ifs - pros and cons

[DiStuRBeD]

ok everyone, fess up

what are the pros and cons of IFS

everyone seems to hate them, just curious

[Tiny]

A good IFS system should theoretically be very good, ie HUMMER but most systems on cars you and I can afford limit travel and the ability to lift. For a light tourer for tame tracks desert, sand etc with a high amount of onraod use, they are very good due to nice onrad feel and handeling, but for most peoples on this site they are no good for the intended application. + they aren't putting bullbars etc on 100 ifs any more due to breaking diffs and sagging etc.

[John H]

A good IFS system should theoretically be very good, ie HUMMER but most systems on cars you and I can afford limit travel.

Even Hummers have pretty crap wheel travel when compared to a beam axle set up.

[Tiny]

A good IFS system should theoretically be very good, ie HUMMER but most systems on cars you and I can afford limit travel.

Even Hummers have pretty crap wheel travel when compared to a beam axle set up.

Yes, but due to the steup with the guts of the diff etc in the tranny chanel, it all works pretty nicely, still wouldn't use one here except for beaches and cruisin

[Utemad]

Both IFS and Solid Axles have ups and downs.

I would think IFS outshines SA on sealed and unsealed roads and sand of all sorts. Whereas Solid Axles are better than IFS in rocky or rutted terrain that requires large amounts of wheel travel. Keeping in mind that most IFS fourbies in Australia have IFS with solid rear. I think IRS is only on Pajero and the new Rovers.

Both setups will go most places but which one does it easier depends on the terrain.

Also keep in mind that not all IFS or SA setups are created equal. Some IFS are easier to modify for better off road ability than others. There is a good aftermarket for Prado, Hilux and Isuzu (mostly need to import for Isuzu) however I have seen stuff all for Triton, Pajero, Navara.

Some people do IRS conversions to their fourbies for better sand and speed handling.

It isn't a case of getting SA because there better but a matter of decidng where you want to go and buying a vehicle to suit.

[Tiny]

Basically what
I was saying, but in less words.......as with everything down to the coulor of the car it all depends on you prefferences and the terrain you treverse, and as 90% of 4x4s are now shopping trollys, IFS will over time becom the only choice as that is where the market is

[dieseldude]

I had an IFS pajero before my patrol and had never ending problems with bushes, CV rubbers, ball jonts etc always needing servicing. It required too much maintenance for what it was and rode like crap!

My GQ patrol rides heaps better than my old IFS did!!!

Heaps better in my opinion!!

[Tiny]

I had an IFS pajero before my patrol and had never ending problems with bushes, CV rubbers, ball jonts etc always needing servicing. It required too much maintenance for what it was and rode like crap!

My GQ patrol rides heaps better than my old IFS did!!!

Heaps better in my opinion!!

read PAJERO......no s**t

[Utemad]

If your old Pajero handled worse than a "'97 GQ wagon. 5inch lift, ARB Bull Bar, Scrub Bars, 285/75/16 Gu rims, winch......" then it must have been one big piece of crap.

My Rodeo has not had any front end suspension bushes etc changed in 160k and it handles great. Way better than the beam axled 4x4s in the family.

Like I said, not all IFS vehicles are created equal.

[dieseldude]

Mate, just wait till your rodeo starts getting a bit tired! It will cause more headaches than you will want.

My pajero was a good little truck and quite capable too!!! I think that 330000 Kms in a beam axled truck will change your mind as opposed to 330000 Kms in an IFS truck. They turn to shit and require heaps more attention than does a beam axles truck!

Just don't believe everything you here about people saying that IFS is better for onroad handling etc till you have had both!

[dieseldude]

If your old Pajero handled worse than a "'97 GQ wagon. 5inch lift, ARB Bull Bar, Scrub Bars, 285/75/16 Gu rims, winch......" then it must have been one big piece of crap.

My Rodeo has not had any front end suspension bushes etc changed in 160k and it handles great. Way better than the beam axled 4x4s in the family.

Like I said, not all IFS vehicles are created equal.

Don't assume that a lifted truck can't handle just as good or if not better than an IFS truck.

[Utemad]

Mate, just wait till your rodeo starts getting a bit tired! It will cause more headaches than you will want.

My pajero was a good little truck and quite capable too!!! I think that 330000 Kms in a beam axled truck will change your mind as opposed to 330000 Kms in an IFS truck. They turn to shit and require heaps more attention than does a beam axles truck!

I have no intention of keeping my Rodeo past 200k let alone 330k so I won't know

Just don't believe everything you here about people saying that IFS is better for onroad handling etc till you have had both!

I do have both. The IFS one handles better and it has 3 times more kms on it. We are talking about handling not ride quality. I have not heard a car company yet say "we're changing to beam axles to improve handling".

[ausyota]

As well as the points allready raised IFS generally has smaller weaker diffs than solid front and also weaker steering setups using idler arms etc.
Paul.

