FundamentalMotorsports
New member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2024
- Messages
- 3
Good morning everyone, my name is Mike and I am the owner of Fundamental Motorsports, and we love bumps and jumps! I own a 2020 Gladiator (manual trans, manual windows, manual locks) and I have spent a lot of time developing a very competitive suspension for that platform. I now also own a 2021 (3rd Gen) Raptor which is being used for our next development projects.
The focus at FM is to leverage advanced manufacturing technologies to make very light weight suspension products (shocks, control arms, steering knuckles, etc.). One of our first major developments was a true 3.0 bypass shock for the JT. This shock uses a 2.75in piston unlike Fox’s 3.0 IBP’s and has a ton of bypass zones (much improved vs. King’s IBP). At the same time the current design is about 7.5lbs. lighter per shock than a standard 3.0 external 3 zone bypass with external cooling circuit. We actually used the Fox 3.0 bypass for the Raptor to baseline our performance, and good news for the 3rd Gen family, we will have a true 3.0 shock and coilover package ready by Q3/Q4 next year.
We tested the initial concept in Baja during the NORRA 1000 and exceeded expectations. It might be hard to believe, but our Gladiator was passing Raptors in the whoops on our way to El Rosario on day 1. We didn’t pass by much, but it was enough for all the Raptor drivers take notice and ask what the hell did we do to the Gladiator.
Unfortunately, our little D44 rear let go on day 2, so we had to pull the ring gear and rear drive shaft and run the next 1100 miles in 4wd. Our front axle did not have a locker so we just peg-legged it the whole time, then drove it back home.
As we are working on the next design revision of the shock, we have also started working on upper control arms for the Raptor. We see a lot of billet aluminum components out there and we feel we have a great design that can be made from titanium or an incredibly strong nickel alloy while outlasting the aluminum version. The control arm is a little less involved with getting into production, so we are hoping by Q2 next year we have products ready to go.
As our business grows we plan to expand product offerings to other vehicles aligned with the goal of maximizing performance while minimizing weight, and in a lot of cases actually reducing weight.
That’s all for a quick introduction, and we hope to share some awesome news about the shocks, coilovers, and uppers by Christmas.
Feel free to reach out with questions here, or connect@fundamentalmotorsports.com
Stay dusty!
The focus at FM is to leverage advanced manufacturing technologies to make very light weight suspension products (shocks, control arms, steering knuckles, etc.). One of our first major developments was a true 3.0 bypass shock for the JT. This shock uses a 2.75in piston unlike Fox’s 3.0 IBP’s and has a ton of bypass zones (much improved vs. King’s IBP). At the same time the current design is about 7.5lbs. lighter per shock than a standard 3.0 external 3 zone bypass with external cooling circuit. We actually used the Fox 3.0 bypass for the Raptor to baseline our performance, and good news for the 3rd Gen family, we will have a true 3.0 shock and coilover package ready by Q3/Q4 next year.
We tested the initial concept in Baja during the NORRA 1000 and exceeded expectations. It might be hard to believe, but our Gladiator was passing Raptors in the whoops on our way to El Rosario on day 1. We didn’t pass by much, but it was enough for all the Raptor drivers take notice and ask what the hell did we do to the Gladiator.
Unfortunately, our little D44 rear let go on day 2, so we had to pull the ring gear and rear drive shaft and run the next 1100 miles in 4wd. Our front axle did not have a locker so we just peg-legged it the whole time, then drove it back home.
As we are working on the next design revision of the shock, we have also started working on upper control arms for the Raptor. We see a lot of billet aluminum components out there and we feel we have a great design that can be made from titanium or an incredibly strong nickel alloy while outlasting the aluminum version. The control arm is a little less involved with getting into production, so we are hoping by Q2 next year we have products ready to go.
As our business grows we plan to expand product offerings to other vehicles aligned with the goal of maximizing performance while minimizing weight, and in a lot of cases actually reducing weight.
That’s all for a quick introduction, and we hope to share some awesome news about the shocks, coilovers, and uppers by Christmas.
Feel free to reach out with questions here, or connect@fundamentalmotorsports.com
Stay dusty!
