irs vs fully built solid axle

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Torinalth

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Jul 16, 2002

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Clayton NC

Oct 6, 2005

#1

• Oct 6, 2005

• #1

reading another post i had a thought... IRS has always been touted as the best rear end for cornering.... however how would it compare to the GTs stick with a panhard rod and trilink/TA?

not knowing enough about the IRS, my question is, would you still neeed a panhard rod, or a rotation management piece (TA)? seems i dont ever see any for them, so i am kinda dubious on this mark. I'd love to find a drag cobra and swap my stick for his live, but hard to find in NC. thoughts?

Torinalth

 

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bdcardinal

tree hugger

Jun 10, 2003

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santa barbara, CA

Oct 6, 2005

#2

• Oct 6, 2005

• #2

you do not need a panhard rod for a IRS. the nature of the design of the system does not necessisate one. however, a fully built solid axle can handle a road course as well or better than an IRS. just an example, American Iron allows 99+ mustang cobras to have a IRS, but the ones that are in the series have converted to a solid axle.

 

Modular2v

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Jun 30, 2002

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99

oklahoma

Oct 6, 2005

#3

• Oct 6, 2005

• #3

IRS=trash!

 

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Torinalth

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Clayton NC

Oct 6, 2005

#4

• Oct 6, 2005

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interesting.... so for a road car (nor road racing) that is run like a dog every day and is always rashing into the corners (must get stuff done fast). would that more necessitate the PHB/trilink or an IRS and be done with it? and how does cost compare... like i said, no kowledge of te IRS

Torinalth

 

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bdcardinal

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Jun 10, 2003

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santa barbara, CA

Oct 6, 2005

#5

• Oct 6, 2005

• #5

you can get a used IRS out of an 03/04 cobra for about $800-$1000. the bad thing about the IRS is teh weight. also to make it really good for road racing, you would want to switch to Coilvers and also get the Kenny Brown/SHM tubular control arms.

personally i will be switching to a Panhard Rod/Torque Arm/deleted upper control arm setup eventually.

 

tomustang

Psychotic Member

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McLean Hospital

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#6

• Oct 6, 2005

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One of the greatest advantages of the IRS is the smoother ride, and the use of a higher spring (wheel) rate in the back. not really marginal in track testing when compared with heavy modding though

 

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Torinalth

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Clayton NC

Oct 7, 2005

#7

• Oct 7, 2005

• #7

if i am reading up on the IRS correctly... it allows full articulation of each wheel individually... where i would not need to reaplace the upper or lower arms (really cant), just the bushings.

however my question comes when it drills to the panhard rod and torque arm. i'm not seeing these things as being made for it. what is so different (that i am missing) that would preclude the irs from benafiting from a PHB or TA.

 

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bdcardinal

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santa barbara, CA

Oct 7, 2005

#8

• Oct 7, 2005

• #8

there is no need for a PHB with an IRS unit. Kenny Brown makes tubular control arms for the IRS unit. i know Sean Hyland sells them.

 

billfisher

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Jul 17, 2005

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huntsville, AL

Oct 7, 2005

#9

• Oct 7, 2005

• #9

unsprung mass for IRS is easier to control. ie over undulating bumps. bumps at the correct frequency will cause oversteer in solid axle. on a smooth track it doesn't matter much.

 

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Torinalth

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Clayton NC

Oct 7, 2005

#10

• Oct 7, 2005

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my car will not be at the track, all street.. but i do hit the corners hard. think the price is worth it to buy a bare IRS and piece in my own LCAs and whatnot?

Torinalth

 

BennyBlown2v

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Dec 9, 2004

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Carmel, INdiana

Oct 12, 2005

#11

• Oct 12, 2005

• #11

Torinalth said:

my car will not be at the track, all street.. but i do hit the corners hard. think the price is worth it to buy a bare IRS and piece in my own LCAs and whatnot?

Torinalth

Click to expand...

I'm wondering the same thing... I just found out my axle housing is bent, shop quoted me at $400 to fix it, doesn't seem worth it for the cost of an IRS swap/new built 8.8

 

tomustang

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Oct 12, 2005

#12

• Oct 12, 2005

• #12

Torinalth said:

my car will not be at the track, all street.. but i do hit the corners hard. think the price is worth it to buy a bare IRS and piece in my own LCAs and whatnot?
Torinalth

Click to expand...

BennyDaBall said:

I'm wondering the same thing... I just found out my axle housing is bent, shop quoted me at $400 to fix it, doesn't seem worth it for the cost of an IRS swap/new built 8.8

Click to expand...

If you're car isn't going to run at a track and only on the street you should go for the IRS swap. I can tell you guys running hard on unpredicted roads with bumps and cracks that a solid axle isn't ideal. Your car needs that independant absorbsion.

 

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Torinalth

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Clayton NC

Oct 13, 2005

#13

• Oct 13, 2005

• #13

Bam, exactly what scenario i was looking for. thanks tom. mind hitting my other thread on my piecing thought?

Torinalth