[Utemad]

Don't assume that a lifted truck can't handle just as good or if not better than an IFS truck.

So your saying that even though your CoG has gone up 5in that you can hook it into corners just as fast with no adverse effects? Why do people bother lowering there cars then?

As for straight line comfort on a sealed road I'm sure that a beam axled and lifted truck could be as good as anything else.

[damo lux]

I think if you want to "hook into corners" maybe you should'nt be driving a fourby.

[Utemad]

I think if you want to "hook into corners" maybe you should'nt be driving a fourby.

Figure of speech.

[HG]

My Surf has gone from a standard IFS set up to being lifted 4" with ball joint spaces & all the usual tricks (torsion bars cranked up, bump stops shaved) to get the IFS to perform offroad and for an IFS with that much lift dialled in the Surf was a reasonable handler on road and a capable offroader as well, mind you I did get used to crapping my dacks on a regular basis when attempting steep rutted cross slopes and the like
.
In October '04 Cheesy Racing did a 5 link solid conversion and it has transformed the Surf both onroad and offroad. She handles way better than the lifted IFS ever did and offroad the Surf is way more stable when flexing (I'm still crapping my dacks like before BUT I'm going into way more silly things than I ever did with the IFS setup.)
So for me the solid swap was the progression I needed to do to my truck as I intend on keeping it for a long time.
Mind you I don't go fanging into corners at a great rate but for a lifted truck with incab adjustable Ranchos, it handles really well

[GOT MUD]

ARGUING AGAIN

[GOT MUD]

a mate has an ifs jackaroo with 33s 4 inch lift 2inch body and it handles extremly well in all conditions i just depends how its set up it also hooks into corners very well

[Nev62]

No one mentioned the flaming you cop if you talk about how you would like to modify your IFS to be more capable!

Flame suit on, let the heat commence

[ratboy]

I had one and u can take your IFS and stuff it up your ass. Thay are a wast of time. The bloke who invented it should be shot. weak shit spent more time fixing it than driveing the pig. Sold it now some other fool has to fix it

[DiStuRBeD]

so i take it they drive better onroad and in sand, not necessarily as comfortable.

it will be a hunting vehicle, so no hardcore rocks etc... well at this stage

mostly driving paddocks and bush

[Busiboy]

i had one and u can take your ifs and stuff it up your azz thay r a wast of time the bloke who invented it should be shot weak zhit spent more time
fixing it than driveing the pig sold it now some other fool has to fix it

Can anyone translate this?!?!?!??!

[Busiboy]

so i take it they drive better onroad and in sand, not necessarily as comfortable.

it will be a hunting vehicle, so no hardcore rocks etc... well at this stage

mostly driving paddocks and bush

If you aren't going hardcore ruts etc, you will be ok with a ifs.

We have a fleet os IFS cars, utes and fourwheel drives for our construction co. If we can drive them around onsite all day you will go fine in the paddocks tracks etc.

An ifs can be modify quite well to handle a lot of tracks. Only when you go reasonable hardcore you will need the solid axle.

Go ifs get a newer vehicle, body lift, tyres and a locker and you will wonder what they are all ranting about.

[DamTriton]

i had one and u can take your ifs and stuff it up your azz thay r a wast of time the bloke who invented it should be shot weak zhit spent more time
fixing it than driveing the pig sold it now some other fool has to fix it

Can anyone translate this?!?!?!??!

::Babel fish on::

IFS is great!!!

::Babel fish off::

[Tiny]

i had one and u can take your ifs and stuff it up your azz thay r a wast of time the bloke who invented it should be shot weak zhit spent more time
fixing it than driveing the pig sold it now some other fool has to fix it

Can anyone translate this?!?!?!??!

::Babel fish on::

IFS is great!!!

::Babel fish off::

****ed if I know

[mud4b]

he does not like ifs?

[cj]

I think he's saying his English is limited

[gurumon]

ifs is Grimace!!!!

my lux is ifs and it still handles like a dog onroad.

4 wheeling becomes 3 wheeling and you start waking up at night dreaming of a front locker.

then you get a front locker and start waking up at night dreaming of exploding front diffs.

friends dont let friends buy ifs

[Rob e Gee]

isnt it just HORSES 4 COURSES and i think that most people that are happy just dont complain..........I.F.S. cars will go 90% of the places that live axles will in the hard going....
On corigated and unsealed roads ifs is superier and if you have center diff lock .....in awd ....then you are that far in front it doesnt matter
Eight years ago about 15% of4x4s were i.f.s. now about 80% of new 4x4s are. .......heaven forbid........even the all mighty KING OF THE OFF ROAD....SO if the toyo/moto/co...has seen the light may be the atitude of.....mine is bigger and better than yours will disappear

I wonder how many live axel 4x4s have won the worlds most gruling and toughest motor rally.....PARIS TO DAKAR Pajero for me