WHOA Nelly!!

Whew. Gotta a little scared in the stang this evening and thought I would pass it along for comments so I can feel a little reassured. It's that solid rear axle.

I was taking this nice little left hand sweeping on ramp here in Birmingham getting onto to a freeway. It's about a 45-55 mph curve, so nothing to slow down over. I was doing about 50 or so and decided to see how the stang would hold at say..70. Got to about 65 and I didn't notice this "gap" between the overpass part of the on ramp (it's a bridge over the road I was getting onto) and the concrete glued to mother earth. I hit that little bump and the back end decided it was going to go in the opposite direction of the front end. Backed WAAYYY out of it and caught it before catastrophe set in. Whew.

Then I decided to do another test because that both scared and bothered me. There is this nasty little section of road on my way home where the pavement has "rippled" a bit. (LIke roots or something under the road pushing it up in about 6" sections.). It's a right hand turn up a hill to boot, so I decided to see what would happen on that little peice of Alabama roadway. Holy friggin mother of mary. Her ass was like JELLO. I came so close to completely losing the rear end again! Man alive. Off the gas, no brake just to let it get itself back under control. Talk about scary.

So the point of the post is.... is this what I have to expect for the next 5 years with this solid rear axle? Every bump in a curve has the potential to throw the rear end around? God forbid there's ever water or something like that on the road when I hit something like these places again. I can just see me spinning around, throwing it into reverse and smiling at the people behind me as I try to drive backwards around the curve in the road. Yarite. But it has scared me somewhat. SOMEONE please reassure me that I am just used to independant suspension and I can learn to handle that ass in the future. This is my first Mustang.

Maybe if she got lowered an inch and had some more prominent rubber it would be better.

JonJon said:

i don't want to say anything because it's mean

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What? Like learn to drive better? That would be funny and I can take a joke. (Appreciate you refraining from flaming.)

Just asking for comments from other people who may have had the same experience in this car. Not used to this solid rear axle set up.

BTW - it was my driving skill that kept my Mustang from needing about 5 grand in body work tonight.

jmk97GT said:

Solid rear axle + RWD + traction lok (dont know if the 2005 has this...) = ****ty traction, especially in corners.

Now I know the 2005 is way better in so many ways than my 1997, but i can basically break my rear end lose whenever i want, granted second gear is available.

It is avoidable...you just have to take turns slower (obviously). I think you may be used to independent suspension though, because I dont get too freaked out about it...I got used to it quick.

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I am usually pretty calm about town in my car, preferring the "I could if I wanted to" route. I just got to worrying about this since I know there are sections of our interstate system that have issues (go figure) and I am sure my heart would jump if I had this happen with a family of five beside me in a minny. Just a concern. I am used to independant suspensions, no doubt. This is my first solid rear end. I suppose now that I know it can happen I will be on the look out for those "heart in the throat" bridge gaps.

new22003 said:

Just out of curiosity have you ever driven a car with a firm suspension before, regardless of solid/irs?

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As bad as is it is to admit, I had the Probe GT when it first came out changed up (the Mazda motor, front end looked like a Porche). I think it was a 92? Anyway. It rode stiffer than any other car I had before but I think it sat a lot lower to the ground. But I am quite sure it had independant suspension on it. I did own a Thunderturd for a while. But is was mushy.

JonJon said:

well I don't mean to be mean but doing something like that sounds pretty unsafe... and stupid. Mainly because you didn't know the road conditions there (gap on the ramp) and nearly wrecked

but I'm glad you didn't!

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Appreciate that. I hadn't pushed the car in a corner up till this point and I make it a point to know the limits of every car I drive so I don't cross that line. I've done that curve many times before in everything from a Taurus to an F-150 and never felt THAT before. That's why I got concerned. But I agree it may be unsafe but it was for a good reason. Not to show off, just to...as Clint says "every man needs to know his car's limits!"

I don't consider your comments mean BTW. No prob with all opinions. That's what this country is founded on.

new22003 said:

As a former late 80's vette owner (i shaved my mullet and chest since then) I can tell you that a car with a stiff suspension, regardless if its IRS or solid axle will jump sideways when hitting the right bump going around a corner. The vette handled like a dream on smooth surfaces but on bumps it could be rowdy. It has more to do with compliance than with whether its a solid axle or IRS. Ive never known it to be a serious problem in mustangs but I also havent driven an 05 yet.

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Lost the mullet and the chest hair, huh? Did the gold chain go with it?

I appreciate the advice. I knew getting into this car that it had a "lively" rear end but I had never experienced that at speed on my daily driven roads here in Birmingham. Definitely an eye opener for me. I don't think I would trade it in because of it, just came home a little shook. Birmingham has a ton of uphill, downhill curvey roads (no, Alabama is not all flat) and I can see this as being something that might get me if I am not twice as careful in the future.