Author Topic: IFS vs SOLID AXLE (Read 16218 times)

gonzo · « **on:** Feb 15, 2005, 01:16:58 PM »

Has anyone used both IFS and SOLID axles? What are the pros and cons? How do they compare in performance?

Northern Runner · « **Reply #1 on:** Feb 15, 2005, 04:55:03 PM »

The IFS is great on the highway and as a daily driver. Thats where it ended for me. I threw on larger tires and a lift and had nothing but problems. Blew CV shafts went through a ton of ball joints, tie rod ends and idler arms. Solid axle swap.. Very nice off-road, alot more durable, but not as nice for a daily driver.

gonzo · « **Reply #2 on:** Feb 16, 2005, 06:38:26 AM »

Thanks Northern Runner. Right now it's a daily driver, so a solid axle swap will have to wait until she is retired to wheel'in only.

twin60s · « **Reply #3 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 11:31:37 AM »

if you wheel,sas is the only way to go. you can still go down the hiway pretty good if you run a set of skinnys

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #4 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 02:30:07 PM »

Quote from: gonzo on Feb 16, 2005, 06:38:26 AM

Thanks Northern Runner. Right now it's a daily driver, so a solid axle swap will have to wait until she is retired to wheel'in only.

sas doesnt mean trail only, but dont spend mucho $$ on lifting a ifs, my 79 is my daily driver and has been for over 10 years, and will be for another 10, ifs is a good ride if you just go offroad everynow and then, fishing or hunting , and dont need more than 31'' tires

FATB0Y · « **Reply #5 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 02:35:52 PM »

Quote from: twin60s on Feb 20, 2005, 11:31:37 AM

if you wheel,sas is the only way to go. you can still go down the hiway pretty good if you run a set of skinnys

what he said

UNBREAKABLE · « **Reply #6 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 03:52:44 PM »

SWAP IT!!!

ntsqd · « **Reply #7 on:** Feb 20, 2005, 08:25:52 PM »

If it's only crawling you plan to do then a solid axle (SA) is the only way to go.

If running in the dez at speed is also in the game plan then take a good look at the Total Chaos stuff for an IFS. I've never seen an SA that could stay with an IFS truck at speed. Total Chaos just came out with the CURE for the ball joint problem and have had the CURE for the idler arm problem on the market for nearly a year. One of the LocosMocos trucks had the BJ part and he bashed it all the way down the penninsula and back for the Baja 1000 pit this year w/o one concern. The IFS truck I rode in has had the idler arm on it for more than a year of desert race pit duty + play in the deserts and it's still as new.

gonzo · « **Reply #8 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 06:46:29 AM »

Thanks for all the info

Skinny_Pedal · « **Reply #9 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 11:18:43 AM »

theres a night and day difference offroad. solid on the street isnt bad at all....especially with soft springs!

mudaddict · « **Reply #10 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:09:56 PM »

I really done like my ifs it gets hung up on stuff and i dont have much clearance, also i cant flex that well because it only can go so far down so in some places where you need some flex it jusdt wont cut it! I havent had anyhitng break on mine and i ahve a 4 in suspension and 33's and i run trails with no problems jsut a bent tie rod is all i have come out with no breakage or anyhting! but really a solid axle isnt to bad on street but if compared to ifs there is a difference. If you are jsut gonan wheel it here and there and not tuff trails or anyhitng stick with ifs but if you are gonan wheel like every weekend or somethign like that and its pretty tuff trails swap it so a solid axle i wish i woudla hev done that before i got my lift for my runner!

Mike D · « **Reply #11 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:13:58 PM »

yeah you didn't listen to me

To The Floor · « **Reply #12 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:15:32 PM »

put it this way, if you aren't considering an sas because of street drivability, then you shouldn't do it. that just means that you don't do enough wheelin to need a solid axle. if you are serious about wheelin then the sacrifice of driving a solid axle rig on the street isn't a big deal. besides the sacrifice isn't even that much. i think driving solid axle trucks on the street is funner then ifs rigs, especially with soft springs. it's not a huge deal, it's not like your worrying about driving a buggy with D60's on the street. if you have ever even had a thought about doing an sas, do it. if i were to buy a ifs toyota even as my daily driver and i had a solid axle rig that i trailered..i'd still probably sas the ifs one and put 33's on it or something. it is just so much more simple and stronger.

gonzo · « **Reply #13 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:29:15 PM »

I have already put a 3" Rancho lift on the ifs. I wanted 33" tires, so I have a few $$ in it. When I started modifying things I didn't even think about "crawlin", so the 3" lift kit was about all I wanted. Then came the Detroit locker and Tru Trac and 4:88's. These mods really made a big difference on the trucks capabilities. Now that I have dicovered the "crawling crew" I have been looking at the next level of "4 wheelin". SAS is in my future, but for now I am doing alot of "research" and educating my self.

