WHAT IS BEST?? IRS or Solid Axle.

Yup, as stated, what is better is relative to what your are wanting. Everyday driving and corner carving are better suited to have an IRS. Drag purposes demand a live axle for best performance.

Just so you know, an IRS CAN be beefed up for drag racing if need be, but it is WAY MORE COSTLY than beefing up a straight axle. Plus the IRS weighs about 100lbs more than a standard 8.8.

U.M.

Uncle Meat said:

Just so you know, an IRS CAN be beefed up for drag racing if need be, but it is WAY MORE COSTLY than beefing up a straight axle. Plus the IRS weighs about 100lbs more than a standard 8.8.

U.M.

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Noted, but I've never seen an IRS application totally avoid wheel hop in drag races.

Had both...don't miss the IRS one bit. If you are going to go with a blower, get a solid and beef it up. Uppers/lowers, gears, axles.....call it a day. You will be happy. I did everything to that POS IRS to try and make it work with the power and it never was fun until I got the solid.

4u2nv said:

Noted, but I've never seen an IRS application totally avoid wheel hop in drag races.

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Oh I have! It wasn't cheap getting it to that point though. Slicks, level 5 half-shafts, stiffer shocks, rear diff cover support brace, longer pinion snubber, and a complete replacement of all stock rubber bushings. Setup like that will take 6800RPM clutch drops off the line all day long. Hooks like mad too!

U.M.

Uncle Meat said:

Oh I have! It wasn't cheap getting it to that point though. Slicks, level 5 half-shafts, stiffer shocks, rear diff cover support brace, longer pinion snubber, and a complete replacement of all stock rubber bushings. Setup like that will take 6800RPM clutch drops off the line all day long. Hooks like mad too!

U.M.

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That's just it; dollar for dollar, the drag match-up pales in comparison (IRS vs live).

Guess the ones I have seen haven't spent all the money they should have on their IRS setups.

Well i got one .I love the IRS over the solid.

I went the crazy way.I have all the stuff in the IRS (bushings,axles,brace etc)..

Having had a solid for years the IRS feels WAY better.

4u2nv said:

That's just it; dollar for dollar, the drag match-up pales in comparison (IRS vs live).

Guess the ones I have seen haven't spent all the money they should have on their IRS setups.

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But then again, the OP is not talking about drag conditions. With a little IRS work (bushings/Springs) the IRS is great for carving corners and daily driving.

Dollar-for-dollar.

Everyone has very valid points here. Both IRS and 8.8 rears can be made to corner or drag equally well if you want to spend the money. Stock for stock though the IRS is superior in the handling department while the straight axle will hook better in a straight line.

It all boils down to what the intended purpose of the car is going to be. Straight line or curvy?

U.M.

Get yourself a solid axle !!

Good handling for everyday driving with GT springs in the rear with some good shocks.

Ever watch an 03/04 Cobra launch hard with a set of slicks on the back? The tires tend to bow inward ! A solid axle keeps those wheels straight which boils down to one thing, traction. Oh, forget about the wheel hop issue, the solid axle is the 100% cure for that issue. If you do an axle swap, remember the catback needs to be swapped too! Don't do dumps when installing a solid axle. On a DOHC motor, they are just too much for the street!

Shame on Ford for not offering options for us Cobra owners at the dealerships. I would have crapped my pants if I was offered a drag pack option with my car!

3.73 or 4.10 gears with the solid axle really help a novice get out of the hole or maybe some practice with the 3.55 gear ratio helps

Getting a solid axle? Consider a good clutch too!

GO Solid, IRS will never stop HOPPING no matter how many money bags you toss at it.

I am solid with 373s, Blower and only issue is rubber. Been running Goodyear GSD3 315s, but they smoke. But a great all weather tire. Probably will go with BFG Drag Radial 315s for the street for weekend playing.

Man, like scotty1 says. the ONLY cure for the HOP is the SOLID. And a must is a good clutch, I prefer Mcleod.

J.

I rode in an 03 Cobra with the smallest pulley on a stock Eaton, stock headers h-pipe and magnflow with a solid axle, welded tubes, 4.10, 31 spline mosers, eaton posi, solid upper and lowers, drag shocks, BFG Drad radials,(315's)... That car still had an enormous amount of wheel hop like I have never seen before. He had it done at the same place where I get my axle stuff done. I heard some 03-04's still have wheel hop even with a solid rear.