Is a straight axle better?
Solid axles give more articulation and lifts tend to be less expensive than IFS. IFS gives a smoother ride, better handling, and better control at speed than a solid axle. Guys who do a lot of very technical crawling tend to favor solid axles for their articulation and simplicity.
What is a straight axle conversion?
What exactly does a solid axle swap entail? If you are considering a solid axle swap, it’s a good idea to understand everything you’ll be addressing. Simply put: you are taking out the independent axle and swapping a solid axle in its place.
What is IFS axle?
“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.
What’s better straight axle or independent?
So, when it comes down to it, an independent suspension will handle better than a solid axle, making it an ideal setup for higher speeds and smaller obstacles. But a solid axle’s traction on those big bumps and hills makes it the king of crawling.
What are the advantages of a solid axle?
Solid Axle Strengths -Solid axles are simple and durable, time-tested and reliable if not antiquated. As a 4×4 drives over rough terrain and one tire gets pushed up by a bump or rock, the tire on the other end of the solid axle gets pushed down.
How much is a solid axle swap?
The process generally costs around $2500-$3000, depending on how involved the engineer needs to be throughout. However, it’s a vital component to ensure the vehicle is legal and safely built.
Can you rock crawl with ifs?
Sure, an IFS rig can be built to work in the big rocks, but cost and simplicity tend to keep the solid axle alive when it comes to rockcrawling.
Can you change IFS to live axle?
A live-axle conversion aims to fix both of these issues by physically replacing the complicated IFS set-up with a much simpler and stronger live axle. The process in theory is simple: the vehicle is put on a hoist, the original suspension removed and the chassis rails ground clean.
Why are solid rear axles better?
A solid axle is an extremely simple setup and was the go-to for muscle cars for a long time. This system is very rigid and very durable, which makes it ideal for cars with high amounts of horsepower that are heading in a straight line.
Which is better solid axle or independent suspension?
Why is solid axle better off road?
“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,” says aftermarket manufacturer Fab Fours in a comparison between both systems.
How much does a solid axle conversion cost?
Are solid axles better for off-road?
“Solid axles are also more durable than most independent front suspension (IFS) axles and can be easily changed in comparison, making axle repairs on off-road trucks no problem.”
What vehicles have straight axles?
Even though we are now down to just three new vehicle models available with a solid front axle in the U.S.—Jeep Wrangler, Ford Super Duty, and Ram heavy-duty trucks (four if you count the über-expensive Mercedes G-class)—we’re still huge proponents of the driven beam axle construction for off-road use.