about 3 psi when stopped (brake torquing), and limits it to like 13 psi in 1st gear even after you lift off the brake. I know you guys with '25s can't reflash tune yet, but I would believe the 25 does the same things as a stock 22-24. tuned you can kinda hit 20+ psi in first but it will quickly taper and then of course it's shifting to 3rd very quickly anyway.

livernois has a separate thing you have to enable in their tune for launch control so you can brake torque it.

cobb was testing launch control a year ago- I saw posts in a Maverick FB group where they tested 10, 13 and 17 psi brake torquing-- but to my knowledge, they never released it in their maps & tables and I do not know why. perhaps they broke their shop truck or found some driveability issues-- really, I don't know and they've never responded to questions about this feature.

 

[colinl]

I agree with you that the OEM strut bar is effective. I installed mine not knowing there was an OEM strut bar.

I took a lot of criticism for installing my strut bar - of course I expected that

Seems I was correct in their effectiveness. I’m not expecting any apologies though

not sure what you're referring to there but to be clear I would say the value of an aftermarket strut brace for cosmetics is subjective.

the effectiveness of an aftermarket strut brace for actual performance would be pretty tough to accurately measure. you'd need some sensors on the suspension and chassis.

what I take issue with is when someone installs something like that and says OMG IT'S SO GOOOD IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE I TOOK AN ONRAMP AT 72 THAT PREVIOUSLY I COULDN'T TAKE ANY FASTER THAN 57 MPH.

yeah, no. if you like it for any reason that's great. if you think it is doing a lot... maybe, but probably not.

 

[alex lobos]

that's actually not the main reason. turbo spool in anything other than 1st goes from vacuum while cruising to max boost in well under 2 sec, my datalogs are like 1.1 to 1.3 sec.

the reason it's slow off the line is that from the factory the ecu limits boost to about 3 psi when stopped (brake torquing), and limits it to like 13 psi in 1st gear even after you lift off the brake. I know you guys with '25s can't reflash tune yet, but I would believe the 25 does the same things as a stock 22-24. tuned you can kinda hit 20+ psi in first but it will quickly taper and then of course it's shifting to 3rd very quickly anyway.

livernois has a separate thing you have to enable in their tune for launch control so you can brake torque it.

cobb was testing launch control a year ago- I saw posts in a Maverick FB group where they tested 10, 13 and 17 psi brake torquing-- but to my knowledge, they never released it in their maps & tables and I do not know why. perhaps they broke their shop truck or found some driveability issues-- really, I don't know and they've never responded to questions about this feature.

2025 LOBO

 

[colinl]

2025 LOBO

JB4 all day. sell it or put it in another vehicle you own when/if they unlock the '25 ECU.

 

[Sgt.Gator]

DMS, now that the truck has settled into your changes do you have final Toe, Camber, Caster, Ride Height numbers you can post?
Have you scaled it yet? I'd be interested in your corner weights with you or weights in the driver's seat.
Thanks for all the work you are doing.

 

[Chops]

not sure what you're referring to there..

the effectiveness of an aftermarket strut brace for actual performance would be pretty tough to accurately measure. you'd need some sensors on the suspension and chassis.

I meant to say only that I installed my aftermarket strut before learning about the OEM strut. I deleted the unnecessary smiley & frown comments - thanks!

Also, do you know offhand if the sensors used by the ESC are getting info from the suspension or chassis? I’ll research it myself but you might save me time or send me in right direction

 

[Chops]

Per Grok3, the sensors in all Mavericks use these for ESC:

“Based on the available information about Ford’s ESC systems, the following sensors are typically used in the AdvanceTrac system, which is standard on the Ford Maverick:
1. Wheel Speed Sensors
2. Steering Wheel Angle Sensor
3. Lateral Acceleration Sensor
4. Yaw Rate Sensor
5. Roll Rate Sensor
“

 

[DMS]

DMS, now that the truck has settled into your changes do you have final Toe, Camber, Caster, Ride Height numbers you can post?
Have you scaled it yet? I'd be interested in your corner weights with you or weights in the driver's seat.
Thanks for all the work you are doing.

Yep, I can get all those including corner weights. Should have time tomorrow to measure.

 

[colinl]

Per Grok3, the sensors in all Mavericks use these for ESC:

“Based on the available information about Ford’s ESC systems, the following sensors are typically used in the AdvanceTrac system, which is standard on the Ford Maverick:
1. Wheel Speed Sensors
2. Steering Wheel Angle Sensor
3. Lateral Acceleration Sensor
4. Yaw Rate Sensor
5. Roll Rate Sensor
“

yep. Ford does not allow traction control or stability management to be fully defeated, but the limits are pretty damn high in Lobo as well as the 22-24 Sand mode. I've found Sand mode plenty capable of mischief on a gravel road or in the snow, if you go looking for it. I would guess Lobo mode would do the same.

 

[PepeXL]

Hell of a post. Can't wait to see the updates. Helps me see what I need to start with on The Wolf!

 

[PepeXL]

We had none sent to OK from factory. Special order only, and currently only 15-19 registered in the state total.

That being said I love it that way, and hope its a 1 or 2 year deal then dropped with both the maverick and f150. ESPECIALLY because of my turbofan rims lol

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