Since I owned an 04 Mach and my 03 Cobra at the same time I can say that the IRS handles much better in the mountains and curves. I even had full length sub frame connectors and pan hard bar installed in the Mach.
Since I owned an 04 Mach and my 03 Cobra at the same time I can say that the IRS handles much better in the mountains and curves. I even had full length sub frame connectors and pan hard bar installed in the Mach.
Thanks, That is a great help when compairing the two axles.
Wow that Griggs video looks like a lot of fun:rockon:
i think it is safe to say his stock irs did not handle like this...:beer:
YouTube - Griggs GR40 Mustang at Virginia City Hill Climb
Frankly...I call BS on the Griggs Hill Climb video as a testament to the superiority of an SRA in the Mustang. 1) The hill climb course is perfectly smooth....nothing a properly setup SRA or IRS Mustang couldn't handle. Try that on a rough course and see what happens. 2) The Griggs Mustang in question sports a front SLA suspension which is really what is making the difference on that course.
If you wish to give up superior handling when corner-carving real roads for the occasional autoX or drag event (or regular street drag racing... not advised) go SRA. If you like superior handling daily and life to bash the backroads regularly...stay IRS.
Do you really want to be pushing your car to the handling edge like that on the street anyway?
Whether it be a build SRA or IRS, I don't think I would want to see its handling edge on the street. That is more dangerous than street racing.
Good points for sure...but a few notes. The hill climb referenced was on a closed course as usual I would imagine. You don't need to go fast to realize the benefits of an IRS...even the relatively flawed Mustang variety. The back road bashing I do is really actually pretty tame from a speed perspective. Many places 50 mph is maxed. It's an 80% proposition at best on some pretty roughly paved roads and I never sweep into the opposite lane. I actually enjoy the rough stuff because it's a marvel to me how this IRS equipped Mustang "sticks" (to borrow an Olympic term) in the rough. I've O/T'd and Autox'd a few times where I've tested the edge and despite being a stock IRS I found the actual edge really very predictable and confidence inspiring. :beer:
Do you really want to be pushing your car to the handling edge like that on the street anyway?
Whether it be a build SRA or IRS, I don't think I would want to see its handling edge on the street. That is more dangerous than street racing.
Good points for sure...but a few notes. The hill climb referenced was on a closed course as usual I would imagine. You don't need to go fast to realize the benefits of an IRS...even the relatively flawed Mustang variety. The back road bashing I do is really actually pretty tame from a speed perspective. Many places 50 mph is maxed. It's an 80% proposition at best on some pretty roughly paved roads and I never sweep into the opposite lane. I actually enjoy the rough stuff because it's a marvel to me how this IRS equipped Mustang "sticks" (to borrow an Olympic term) in the rough. I've O/T'd and Autox'd a few times where I've tested the edge and despite being a stock IRS I found the actual edge really very predictable and confidence inspiring. :beer:
I completely understand the hill climb part being legal and on closed roads.
I was just talking about open roads. I love taking on/off ramps but I don't push it to the edge. I save that for the auto cross course.
Think about those crash tests that you see on TV, they are usually pretty slow (~20mph) and those cars don't come out very well.
Yes, yes I do. I've done the IRS swap as well, and love every minute of it. See vid link in my sig, while not as fast as the car above, I do hillclimb it.
And of course gentlemen (and ladies) don't forget the most important part of this equation. Bruce Griggs has unlimited access to the parts, tuning and the funds to put the best available on that car. More then most of us here will ever have access to.
Not to mention he is a great driver and regardless if it's "smooth" or not, a hillclimb takes balls to do at full speed wide open.
Conner, this Spring/Summer we plan on quite a few mild bashing runs. Let me know if you want in.
Definately let me know when I'm goin to north nj this sat to do my swap. Would I need to be caged to run with you guys this summer?