Does the Ford Mustang really have solid rear axle?
#31
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
solid axles, leaf springs, push rods, inferior Hemispherical combustion chambers, I'm think domesitc automakers put these things in to save $ and appease the heritige/classic club owners.... even Porsche owners complained when they <gasp> started cooling their engines with water. If you want a car with modern technology and not spend an arm and a leg stick with Japaneese, the 370Z is a bargain for what you get.
#32
Lexus Fanatic
Porsche had little or no choice. With ever-tightening mileage and emissions rules, the air-cooled engines had to go. They simply took too long to warm up in cold weather and it was difficult to get even combustion temperatures in each cylinder......both critical for low emissions. Even Porsche enthusiasts don't always enjoy having to drive their cars long distances in the winter to get cabin heat/defrosting, and exhaust gases mixing in with the heat if there is the slightest leak in the system.
#33
Moderator
iTrader: (6)
REPORT: S197 Ford Mustang could have had independent rear suspension for $100 per car
It seems that any discussion about a modern Ford Mustang inevitably turns into a debate about its solid rear axle. While Ford has done an incredible job of optimizing the pony car's suspension, many still find it unacceptable that such an antiquated technology is used on a modern day performance car. Motor Trend boss Angus MacKenzie, however, says that the S197 Mustang platform almost received an independent rear suspension a while back – and for a lot less than you might think.
According to MacKenzie, the 2005 Mustang was set to get an independent suspension shared with the BA-series Falcon sedan built in Australia. Even when it was decided that the two cars would use different platforms, Ford designers set about designing an independent suspension specific to the Mustang. So why did it still end up with a solid rear axle? According to MacKenzie, product development executive Phil Martens convinced Bill Ford Jr. that they could save $100 per car if they dropped the IRS and went with the solid axle. For all of you non drag-racing types that wish the Mustang had an independently suspended rear, this news probably makes you sick to the stomach.
But wait... there's more! MacKenzie's sources say that the cost of sorting out the current Mustang's suspension actually cost $98 more per car than the IRS that could have gone in the car. Like Angus, we love the current Mustang but have to wonder if it could have been that much better.
According to MacKenzie, the 2005 Mustang was set to get an independent suspension shared with the BA-series Falcon sedan built in Australia. Even when it was decided that the two cars would use different platforms, Ford designers set about designing an independent suspension specific to the Mustang. So why did it still end up with a solid rear axle? According to MacKenzie, product development executive Phil Martens convinced Bill Ford Jr. that they could save $100 per car if they dropped the IRS and went with the solid axle. For all of you non drag-racing types that wish the Mustang had an independently suspended rear, this news probably makes you sick to the stomach.
But wait... there's more! MacKenzie's sources say that the cost of sorting out the current Mustang's suspension actually cost $98 more per car than the IRS that could have gone in the car. Like Angus, we love the current Mustang but have to wonder if it could have been that much better.
#35
Lexus Fanatic
Guys, like I said before, money here was NOT the issue, whether it was $100 per car or not.....at least not production money on the assembly line. It WAS a money issue, though, if you figure that, with an IRS, Ford would probably have been doing a lot more rear-end warranty work, because they knew that a lot of Mustang GT owners would do burn-outs and abuse the drivetrain, but the factory couldn't prove abuse and reject the warrranty claim. With a simple, rugged, soild rear axle, a lot less warranty money would probably be spent on rear-end work.
#36
5% Club. Killing it!!!
iTrader: (15)
Ok...I can't believe this. I mean WTF has Ford been doing?
Seriously.
Enthusiasts please respond.
Is there any logical explanation as to why the Mustang has a solid rear axle?
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/r...t-rear-suspen/
I would never think to even look under any modern day North America passenger car to see if it has a IRS....
Seriously.
Enthusiasts please respond.
Is there any logical explanation as to why the Mustang has a solid rear axle?
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/22/r...t-rear-suspen/
I would never think to even look under any modern day North America passenger car to see if it has a IRS....
Last edited by tmf2004; 06-25-09 at 07:30 PM.
#37
Lexus Fanatic
Yes, we can speculate about the possibility of the Mustang having higher warranty repairs if it didn't have a solid rear axle. Who knows, because the more powerful hemi Chargers and 300's, SRT8's, etc. have not had that problem with IRS setups.
And the last major burnout I saw in 2006 by a high power solid-axle Camaro resulted in a dropped driveshaft and was towed away from my company parking lot. The weakest links are still there, including those driveshaft u-joints.
And the last major burnout I saw in 2006 by a high power solid-axle Camaro resulted in a dropped driveshaft and was towed away from my company parking lot. The weakest links are still there, including those driveshaft u-joints.
