SRA vs IRS

**scott5** · 01-07-2013, 09:37 PM

Here you go, to not whore up and off topic someones thread on asking about suspension parts not asking which is better IRS or SRA..

So speak up!

**scott5** · 01-07-2013, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by speedracer

Ford did not develop a IRS for the S197 platform... they made due with the solid axle.

Seems like they made "due" alot better than any time i seen of the 99-04 cobra.

and the sn=95 platform was also not developed for a IRS. See here from SVT

For the 1999 model year, the SVT engineers at Ford decided putting an IRS into the New Edge SVT Cobra was the thing to do. The only problem was this chassis was not designed for an IRS. They overcame this obstacle by building a subframe to hold the IRS assembly. This move was definitely a compromise. The design itself is not as bad as it seems to be but the materials used to meet the NVH levels they were striving to achieve was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It works, but it’s highly compromised.

**Wolfpack Speed** · 01-07-2013, 09:48 PM

I have never understood this debate. Off the top of my head, there are only 4 years since the Mustang has been in production that Ford used an IRS. They didn't build the car around the IRS, they just tossed one in for something different! So why do some people act like the car is ruined by swapping the IRS for a SRA??? How many years have Mustangs been coming with SRA's???

I don't necessarily have a problem with the Mustangs that have used IRS or the IRS in general, but it's totally overrated, poorly engineering and ridiculously heavy IMO. Mod for mod, dollar for dollar, I can and have built much nicer and better handling cars with a SRA.

:)

**crazylou** · 01-07-2013, 09:49 PM

up to 04 they were all still foxbody chassie based... thats why irs had a frame built for it and sooo heavy... sra best thing i did to my cobra so far no more clunkin or banging...

**Wolfpack Speed** · 01-07-2013, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by scott5

Here you go, to not whore up and off topic someones thread on asking about suspension parts not asking which is better IRS or SRA..

So speak up!

You beat me to it! LOL! I merged the threads...

**crazylou** · 01-07-2013, 09:52 PM

Originally Posted by Steel City

I have never understood this debate. Off the top of my head, there are only 4 years since the Mustang has been in production that Ford used an IRS. They didn't build the car around the IRS, they just tossed one in for something different! So why do some people act like the car is ruined by swapping the IRS for a SRA??? How many years have Mustangs been coming with SRA's???

I don't necessarily have a problem with the Mustangs that have used IRS or the IRS in general, but it's totally overrated, poorly engineering and ridiculously heavy IMO. Mod for mod, dollar for dollar, I can and have built much nicer and better handling cars with a SRA.

:)

x2 mike well said...

**no1sirbutler** · 01-07-2013, 09:54 PM

I don't know if I'm a fan of ripping out the IRS of a cobra for a SRA or not but its the owners car....would I put an IRS in my car...HELL NO!!!!! Too much weight and too hard to work on it the car. Parts are too expensive to replace as well

**speedracer** · 01-07-2013, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by scott5

but the materials used to meet the NVH levels they were striving to achieve was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It works, but it’s highly compromised.

FTB kit...

**stevec5ws6** · 01-07-2013, 10:09 PM

Because there was a limited number of the cars made.

when there were thousands of other cars made that have the SRA setup already... why mod the hell out of the other cars.... to me, that's just as bad as putting an LS1 in a cobra... if i did that you guys would cry a river.

1 of 477 cars....no... it's 1 of 2 or 3 of those red cobras someone took the cobra rear end out of. lol. :)

**Wolfpack Speed** · 01-07-2013, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by speedracer

FTB kit...

Very nice product that I am a dealer for, have installed several kits but it's not enough to make me keep the IRS!

**Wolfpack Speed** · 01-07-2013, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by stevec5ws6

Because there was a limited number of the cars made.

when there were thousands of other cars made that have the SRA setup already... why mod the hell out of the other cars.... to me, that's just as bad as putting an LS1 in a cobra... if i did that you guys would cry a river.

1 of 477 cars....no... it's 1 of 2 or 3 of those red cobras someone took the cobra rear end out of. lol. :)

Thats another debate that has me banging my head off the table! Who the hell wants to put a gm motor in a ford or visa versa!!! LMAO!

**no1sirbutler** · 01-07-2013, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by speedracer

FTB kit...

And how much did that cost you? Did it completely eliminate the chance of breaking an axle?

**speedracer** · 01-07-2013, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Steel City

Very nice product that I am a dealer for, have installed several kits but it's not enough to make me keep the IRS!

You live in a damn city... there's nowhere to drive the car. I guess thats why everyone wants to drag race out there.

**stevec5ws6** · 01-07-2013, 10:39 PM

gotta admit... those right foot only cars are nice in the city when your sitting in traffic, on your phone eating a sandwich, drinking a coke and holding hands with your woman, while you text.

**crazylou** · 01-07-2013, 11:09 PM

Different strokes for different folks.... ok i admit i chopped,hacked and cut my car up... u got me.... LOL...

**Mark Aubele** · 01-07-2013, 11:27 PM

Would rather have a three link and a panhard bar over the IRS even for track use. Haven't liked any of the IRS cars I have tracked and autocrossed over a properly setup solid axle. Stock for stock I would take the IRS though, as the factory four link is atrocious on track and tries to kill you when you add a panhard bar and try to keep the upper links in place.

**Stangman701** · 01-07-2013, 11:46 PM

For Pennsylvania roads I'll take the IRS all day long. Night and day difference over cars with a solid axle. Way more composed through turns with uneven pavement. If I lived down south where the roads are a little better then maybe I'd consider swapping to a solid axle.

**RSbeast** · 01-08-2013, 12:29 AM

You guys see the new Kenny Brown tubular IRS stuff? Seemed worth looking into weight wise. I haven't done squart for research on it however as I no longer own a Mustang.

**RSbeast** · 01-08-2013, 12:31 AM

http://www.kennybrown.com/press/kenn...d-2000-cobra-r

**somethingclever** · 01-08-2013, 02:15 AM

IRS is for driving on the street.....not the track. On smooth pavement I would do a properly setup solid axle. I swapped in an IRS in my sn95 and would never go back to an sra. In fact I would put an sra in my 65 mustang if the track widths were closer. I don't know about u guys but I like to drive my stuff on the street and the IRS wins every time for comfort and control. It's really not even a debate in my mind.