mudaddict · « **Reply #14 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:37:39 PM »

yaa, dude where in arizona do you live?? ya i didnt listen to mike d i didnt listen to anyone when i decided to do the lift i jsut did it!

gonzo · « **Reply #15 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:39:30 PM »

The "edge" of Gilbert. (Giblet)

mudaddict · « **Reply #16 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:40:28 PM »

ohhh i will be down in avandale in july for 2 years!

gonzo · « **Reply #17 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:44:38 PM »

Avondale has a lot of desert area. That area has been growing and expanding like crazy. I haven't been down there wheelin. Are you in Aviation?

mudaddict · « **Reply #18 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:47:10 PM »

No i will be there at uti for mechanics! ya im hoping there is some good wheeling down around there! i need a locker tho! i want to get one right as i move down there!

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #19 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:51:10 PM »

IFS aint too bad, but if you wanna do some wheelin, SAS it. cherck out my pics in the rig gallery, under MY 91 page 4, and you'll see why flex comes in handy, that IFS just doesnt give you. I havent broken anything on my IFS and I am running a locker and 37"s, but I know it is only a matter of time. Hopefully

I will do the SAS this summer, If I can do it cheaply enough

gonzo · « **Reply #20 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:53:52 PM »

Yup, you can always find a place to wheel here. Mud is kind'a hard to find though!

MiniSimp · « **Reply #21 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 12:57:27 PM »

I'm running 35's on my IFS Dakota, but the front doesn't flex for anything! For fire trails it's cool, but not for any rock crawling.

mudaddict · « **Reply #22 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 01:14:16 PM »

Ya i not to worried about no mud its jsut fun but it is what is causing my engine crap so im done for a while ahha! when i coem down in july we should hook up and go wheel!

gonzo · « **Reply #23 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 01:21:16 PM »

I am hoping that this week end I can post some pics of my truck on this board. Right now all I have is my Avitar. My toy is a 86 4 runner. When you get I will let you know when we have a run Mudaddict.

Nice rig MiniSimp.

Skinny_Pedal · « **Reply #24 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 01:39:06 PM »

Quote from: To The Floor on Apr 14, 2005, 12:15:32 PM

if you are serious about wheelin then the sacrifice of driving a solid axle rig on the street isn't a big deal. besides the sacrifice isn't even that much. i think driving solid axle trucks on the street is funner then ifs rigs, especially with soft springs.

exactly....but u can't forget that
A. there cool as hell to look at and get attention
B. if u drive like an ass with soft springs(hehe) and take corners u also get attention.
C. its cool as hell
D. ifs sucks donkey balls

now get rid of that crap and go solid
it ain't rocket science

gonzo · « **Reply #25 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 01:42:45 PM »

Quote from: skinny_pedal on Apr 14, 2005, 01:39:06 PM

exactly....but u can't forget that
A. there cool as hell to look at and get attention
B. if u drive like an ass with soft springs(hehe) and take corners u also get attention.
C. its cool as hell
D. ifs sucks donkey balls

now get rid of that crap and go solid
it ain't rocket science

I agree.

mudaddict · « **Reply #26 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 02:24:41 PM »

Ya get some pics up i got a 92 runner! ya are you in a club down there??

To The Floor · « **Reply #27 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 02:26:07 PM »

Yeah, there's nothin' cooler than seein' a built solid rig on the street, body roll around the corners and all. i love seein solid axle toys drivin down the road, but hopefully they aren't all just mall crawlers and actually wheel the truck

mudaddict · « **Reply #28 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 02:36:22 PM »

I agree i see a munch of those and i get discusted! i hate all the people who ahve the big dodges and fords and all that jibberish.

Tom · « **Reply #29 on:** Apr 14, 2005, 03:23:03 PM »

I recently converted over 3 weeks ago. The IFS would definately win out in a high speed desert situation. But the ride with the solid axle is just the same to me. Major bumps are a little worse, but not much. Keep in mind that I had cheap shocks on the IFS (with 4" lift 33s and locker) and now have Bilsteins, so that probably helps.

As I still dont have a front driveshaft made I havent been able to really test it, but messing around a little on a camping trip and some ramps around here it is clear how much better the solid axle is. Much more stable on top of everything. I spent almost 1K on the IFS lift, and spent about double that on the SA. I would go SA first and not worry about the IFS.

Oh yeah, my 86 runner is my ONLY vehicle and my DD. Nothing like cruising around with no top and lean like hell in the corners.

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