Your opinions on the 'Red Pill'

[o4c0b|2a]

Have any of you 03/04 guys that still retain IRS, have done most of these? I'm finally got the power etc where I want it (600ish). Now its time to turn to the build up the rear some.
What do you guys think?

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450905&highlight=pill

I have a BF IRS Brace already

Want to purchase:

Steeda polyurethane differential bushings
Full Length Subframe Connectors (don't ask why I dont have this already)
MM IRS Bushings with 9/16th bolts/nuts
Billetflow IRS Mount Brackets
DSS Level 2 Halfshafts
Possible toe link bars

I was thinking of sticking with level 2 halfshafts. Is that a mistake? I really don't plan on running much more power than 600. I know there rated at 600 but I didn't know if anyone out there stretched that a bit, I'm guessing most will say save and get the level 5's. Anything else I should add or delete from the list? This is kind of a grey area for me.

Thanks,
Ed

[Wolfpack Speed]

sounds like a nice upgrade list Ed!!! i like to build for overkill but sometimes the wallet doesn't agree...get which ones you can afford:goodidea:

[o4c0b|2a]

I think so, I just don't wanna half ass it, as you know from seeing/working on my car. I think level 2's would do it, but I don't wanna go cheap if its not gonna last. Any other mod suggestions? May as well do as much as I can at once.

[Wolfpack Speed]

I think so, I just don't wanna half ass it, as you know from seeing/working on my car. I think level 2's would do it, but I don't wanna go cheap if its not gonna last. Any other mod suggestions? May as well do as much as I can at once.
i have seen many people get good life out of stock half shafts. your pretty good to your car and track time is minimal if any at all. i wouldn't be afraid to run the level 2's. you definitely want to do as much in the irs at once if you can.. it's coming out of the car for those mods so save your self the labor $$$ and do everything at once:goodidea:

[724COBRA]

Have any of you 03/04 guys that still retain IRS, have done most of these? I'm finally got the power etc where I want it (600ish). Now its time to turn to the build up the rear some.
What do you guys think?

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/showthread.php?t=450905&highlight=pill

I have a BF IRS Brace already

Want to purchase:

Steeda polyurethane differential bushings
Full Length Subframe Connectors (don't ask why I dont have this already)
MM IRS Bushings with 9/16th bolts/nuts
Billetflow IRS Mount Brackets
DSS Level 2 Halfshafts
Possible toe link bars

I was thinking of sticking with level 2 halfshafts. Is that a mistake? I really don't plan on running much more power than 600. I know there rated at 600 but I didn't know if anyone out there stretched that a bit, I'm guessing most will say save and get the level 5's. Anything else I should add or delete from the list? This is kind of a grey area for me.

Thanks,
Ed

Hey Bud, Check out my sig. I love my setup. I have absolutely NO wheelhop with street tires. I don't have quite the HP you have though. If you are going to buy a bushing kit check out AC427COBRA's kit on svtperformance.com...It is cheaper and just as high if not higher quality. I am gonna stay with my stock half shafts until I break them. A lot of people are getting good life from them. I would go with Derlin and aluminum if I were you. The noise is not even audible above my Stingers and blower :biglaugh:

[Rodeheaver's]

just smack a solid 8.8 i there... by the time yu buy all that other crap you will have the same money in it, and the solid set up is a way better package, do it right the first time..

[o4c0b|2a]

A solid setup done right is around 2-3k isn't it? Those parts I have listed add up to about $1300. I'm throwing the idea of a solid around.. All I hear is mixed opinions, some say driveability between the solid and the IRS is no different, some say the IRS better for street. Some say you can make the IRS as dependable as a solid. Thats why I'm asking you guys. Money is kind of an issue, but I also just wanna do it right from the start. This car is mostly street driven, will see some track time though. My car def hops like hell until 3rd gear.

[Sonic03snake]

IMO, if your not into drag racing all the time, the IRS is worth the investment. I did a complete IRS overall on an 03 cobra about 2 years ago and swore if I ever bought another street car Cobra the IRS would stay. There is no comparison to the ride quality, handling, and traction a propperly setup IRS will provide. I know the vert im putting together will rolling on the IRS.

I would recommend the following:

Delrin bushings where available
2- Airbag kits
aluminum front and rear of diff bushings(Nice for setting up pinion angle)
PHP toe link bars or the 3/4" pipe trick with bump steer kit
Poly subframe bushings w/ correct size front bolts
HD shafts.

[NateSVT]

My friend with a ported Cobra with around 500rwhp had the Level 2s and they broke twice on the street. Then he bought Level 5s. I know two people with KB Cobras with stock IRS and halfshafts that have ran at the track for years with no problems. They're running 1.5-1.6 60fts.

I plan on keeping my stock halfshafts until they break, and when they do break i'll buy some used stock ones again and put them in.:thmbsup: I would never spend 1000+ on some aftermarket halfshafts especially since I have seen them break but I've seen stock ones take some major abuse (5-6000 rpm dumps on slicks).

[Smallville]

i have seen many people get good life out of stock half shafts. your pretty good to your car and track time is minimal if any at all. i wouldn't be afraid to run the level 2's. you definitely want to do as much in the irs at once if you can.. it's coming out of the car for those mods so save your self the labor $$$ and do everything at once:goodidea:


X2. I had the IRS out of my car 4 times. I did it back when the bushings were just coming out, so "this week" subframe bushings were available. Then "next month" control arm bushings were available. etc. So learn from my experience........ Do them ALL at the same time! The 14mm bolts in front are a must. Don't get the cheater kit with the 12mm sleeves. You still have 14mm holes in the body of the car:goodidea:. And save your money on half-shafts. Like NATESVT said, the stock ones can take a good bit of abuse!

