8.8 live axle is better for drag racing. lighter, robust and well
understood for tuning.
there are limitations on performance based on geometry with the way the live
axle mounts in my car for racing. they are also present in the mustang,
perhaps to a lesser extent. a torque arm and panhard bar makes it really
close between IRS and live axle, but the IRS is probably always a little
better. its much better for street use. sprung to unsprung ratio in my
car is very poor. but its hard to mount the torque arms... they would need
to attach close to the rear of the engine!
unfortunately in my car, i can improve handling at the expense of traction,
which is what i have done. it is not really any faster overall, but faster
in the corner, slower coming out because traction is less. IRS lets me have
both traction and an instantaneous center that doesnt fly all around the
car.
-james c
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael R. Clements <mrc01@flash.net>
>There are people on corrall.net who've gotten better drag times with the
live
>axle but I've heard others saying the live axle impairs handling. My Panoz
has
>the Ford IRS and at 320 hp on a 2450 lb. car one might expect to have
problems
>getting the power down. But so far it hasn't been a problem. It hooks up
great
>in straight line acceleration, generates 0-60 times in the low 4s with
minimal
>wheel spin and the cornering control is excellent even under hard braking
or
>acceleration.
>
>And it hasn't broken yet . . . (knocking on wood)
>
>Now can anyone tell me how to get my new email address subscribed to this
>list?
>
>Thanks,
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
>[mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of kirk
>Sent: Wednesday, February 07, 2001 11:51
>To: James Creasy
>Cc: Scot Zediker; James Creasy; Donald R McKenna;
>Bay_Area_Autocross_List
>Subject: Re: Cars break, was: Re: Question...
>
>
>Are you really going to IRS that Cobra? I heard a lot of bad press on
those.
>Ford just hasn't been building some of the parts for it very strong. Also,
on
>launch it is harder to get all of the power down. If you do I would love
to
>get
>a ride with ya.
>
>Kirk
>
>
>
>James Creasy wrote:
>
>> after i pulled the arm i discovered it was bent in various interesting
and
>> creative ways. replacement $50.
>>
>> i am the first person to break this part. and it wasnt even at bumpy
3COM,
>> but super flat marina. i have a fix in mind though so it wont happen
again.
>>
>> when i finally get some sway bars with my IRS, i will look forward to
>> breaking those too =)
>>
>> -james 'stress-tester' creasy
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Scot Zediker <roadsterboy@earthlink.net>
>>
>> >
>> >> estimated cost of my a-arm repair? $25. ill take it!
>> >
>> >I'm looking at about $120 for my swaybar mounts, plus a couple hours of
my
>> >labor this weekend. Hopefully, with a smaller bar they won't break too
>> >soon!
>> >
>> >Scot
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