Quote:
Originally Posted by chappy48
I'm no expert, but Motor Trend says that "the solid rear axle is better for a drag race" line is a myth. Don't know why you would want to switch away from IRS if that's the case. Here's the article where they talk about it.
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/.../handling.html |
When comparing stock powered vehicles the IRS will normally trump a live axle rear, which is what they did in the article. Even the Cobra Jet Mustangs are running around with live axle rears that Ford farmed out to Strange Engineering to build for them.
However in a drag racing application, the IRS under heavy horsepower will not hold up as well as a live axle rear. When the Viper, Supra, and other IRS owners beef up the rear end they end up spending a lot of money in 300M material parts. Cobra Mustang owners, when they start laying down serious rear wheel horsepower, will switch to a live axle.
The article has a valid point up to a certain point, and that certain point is determined by the horsepower that the car produces. Creature comforts like IRS have no place in a healthy drag car.