[o4c0b|2a]

Maybe I'll leave the halfshafts out for now. At the the rate this car hops though (not even high boost) I don't see them lasting too long tho hah.

[burntire]

What ever you do DO NOT BUY LVL 5 HALFSHAFTS they are junk.
The Stockers held up great on slicks when I had the IRS.

[Wolfpack Speed]

once your hop issues are cured your stock halfshafts wont be stressed as much. the solid swap can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. im not a fan of used parts and you don't get much $$$ for used parts. you just bought and had installed a new bassani catback, you'll need a new catback for a solid swap. if you pick up the phone and call someone like dts to have a complete assembly sent you your door, you will have almost $2500 into it, obviously it could be built cheaper with a good used housing. your still going to need all 4 control arms and some hardware, shocks, springs etc. for a street car, the irs is great imo and the new hardware your looking at is money well spent. if you were drag racing like lou said then i wouldn't waste a second thinking about the solid...both my termy's had solids in them during the first phase of modding. give me a ring at the shop when you get a minute ed.:goodidea:

[somethingclever]

Do any of you guys with the aluminum diff bushings get any high pitch noises/squealing?

[724COBRA]

Do any of you guys with the aluminum diff bushings get any high pitch noises/squealing?

A little, but there is nothing quiet about my car anyway. Doesn't bother me a bit. I can barely hear my radio let alone diff noise.

[Rodeheaver's]

IMO, if your not into drag racing all the time, the IRS is worth the investment. I did a complete IRS overall on an 03 cobra about 2 years ago and swore if I ever bought another street car Cobra the IRS would stay. There is no comparison to the ride quality, handling, and traction a propperly setup IRS will provide. I know the vert im putting together will rolling on the IRS.

I would recommend the following:

Delrin bushings where available
2- Airbag kits
aluminum front and rear of diff bushings(Nice for setting up pinion angle)
PHP toe link bars or the 3/4" pipe trick with bump steer kit
Poly subframe bushings w/ correct size front bolts
HD shafts.TRUE

[somethingclever]

A little, but there is nothing quiet about my car anyway. Doesn't bother me a bit. I can barely hear my radio let alone diff noise.


pm sent....

[o4c0b|2a]

once your hop issues are cured your stock halfshafts wont be stressed as much. the solid swap can be as cheap or expensive as you want to make it. im not a fan of used parts and you don't get much $$$ for used parts. you just bought and had installed a new bassani catback, you'll need a new catback for a solid swap. if you pick up the phone and call someone like dts to have a complete assembly sent you your door, you will have almost $2500 into it, obviously it could be built cheaper with a good used housing. your still going to need all 4 control arms and some hardware, shocks, springs etc. for a street car, the irs is great imo and the new hardware your looking at is money well spent. if you were drag racing like lou said then i wouldn't waste a second thinking about the solid...both my termy's had solids in them during the first phase of modding. give me a ring at the shop when you get a minute ed.:goodidea:

True, but I still find it hard to believe that those parts I listed are gods answer to wheel hop. Gotta start somewhere though, I'll give you a ring today Mike. I'm def leaving the halfshafts out for now, but the other parts I listed are a go, anything else you guys think I should add to my list? Like most said may as well do as much as you can while the IRS is out.

[NateSVT]

I don't get wheelhop at all anymore in my Cobra. My only mods are Cobra R shocks, cut coupe springs (1 1/4 coil) and LMM FLSFCs. I also have 10.5s in the rear with 315s.

[Stangman701]

I honestly think that the best thing would be to run a good drag radial. When I ran MT's I had zero wheel hop with a completely stock rear except for the diff brace. My car had nittos on it when I bought it and they hopped like a bitch, but the MT's didn't hop at all. Also if you're on the gas a lot the drag radials will last almost as long as a set of street tires just because they're not spinning all the time. I'd say just put the extra cash into a good drag radial and you'll have the benefit of drag radials and no wheel hop :awsome:

[o4c0b|2a]

Well I used to run drag radials when I had the eaton setup. Last all of 3k miles on BFGs. I'm using KDW's now. I know no matter what it def won't cure the hopping 100%. You gotta remember I'm running 18x11's in the rear, tires arn't cheap like stock 17" wheels. If all else fails in the end maybe I'll throw some DR's on there down the road, Adding the mods listed def won't hurt at any rate.

[NateSVT]

How do those KDWs hook up with the KB? I was drivin my car today and with the KB at 17lbs my 315 Sumitomos were spinnin in 3rd. 1st and 2nd gear are useless with these tires. But I need new ones soon to get it inpsected so I was going to get some 315 Nittos because they are the cheapest other than the Sumitomos (Can get the Nittos for 320 shipped). I know they aren't the best drag radials but they are the most affordable and last longer than other ones. I wish they were wider though.

[o4c0b|2a]

imo nittos are just as useless. BFG DR's hooked the best but lasted like 3k miles. The KDW's hook up with the KB in 2nd sometimes although they are brand new. I was just looking for something that last long, I don't constantly beat my car. I can't give you an accurate answer either because I'm running 16#'s on a safe rich tune still. After a dyno tune I'm sure it'll be a little different story. You can't expect a perfect setup when your running near 600hp on mostly stock parts, tires alone arn't gonna fix shit. You start getting to the point where its not that cheap to mod anymore haha. Thats why I'm trying to figure out what to do next to mine to build it up right. I thought about nitrous, but I think I'm gonna build up the rear end next. Makes the most sense.

[NateSVT]

Well I was about to buy the Nittos but I changed my mind and bought some 315 BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDs. I know they probably won't hook as good as the Nittos but I hope they will last longer. I had 2 sets of 315 Sumitomos and they only lasted around 4k miles.