The axle housing can only travel so far upward before it hits the frame rails or oil pan. While IFS weaknesses are usually factory-installed, the same can be said about solid-axle strengths. The more un-sprung weight you have, the more difficult it is for your shocks to control. A Word about Un-Sprung Weight Each wheel is connected to a series of control arms. Many IFS differentials have aluminum housings. “Solid front axles are for rock donkeys!” “IFS stands for ‘inferior front suspension.” We’ve heard these standby beliefs bantered back and forth more times than we can count, so we thought we’d spend some time exposing some myths and sharing some truths. And unlike solid front axles, steering inputsare transmitted to the wheels through a series of tie rods. A solid front axle wins this, too.
Extended CV shafts span the new distance and retain full 4x4 function. If you can’t build a fully custom IFS system, what do you do? Bump Travel These tend to be weaker and less rigid compared to their cast-iron counterparts. EXPOSED! This leads to a higher chance of needing to repair the axles and it is a more complicated job to do such repairs. By their very nature, solid front axles have more un-sprung weight than A-arm systems. There’s good news in the form of bolt-on long-travel 4WD IFS suspension systems from a number of companies. © Copyright 2019 Fab Fours.
The biggest downside to IFS is its considerably more complicated setup, which means there are more things that can go wrong. These fundamental differences will influence what lines you pick on the trail, as well as influence driving style.
• As might be expected, there are no factory Ford parts involved. Experts show what really happens when you lift your 4WD - Duration: 14:14. All in all, IFS systems are considerably more complexthan solid axles. Design by Creative Element All rights reserved.
No go-fast party, solid axle or A-arm, is truly complete without a set of bypass shocks.
This is the higher-tech suspension option for sure. Solid front axles start with a housing that’s got either a cast-iron centersection (Dana style) or a stamped steel housing with a dropout third member (Toyota style). “A hit to one side can pull the whole front end to that side.”. Campbell’s KOH buggy uses a Currie F9 IFS differential. There is, however, a fundamental difference in the type of ground clearance you get with a solid-axle versus A-arm frontend. IFS may offer a smoother ride, and any other differences can be either slight or significant depending on your off-road use. Performance & security by Cloudflare, Please complete the security check to access. Either of these two styles is decently flex and rock resistant. A-Arms are Worthless on the Rocks
Ball joints can also be a weak point for 4WD IFS vehicles. Bypass shocks offer a level of control that other shocks can’t touch. The biggest draw for IFS is that it offers a more comfortable ride than solid axles and in a lighter package. As with a lot of the other equipment on your vehicle like steel bumpers, it really depends on the actual truck and how you plan to use it. Of course, you do have to be careful that your frame doesn’t hit the ground at full bump!
IFS Weaknesses As you’d expect, the CV shafts are completely custom. There isn’t one. The A-arms are built from scratch, the lowers created from TIG-welded 4130 plate and the uppers from CNC-machined aluminum. Long-arm suspension kits, such as Off-Road Evolution’s Double Throw-Down system seen on this ATX Wheels JK Wrangler, offer greater strength and increased wheel travel thanks to re-configured suspension mounts, and longer, stronger suspension links. It really does depend on your individual off-road truck, as some offer better axle setups than others. You’ll find IFS long-travel kits to be quite a bit more expensive than drop bracket lift kits. Other than complaints about a rough ride, the only real problem with solid axles is their weight and slightly less front ground clearance. If you are on a personal connection, like at home, you can run an anti-virus scan on your device to make sure it is not infected with malware. How’s this for going fast and flying high? The other potential problem with an aluminum differential housing is fragility in the face of sharp rocks. Your IP: 45.123.144.16
A speedy solid axle rig doesn’t have to be completely custom built, but it still has to use the right combination of aftermarket parts. Solid-Axle Strengths If you’re just after tire clearance or are on a tighter budget, a drop bracket IFS lift kit is the answer. On an A-arm system, about half of the lower A-arm also qualifies as un-sprung weight. First and foremost, we can address something that historically seemed to always limit IFS rigs, and became a favorite arguing point for the solid axle crowd. The added arm length equals added wheel travel. As the suspension cycles up and down, the ground clearance changes. Getting significant suspension travel out of a 4x4 A-arm system has historically been challenging because the stock front differential was so wide that the A-arms and CV shafts couldn’t be built to a significant length without incurring a silly-wide track width in the process. Here are some examples. Solid Axle Versus IFS: Which One's Better. Bolt-On IFS Performance Yes, we’re talking about wheel travel. • The other IFS problem in the photo is the dinky diameter of the factory tie rod.
Ultimate IFS?
