2014 Mustang to have IRS

[CobraRed01]

Here you go....

Maximum Motorsports shows off IRS suspension for Mustang — Autoblog


Never figured out why MM never did anything with IRS AND SLA they designed for the S197. Oh, I know....no one wants an IRS in the S197. Hell, if they weren't going to build 'em they should have sold the plans for others to build.

IRS in my New Edge rocks...even without the firmer bushings (I'd go with Bruce's bushing kit in a heart-beat if I didn't have to daily drive her). Stays planted on the roughest backroads...no problem. The IRS argument has been going on for years...and makes me laugh. I'd like to see Ford get it right next time. Maybe by then they'll have an SRA swap option. Hey, that would be nice....for all the nay-sayers.

 

[Jroc]

Well YOU AMAZING HUNK OF MAN!, pretty sure the S197 body is waaaaaaaay heavier.

I'm pretty sure is also fairly bigger, alot stiffer, a MUCH safe platform, and comes with alot more feature and amenities. A 05 GT increased its weight over the Edge GT about the same as the SN95 did over the Foxbody.

Is a SN95 chassis a pig because the orginal Mustangs were in the 2,800 lb range?

 

[Ubergeist]

I'd still rather have a solid rear axle. I drag race...and the SRA equipped stangs handle well enough for me.

 

[D's01Snake]

Yes thats the point, the IRS in a NE is a huge amount of weight.

 

[Jack Burton]

I know SLICK,

the 4 link design is tried and true CHIEF. How is the SN-95 Chassis garbage HOSS. Nice reply though TEX.

Well, the fact that it's older than dirt is a good start...or the fact that it needs FLSFC would be another good indicator. I think you would have a hard time finding a MODERN chassis that needed that. It's old and crappy, get over it, it's not a big deal.

Hell, my biggest gripe out my terminator was the chassis and IRS. IMO, if you need FLSFC on a car, it's a good indicator that the chassis is lacking. As far as the IRS, in stock form, not so good. With a proper bushing kit, MUCH better. But, it sill could've come better from the factory. Although, I did enjoy having the IRS, and I would still rather have it than a SRA (even though I'm looking into GT500's).

 

[Jack Burton]

ok Buckaroo, you compare a 150K+ car to a cobra? The space shuttle is faster then a ford GT but it doesnt mean im putting solid rockets on my car.

Yes, but it does mean that Ford CAN design a proper IRS. Which also means, as the cars progress, and prices on older designs drop, there is not really a reason whey they can't make it happen with a future model. :shrug:

 

[Jack Burton]

The Supra and Viper IRS hold up to 2000hp, so a strong system can be designed.

Don't be afraid of the IRS just because Ford offered a less than perfect one in the Termi's.

QFT.

Just cause the terminator didn't have the perfect IRS from the factory, doesn't mean that it can't be done...or hasn't been done.

I'd say, if Ford learns from their mistake with that IRS there is no reason why they can't equip a mustang with a proper IRS from the factory.

 

[Jroc]

Yes thats the point, the IRS in a NE is a huge amount of weight.

Its also a gives you a large reduction in unsprung weight, plus it gives you a MUCH flatter cornering, more composed car. I don't care that you can make a SRA handle well because yes you can just like you can make a IRS car launch well. Try running anywhere near as stiff a spring rate(even half the spring rate) on a SRA that you do on a IRS.

If weight is that big of a concern to you then you should buy something other than a Mustang, because they are not exactly light cars anymore.

 

[Dirks9901]

Well I love my IRS(s). Looking at the Pro's and Con's of each, IRS>SRA

 

[PhLoBuS]

Well I love my IRS(s). Looking at the Pro's and Con's of each, IRS>SRA

My friend has an '03 Cobra which obviously is IRS and its great around corners but I visit the track quite a bit and it would be the first thing I would swap out. I respect your opinion but everyone has different needs and goals.

