turbotom Team Bute Donating Members 1,550 Member For: 21y 10m 6d Gender: Male Location: Adelaide Posted 09/08/04 06:18 AM Share Posted 09/08/04 06:18 AM eatV8 said: xr6ikness said: Leaf spring rear compared to IRS say no more C YA JEFFI watched that brittish show top gear today and they reviewed the new C6 Corvette... It's got leaf springs! Its actually got one leaf spring at the front, and one at the back.....Transverse leaf springs, front and rear. C6 chassis Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-152585 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordboy1981 Donating Members 2,075 Member For: 22y 4m 4d Gender: Male Location: Sydney, NSW Posted 09/08/04 08:53 AM Author Share Posted 09/08/04 08:53 AM thanx guys....that's exactly what I wanted to hear Dave. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-152648 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordboy1981 Donating Members 2,075 Member For: 22y 4m 4d Gender: Male Location: Sydney, NSW Posted 10/08/04 01:28 AM Author Share Posted 10/08/04 01:28 AM but I would like some more opinions....the more the merrier...Dave. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-152823 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turbo6man Lifetime Members 4,084 Member For: 22y 7m 11d Gender: Male Location: South Coast NSW Posted 10/08/04 01:58 AM Share Posted 10/08/04 01:58 AM OK Dave, since you insisted.As some who've been on the forum a while will know I have always questioned the benefits of IRS in normal day to day driving in Aussie road conditions.It is more expensive to manufacture compared to a leaf spring set-up. It is less space efficient compared to leaf springs. It carries a weight penalty compared to leaf springs.Ultimately, a good IRS, and by that I mean double wishbone, will provide better wheel control and rear end grip. BUT how many people off the race track will ever use or need the ultimate? However swing arm types have trouble matching a leaf spring rear end for wheel control. This is because of camber and toe changes as the suspension works through it's length of travel.Cro and Junior (who have been in my ef wagon) can attest to the fact that a well set-up leaf spring rear end can more than match the BA's IRS.My son's XR6T ute, which I drove for a few thousand km before delivering it to him, felt just as secure on the road as any BA sedan I've driven. It did have slight axle hop over corrugations, as does the BA IRS sedans, but it was easily cured with a set of Konis. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-152843 Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotom Team Bute Donating Members 1,550 Member For: 21y 10m 6d Gender: Male Location: Adelaide Posted 10/08/04 06:11 AM Share Posted 10/08/04 06:11 AM One other thing to consider..... not directly associated with handling, but....The utes have a solid rear axle, and are less likely to suffer the driveline shunt issues associated with the take up in all the universal joints of the half shafts of the IRS.No shunt in my ute. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-152964 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordboy1981 Donating Members 2,075 Member For: 22y 4m 4d Gender: Male Location: Sydney, NSW Posted 11/08/04 01:53 PM Author Share Posted 11/08/04 01:53 PM ahhh yes! very good point...Dave. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-153571 Share on other sites More sharing options...
plonky The Bionic Man - half man-half titanium Member 1,766 Member For: 22y 1m 12d Location: Dodge Scat Pack Posted 12/08/04 02:05 AM Share Posted 12/08/04 02:05 AM Turbo6man said: OK Dave, since you insisted.As some who've been on the forum a while will know I have always questioned the benefits of IRS in normal day to day driving in Aussie road conditions.It is more expensive to manufacture compared to a leaf spring set-up. It is less space efficient compared to leaf springs. It carries a weight penalty compared to leaf springs.Ultimately, a good IRS, and by that I mean double wishbone, will provide better wheel control and rear end grip. BUT how many people off the race track will ever use or need the ultimate? However swing arm types have trouble matching a leaf spring rear end for wheel control. This is because of camber and toe changes as the suspension works through it's length of travel.Cro and Junior (who have been in my ef wagon) can attest to the fact that a well set-up leaf spring rear end can more than match the BA's IRS.My son's XR6T ute, which I drove for a few thousand km before delivering it to him, felt just as secure on the road as any BA sedan I've driven. It did have slight axle hop over corrugations, as does the BA IRS sedans, but it was easily cured with a set of Konis. My XR6 ute has leaf springs and quite frankly I can run rings around an IRS sedan. Leaf springs may be old fashioned (like pushrods) unmarketable (like solid axle Watts Linkage) and don;t allow the individual wheel to make a completely perfect angle when riding over broken/rippled roads.However, the leaf spring (especially the way that Ford has refined it in the ute) has the benefit of years of refinement. It is firm and sure footed, not overly affected by extra weight or loads and easy and cheap to modify.The vast improvements in tyre technology, shock absorbers, suspension bushings etc have really given the leaf rear end a shot in the arm.It is not a very sexy suspension to sell and this is why it is not popular, particularly with motoring journo's. They have really pushed manufacturers into forms of technology that may be great for a single use (racing) but not on a day to day basis (passenger commuting) The Territory is a classic example of a manufacturer responding to an identifiable criticism in the growth of 4WD's as people movers.Consider this. A major manufacturer such as Ford/GM/Mercedes etc makes a small volume supercar (GT40/McLaren CL etc) The money expended on the project will never be recouped so they are built as a 'branding tool'.Who buys them? Not you or I.Who drives them? Motoring journo'sSo who has a significant impact in how cars are made and modified?Motoring magazines because ultimately a car is just a product and the manufacturer has to use the various forms of media to sell their product.I like leaf spring/Watts Linkage rear suspensions. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-153701 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris xr6 Member 376 Member For: 21y 1m 22d Location: Shire Posted 12/08/04 03:03 AM Share Posted 12/08/04 03:03 AM plonky said: [quote=My XR6 ute has leaf springs and quite frankly I can run rings around an IRS sedan. Listen to the man wearing blue!!! Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-153723 Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordboy1981 Donating Members 2,075 Member For: 22y 4m 4d Gender: Male Location: Sydney, NSW Posted 14/08/04 02:41 PM Author Share Posted 14/08/04 02:41 PM yeah, they use the product everyday!do the Divie vans use leaf sprung live rear ends??...I'm guessing yes, as they are based on utes...Dave. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-154694 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cro Flower Power Lifetime Members 6,114 Member For: 22y 7m 11d Gender: Male Location: Sydney Posted 14/08/04 02:51 PM Share Posted 14/08/04 02:51 PM Turbo6man said: Cro and Junior (who have been in my ef wagon) can attest to the fact that a well set-up leaf spring rear end can more than match the BA's IRS. That thing was on rails!I was able to take every corner with comfort at least 15-20km/h more than I'd even dream about in the XRT. Link to comment https://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/topic/12246-ute-vs-sedan-handling/page/2/#findComment-154695 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now