That puts the choice right back into your lap - so any choice you make between solid axles and independent front suspensions should be researched first and then a decision made based on what is best for your off-road truck! As such, you can count on the same amount of ground clearance as your suspension cycles. A Chrisman front differential is found between the A-arms, complete with a 10-inch ring gear. Stock front differentials are retained. It’s time for a modified IFS. Solid axles are also more durable than most IFS axles and can be easily changed in comparison, making axle repairs on off-road trucks no problem . IFS is more agile and maneuverable than the alternative by offering improved handling most of the time and freer movement of the individual front wheels and tires under those front truck bumpers. Are bigger suspension lifts better? Unlike solid front axles, independent front suspensions (or IFS for short) allow each wheel to move independently ofeach other. There are more moving parts needed to allow each wheel its ownaxis of movement. So which setup is better?
They’re different from lift kits because their goal is to increase wheel travel, rather than to provide lift height. That seems to be it and the jury is still out and will probably remain out as to which is actually better for trail riding, climbing, and similar activities. Portal axles (think Unimog or H1 Hummer) are the exception to this, but that’s another story. For this story, we’re sticking with 4WD solid front axles and A-arm-style IFS.
Need rugged simplicity? Un-sprung weight is vehicle weight which is not supported by springs. Since both wheels are locked together, what affects one side will affect the other. The Currie F9 IFS center section measures a mere 14.5 inches wide from axle face to axle face. Both 2WD and 4WD frontends are used by Jeepspeed racers. © 2020 Four Wheeler | MOTOR TREND GROUP, LLC. Who are they? Want more strength for less coin? So how are you supposed to know which you should invest in when looking for a vehicle that will do great on the trails? Off-roading experts do seem to agree that IFS is the preferred choice for sand racing because it’s more responsive and does give a better ride at speed. On the other hand, an A-arm system doesn’t have this restriction, and the wheels can travel much further upward. There are many supporters out there on both sides, each claiming their axle is superior to the other in many ways. Wheels, tires, brakes, and solid axle housings are all examples of un-sprung weight. Remember the part about most IFS weaknesses resulting from factory designs? On the other hand, those in favor of solid axles find that even with a bit bumpier ride, there are plenty of trucks or Jeeps with solid axles that offer almost as smooth a ride as IFS.
At the knuckle, U-joints don’t have fragile factory boots so they’re stronger in the face of trail debris and flailing sway bar link ends. The loose end of the broken link swung down and mangled the CV boot. By the time you read this, he may well have won yet again. Cloudflare Ray ID: 5ed4d330dac22e83 The steering system uses a custom-built Saginaw steering box with a ram assist. If there’s no long-travel suspension kit for your solid axle rig, builder parts are readily available to help you create your own. Each style of front suspension has strengths and weaknesses, and it’s up to you to decide what to go with. Some IFS also have less durable steering setups and use torsion bars that get in the way. The factory frame is long gone in front of the firewall. The added control means added safety and confidence. All of this IFS trickery hangs from custom tube work. The narrow IFS differential means longer CV shafts and longer A-arms are possible while maintaining a reasonable track width, all with rock-and-whoop gobbling wheel travel. Resources | Sitemap, A Reputation For The Highest Quality And Design. Fullsize IFS trucks tend to see more of a problem with this than their smaller counterparts, but ball joints can fail and allow knuckles/wheels/tires to leave the front corners of the truck. This translates into higher velocity and more fun. Everything on the front of Mark McMillin’s 2003 F-150 Supercrew 4x4 was designed and built for no-compromise performance. When the Jeepspeed racing series began, many thought the term “Jeepspeed” was nothing short of an oxymoron. A much-argued debate in the off-road community by truck owners is which type of axle is better - solid or independent? An incomplete list includes All-Pro Off Road, Brenthel Industries, Camburg, Dixon Bros. Repairs are more complicated with IFS, while it’s pretty simple to switch out a damaged solid axle. Traditionally, IFS setups didn’t allow for much wheel travel, as the CV axle joints and rubber boots do not take well to extreme angles from the front differential. These control a custom “swingset.” The burly centerlink manipulates a pair of equally-strong tie rods. IFS is more agile and maneuverable than the alternative by offering improved handling most of the time and freer movement of the individual front wheels and tires under those front truck bumpers.
Long-travel leaf springs are also available from companies like Deaver Spring. It turns out that almost every swipe against A-arm IFS has to do with a factory-delivered suspension. Speedy Solid Axles Two of our four favorite trucks from last year (see “Looking Back,” January 2012) were also high-flying solid axle trucks, 4WD no less. IFS systems have more joints that need lubricating and protecting, so the axle boots on your off-road truck can wear out or be easily damaged. A solid axle setup can improve traction over big bumps and hills as well as gain more torque from the differential as there are fewer parts that power must transfer through.