 

[CobraRed01]

Its also a gives you a large reduction in unsprung weight, plus it gives you a MUCH flatter cornering, more composed car. I don't care that you can make a SRA handle well because yes you can just like you can make a IRS car launch well. Try running anywhere near as stiff a spring rate(even half the spring rate) on a SRA that you do on a IRS.

If weight is that big of a concern to you then you should buy something other than a Mustang, because they are not exactly light cars anymore.

Yes thats the point, the IRS in a NE is a huge amount of weight.

In addition to the advantage of less unsprung weight as Jroc points out the additional weight in the NE is in the rear. Considering the aluminum block over the Terminator's iron, S/C motor the NE has a much better front/back weight distribution. Even with the required FLSFC's the NE Cobra is pretty light.

 

[swoosh_stang]

IMO, most of the problems with the Cobra IRS stem from the fact that it was basically an after thought. They had to design it use existing mounting points and it had to be mounted to a fairly flexible chassis.

If they design a new mustang for 2014 with the IRS being completely integrated, I believe they can keep it from adding the same kind of weight the Cobra IRS does, and they can make it much stronger.

I'm not saying I'm a huge IRS fan, but I don't hate them either. For me it is neither a selling point nor a detraction, I know I can pretty much do anything I want with either.

 

[Dirks9901]

My friend has an '03 Cobra which obviously is IRS and its great around corners but I visit the track quite a bit and it would be the first thing I would swap out. I respect your opinion but everyone has different needs and goals.

Oh there's no doubt that the IRS that came in the 03-04 needed some work (more so 99's and 01's)

My buddies 03 Cobra which puts down just a hair over 500rwhp would wheel hop for days at the track. After the MM bushing kit, it was like night and day (+ FLSFC)

It doesn't take much to fix them and launch with the best of them, however I no what you mean. :beer:

 

[VenomGTX]

The Supra and Viper IRS hold up to 2000hp, so a strong system can be designed.

Don't be afraid of the IRS just because Ford offered a less than perfect one in the Termi's.

+1

It's not hard to design a competent IRS that'll work well at a drag strip, road course, and on the street. Plenty of auto companies have managed to do it.

The IRS in the Cobra wasn't all it could be because it was put into a chassis that wasn't designed for it, and the engineers were limited by cost. A platform engineered to have an IRS from the beginning will be far superior to any solid axle Mustang in just about every way.

Some of you sound like you'd be happier if they brought back body-on-frame designs, leaf spring suspensions, and leaded gas. :smmon:

 

[GTSpartan]

+1

Some of you sound like you'd be happier if they brought back body-on-frame designs, leaf spring suspensions, and leaded gas. :smmon:

Time to bring back the solid front axleepper:

It'll handle just as good as an independent front if tuned properly.

 

[ChiSVT]

The IRS in the Cobra wasn't all it could be because it was put into a chassis that wasn't designed for it -snip-

.

 

[Ry_Trapp0]

a jalopnik article quoting motortrend

please, for the love of god people, don't beleive every ignorant blogger on the internet.

:read:

yea, their "ford sources" were also "adamant" about the GT500 getting a twin turbo 5.0l, a 5.0l boss mustang showing up in the 2008 model year, the raptor getting a twin turbo 6.2l, the ecoboost V6 being available in the 2010 model year mustang...

 

[pho_phizzat]

yup what he said!!!!

 

[Relaxed Chaos]

I have a hard time believing people are still defending and craving a stick axle. WTF is up with that? It may make sense if you only go in a straight line, are extremely cheap, only drag your car, or haul 5000lbs of potatoes around but if you want to turn then a well designed IRS will always be better. Always.

I'm curious if you guys that are living in the past want old front suspension as well, like solid front axles, or all of the vehicle weight on the upper ball joints like the first Mustangs? Would you guys be upset if Ford went to a real double A-arm front suspension and got rid of the cheap and crappy strut system?

Holy crap people, wake up!

 

[3Dglasses]

My car would be just a Mustang without the IRS. It rocks. Amazingly different from the SRA on the street and the track. The steering wheel is there for more than turning onto the return road. Use it