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How Much Abuse Can Ifs Take?

jro909

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jro909 Senior Enthusiast

jro909

Posted
Posted

I was watching some truck show and they were rebuilding a tacoma and they actually made IFS sound beefy and durable...so i have to ask...

 

1) how much abuse can is really take before it begans to break? woulden't road imperfections and bumps take a big toll?

 

2) how well does it stack up against a solid axle front end?

 

3) why did GM ditch the solid front axle?

redvett Senior Enthusiast

redvett

Posted
Posted

Gm did away with the solid front axle because the buying customers and the competition required them to do so.

The Solid Front Axle is old school and full Independent Suspension provides better ride quality and steering control.

Doug_Scott Senior Enthusiast

Doug_Scott

Posted
Posted

Solid front axle is tough on tires, ride quality, stability, and weight. They did away with it to get better tire wear, better ride, better stability, and lower weight. Solid axle generally means higher ride height as well.

redjewel2ss Enthusiast

redjewel2ss

Posted
Posted

well my 2007 2500HD 6.0L Silverado work truck handles daily abuse. i drive it off road every day on rough roads, and i never go less than 25 mph. haven't broke anything yet.... knock on wood!

scz71864 Enthusiast

scz71864

Posted
Posted

dodge and ford are on a form of solid front on their heavy duty trucks why isnt GM?

jro909 Senior Enthusiast

jro909

Posted
  • Author
Posted

well thats just it everybody tells me IFS is weak but ford and ram both offer solid front axles...i just don't get it

Mckenzie Senior Enthusiast

Mckenzie

Posted
Posted

IFS is more than adequate for what 95% of drivers do. IMO its actually pretty tough. I hit a mud hole so f'ing hard that it should have broke something, i mean it made a LOUD noise and i figured i broke a tie rod but it didn't break a thing. I think its a bunch of BS

cliobogger Enthusiast

cliobogger

Posted
Posted

IFS can handle a lot. and you can get plenty of stronger aftermarket parts that REALLY beef it up to be just as/stronger than solid axles.

dave_benn Enthusiast

dave_benn

Posted
Posted

Stock vs Stock Ifs is better IMO, it has better grounds clearance(on top of what has been disguised) and i wouldn't hesitate to say it is just as strong. But when you modify it by lifting it is when it becomes weak and then the solid axle becomes better. Just depends on what you wanna do with your truck.

MikeNH Senior Enthusiast

MikeNH

Posted
Posted

Unless you want to install a front locker or go rock crawling, don't worry about IFS strength. Any downsides for it are outweighed by the benefits for 99% of the driving most of us will do.

Silverado4x4 Senior Enthusiast

Silverado4x4

Posted
Posted
solids are better offroad though i will say

 

Not really, solid front axles will hang up in the mud or tire ruts due to axle clearance and push the mud where IFS dont and when the left or right tire gets up on something the other tire will ride on the edge of the tire reducing traction where a IFS wont, think about it the H1 Hummer and offroad race trucks have IFS but our trucks are no where as tough as that suspension but the set up is the same.

Fobroader Enthusiast

Fobroader

Posted
Posted

Offroad, Ill take the strength and simplicity of a solid axle. For the other 99.5% of the time, IFS please, ride comfort, no death wobble and better steering feel. Anyone whos actually gone offroading will tell you its a hell of a lot easier swapping an axle shaft than a CV axle.....especially when the truck is caked in mud. Overall, for light wheeling, IFS is ok, just dont try to steer out of ruts too hard or hit stuff with your wheels turned or rockcrawl.

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