Stupid GM IFS question

[bob91yj]

Look at H1's, they are IFS. One other thing is that you can put a locker in the front diff off an IFS truck, I can think of 2 right now for the chevy, it is the same housing that the dodge uses 9.5" AAM.

Not sure H1's make a good IFS argument. They don't have enough suspension travel to really matter IMO. The portals make the drive line angles a non issue with their limited travel.

(it's still 100* outside, I'm bored, and this is the interweb. My opinion is usually wrong, just ask my wife!:sombrero

 

[tmentzelo]

I'm sold on the IFS idea for light wheeling.
But really, I have no personal experience to offer, as I'm just building up my truck right now.
I can tell you that the stock suspension/steering was all but destroyed at around 140,000kms on my truck. I pretty much only use it to take my motorbikes camping, and skiing in the winter.
The little bit of off road that I've done (once a week), the truck works well enough, and I'm hoping to build up the front end to make it all last longer.

 

[Ridge Runner]

Solid front axle also lets you put in a front locker, otherwise you're limited to open diff on the front.

Negative.

You can also get more articulation with a SFA, but unless you go really off road you probably don't really need either.

Your statement is subjective.

 

[Haakon]

Negative.



Your statement is subjective.

And yours is empty of content.

 

[highdesertranger]

ifs = more moving parts. that will eventually will wear out. race teams and military have big budgets for service, maintenance, and repair. ifs sure rides nice like grandmas caddy. solid front axle is simple and strong. in the end it a personal choice. me, I will go with simple and strong. highdesertranger

 

[chilliwak]

As mentioned before if you are spending most of your time on road then stay with the IFS. I have just heard a lot of guys say that if they were aware of the replacement cost of IFS part every year, then they would have went sas a long time ago. It all depends on your needs. Lots of road travel=IFS. Lots of off road= SAS....:smiley_drive:

 

[locrwln]

My IFS truck works just fine and yes I do have a locker in the front (Eaton E-Locker), which is only available for the 9.25" 3/4-1ton front axle, no luck for the 1/2ton front diff.

Mengal Pass in Death Valley:


Fordyce:


Rawhide, Central Nevada:


Southern Utah:


Like Bob I use the LJ for the rocks:


Some of what I used to have:


I have had both SA trucks, IFS trucks and IFS trucks that I have SAS'd. Other than rockcrawling, IFS is just fine for 90+% of wheeling duties. Is IFS perfect? No, but most of the issues are easy to fix. My F350 on stock tires/stock front axle weight and very little offroad miles needed balljoints at 80k. My IFS Chevy with a steel bumper, winch, many many miles offroad and 34" tires is still on the original balljoints with 114k miles and still going...

Jack

 

[Wilbah]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the comments. I feel for my needs the IFS is fine and nice to see that others have had decent success and don't feel they have to toss it. Thanks for the knowledgeable and thoughtful replies.

 

[Buliwyf]

Actually I found that the 2010+ Fords ride nicer than our GM2500's. And that's WITH much stiffer shocks.
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I don't think anyone mentioned how easy it is to tune the suspension on a SA truck. 2" Carli level kit for a 2008+ Ford, which is about the same capability as a 4-6" lift in many of the older trucks I've had, is just Front springs, shocks, track bar, and a caster shim. About half a Sunday easy.

 

[Grasslakeron]

Why Ron? Virtually all the Class 1 and Trophy Trucks use IFS so presumably IFS itself doesn't suck? And I am not trying to be a d**k....I am just curious what you are referring to?

I have chewed up and destroyed several IFS setups on various trucks. I have not had that on my solid axle trucks. Dana 44 and Dana 60's I have had great luck with.

Ron

 

[Buliwyf]

Race trucks shred those heim joints all the time. They don't use IFS on race trucks because they're maintenance free, but because it's darn fast when it's setup for monster travel. It's not fair to compare a race truck with proper geometry and hugely expensive parts to the retarded IFS engineering that Ford and GM come up with. I spent too much time wondering how GM and Ford were able to get akerman and bumpsteer settings correct when they use a SA style steering box instead of rack and pinion normally found with smaller IFS vehicles. Then a retired GM engineer enlightened me............."We didn't."
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Heim joints suck. Even the huge race ones would wear quickly in street applications. As the custom built Raptor guys with aftermarket upper arms are finding out. Race parts are strong and good. But no one blinks twice when they need replaced every 1000 miles. Not really applicable for an expo truck.

 

[Kaisen]

But, but, but......what about all the EXPO Tacomas with IFS?? I thought they were expedition certified to traverse the deserts of Africa, the rainforests of Brazil, and the jagged rocks of the moon? Everyone says so. They can't be wrong.

 

[Buliwyf]

LoLz. Top Gear drove across Africa in a Benz, Volvo, Oliver, and a Beetle.
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Consensus seems to be that the new Tacos ain't what they once were.

 

[y5e06]

I have a mild '00 OBS Tahoe. I rather like the truck and plan to keep it. as much as I would like to SAS it, it will stay IFS. No locker for me, but i would really like to run 35's. For expo purposes, are these too big for this diff/ifs? I'm not worried about lift and tire clearance as I have no problems cutting and fabbing fenders.

 

[MaverickTRD]

Just TTB swap and get the best of both worlds!!!! In the meantime I'll stick with IFS. Never had an issue. And if you want more travel there are plenty of long travel kits out there for almost any platform. then you get articulation, but also better handling at speed than an SFA