Are you really limited with IFS?

[Hulley]

Hey guys, I'm pretty new to 4 wheelin. This is not my first 4WD but its my first that I'm building with the purpose of off-roading. Some of my buddies are jeep guys and they say that a solid front axel is the way to go. Why is that? Are they more durable, greater articulation? I've been watching some pretty wicked vids on youtube with T4Rs and tacomas and I dont see myself wanting to do more than what I've seen, so I dont feel limited personally. But why is a Solid front better? What are the weak points with IFS?

Thanks
Steve

 

[jwyshrek]

It depends on your definition of off roading. I don't recall seeing many solid axles at Baja...desert running.

But seeing that you are in GA...I'm thinking mountain trails with mud, sand, rocks, mud bogs, water...

You just may have opened a can of worms with this question...you can ask ten different people and get ten different answers. My suggestion is to google 'ifs vs. solid axle' and go from there.

I'm relative new to off roading as well, but my understanding is that solid axles are generally stronger and have better articulation...good for rough rocky terrain, but the ride suffers. Some may argue that IFS give better traction in some situations cause both wheels 'touch' the ground. If you have solid axles front and rear, you could have a condition where one wheel in front and one in rear are 'in the air'...this is a SOL state as you would have no traction front and rear...you would need lockers. (I've gotten into this situation with my Cherokee which as solid axles front and rear...and no lockers.)

However, a good IFS setup will do just fine in the kind of off roading you might be doing here in the southeast.

 

[galactic_04]

The thing you have to keep in mind is the IFS won't have the ability to get over objects like a solid axle due to the design. Here's a basic diagram of the geometry

Oh, also, you can bend IFS a lot easier. By the time we swapped the axle off the 89 4runner, the IFS bracing was leaning on the front diff.

 

[Hulley]

Thanks Galatic, your diagram makes perfect sense. When the vehicle with IFS is leaned over and the inside wheel goes up, the front diff stays put and you lose clearance.

 

[Ross]

It is also easier to get more suspension travel or articulation out a solid axle. With a solid axle when one tire raises it forces down the other tire. If you wheeling on rocks, deep ruts over other obstacles this is extremely advantageous. With having the weight pushed down it increases traction. This can work against you if you are doing desert running. Each has their advantage.

 

[Hulley]

Damn, I guess I'll sell the runner and get a jeep......yeah right, I LOVE my T4R!

 

[Offroader5]

Having built and driven my solid axled XJ as my rock crawler for years and having owned 2 different 4x4 IFS rigs, you want the solid axle rig for the more hardcore wheeling like low speed rock crawling, deep mud, things that will get the wheels bound up more often. IMO, it takes less money to make a solid axle strong vs. IFS. If you'll be doing more fast trails or not really looking to encounter alot of rock gardens or large obstacles that you have to climb over, the IFS will work just fine and give you a more comfy ride at the same time.

Much of it really comes down to strength and what's involved to get that strength in either application. Solid axle is simplicity, whereas IFS is a bit more involved.

 

[CXS]

As Offroader5 said there's a lot more to IFS which also translates in to more expensive to repair/replace. My last truck was a solid axle Land Cruiser that I would put through just about everything. Now with my 4Runner I stick to moderate trails which I enjoy the most.

As was said, if you're looking for hard-core you want a solid axle.

 

[teampwr2]

Not to Be Be a Plug ..But These are 4 Runners You Knew that when you bought it... Very Capable But they are limited ... Frankly Im amazed where I have gotten mine ...Impressive when trying to wheel a 6000lb station wagon. !!

 

[Hulley]

Not to Be Be a Plug ..But These are 4 Runners You Knew that when you bought it... Very Capable But they are limited ... Frankly Im amazed where I have gotten mine ...Impressive when trying to wheel a 6000lb station wagon. !!

Very true. One of the many things I love about my runner over a jeep is the comfort, ride quality, build quality and they look great. Like I said in my first post, I dont personally feel limited. I just wasnt sure why a SFA is better that IFS for off-road. My runner will do everything I want it to do. Thanks for responses everyone.

 

[IOP25]

Unless you're putting 35's on and running hardcore trails on the weekends, IFS is all you need especially if this is your DD. When you're towing their Heep out of the woods after they break down, ask them how their solid axle is working. :hatsoff:

 

[Ross]

Unless you're putting 35's on and running hardcore trails on the weekends, IFS is all you need especially if this is your DD. When you're towing their Heep out of the woods after they break down, ask them how their solid axle is working. :hatsoff:

I suppose it depends on what you think is hard core. If you do any wheeling where you need much stretch out of your suspension IFS will let you down, or at least keep you down.

Now if to you hard core wheeling is running fast then IFS is a good choice.

This is not me nor did I take the pic but I will use it to show you what I mean:

With a straight axle running a trial like this is easy. With and IFS it could get tricky esp if you had to do allotof sharp turns. A straight axle could run like this all day long with no difficulty and would make this type of trail seem very mild. In a vehicle with IFS it would be more difficult.

 

[Hulley]

I suppose it depends on what you think is hard core. If you do any wheeling where you need much stretch out of your suspension IFS will let you down, or at least keep you down.

Now if to you hard core wheeling is running fast then IFS is a good choice.

This is not me nor did I take the pic but I will use it to show you what I mean:

With a straight axle running a trial like this is easy. With and IFS it could get tricky esp if you had to do allotof sharp turns. A straight axle could run like this all day long with no difficulty and would make this type of trail seem very mild. In a vehicle with IFS it would be more difficult.

Thanks! God I love those early 4runners. I have some fond memories of wheelin in an 87' pick-up and 85' (I think) 4runner. I was amazed at what a 4cyl could do. I'm a muscle car guy from the age of 16yrs so wheelin in a 4cyl truck was amazing to me. I guess gearing is everything!