#38
Lexus Fanatic
And the last major burnout I saw in 2006 by a high power solid-axle Camaro resulted in a dropped driveshaft and was towed away from my company parking lot. The weakest links are still there, including those driveshaft u-joints.
And, since you saw that happen in 2006, that Camaro had to have been at least 3-4 years old, since the F-Bodies went out of production in 2002-2003. Who knows what that particular vehicle went through, in the meantime?
#39
Lexus Fanatic
Previous-generation F-bodies had a reputation for worse-than-average reliability......no doubt enhanced by abuse such as this. Mustangs, in general, fared a little better.....but, of course, were still not Toyota or Honda-like in reliability.
And, since you saw that happen in 2006, that Camaro had to have been at least 3-4 years old, since the F-Bodies went out of production in 2002-2003. Who knows what that particular vehicle went through, in the meantime?
Also as I mentioned earlier, the most immature owners of Mustangs tend to be well out of warranty when they acquire the car used and abuse it anyway.
#40
Out of Warranty
Slightly o/t, but I saw a beautiful original '99 Cobra 'stang in the parking lot at my favorite barbecue stand last week. Yes, it was one of the IRS models, but more important, it had a "For Sale" sign on it, and I was sorely tempted. Price was $11,000, and for a short production run coupe (some 4040 built that year) it could be a decent investment as a hobby car.
It appeared to be in great condition, always garaged and carefully maintained. With 84,000 miles on the clock it was well used, but I shuddered a bit when I considered the cost of repairs to this minor classic. Then the owner started the engine for me. Fortunately I was standing slightly to the left of the rear of the car as a puff of oil smoke belched from the exhausts when the engine lit off.
OK, so the valve guides leak . . . uh-oh, the mosquito fogging continues . . . this is more than valve guides . . . here's a hand assembled engine that needs at least a valve and ring job. If I were one of those people who could enjoy polishing my treasure, backing it out of the garage only on nice sunny days, but otherwise keeping it under glass as a museum piece, it might be a great buy. But I'm not wired that way.
I've worked on the restoration of several cars, even a couple of WWII aircraft, and I've found that a mechanical device delivers the most satisfaction when it is used for the purpose for which it was built. It needs to be out there clicking its valve lifters, throbbing its headers, and circulating oil, water, and fuel - flexing its muscles, not sitting in a static display. If I'm going to invest in a classic, even a minor one, it's going to spend Saturdays howling through the trees on my favorite twisty two-lane with me. We're gonna dance.
Sadly, what remaining good sense I have got the better of me and I passed on the deal. I hope that Cobra finds a good home.
It appeared to be in great condition, always garaged and carefully maintained. With 84,000 miles on the clock it was well used, but I shuddered a bit when I considered the cost of repairs to this minor classic. Then the owner started the engine for me. Fortunately I was standing slightly to the left of the rear of the car as a puff of oil smoke belched from the exhausts when the engine lit off.
OK, so the valve guides leak . . . uh-oh, the mosquito fogging continues . . . this is more than valve guides . . . here's a hand assembled engine that needs at least a valve and ring job. If I were one of those people who could enjoy polishing my treasure, backing it out of the garage only on nice sunny days, but otherwise keeping it under glass as a museum piece, it might be a great buy. But I'm not wired that way.
I've worked on the restoration of several cars, even a couple of WWII aircraft, and I've found that a mechanical device delivers the most satisfaction when it is used for the purpose for which it was built. It needs to be out there clicking its valve lifters, throbbing its headers, and circulating oil, water, and fuel - flexing its muscles, not sitting in a static display. If I'm going to invest in a classic, even a minor one, it's going to spend Saturdays howling through the trees on my favorite twisty two-lane with me. We're gonna dance.
Sadly, what remaining good sense I have got the better of me and I passed on the deal. I hope that Cobra finds a good home.
#41
#42
Lexus Fanatic
They will cut every penny they can. Look at the interior of the car. Its total garbage. The quality of all of the material, the ergonomics, and overall feel are far worse than anything I have seen in a while.
I had a patient who was a GM engineer and said they had a huge problem with mirrors falling off cars in the winter. He said they reduced the quality of the adhesive to save 2 cents per car. He said that in the engineering dept back in the day praise was given based on how much money you could cut from the production cost. It had nothing to do with actual talent in design. I am not surprised that Ford is guilty of making bad moves chasing lower production costs. Its not like every manufacturer doesnt want to save money on production, but at the cost of the very purpose of that vehicle.
Sports cars need independent suspension ideally. That will not change. Not to sat that a solid rear set up cant be "tuned", but in standard street form it produces poor handling, and poor off the line jump if the car is very powerful
#43
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Big Mack
#44
Lexus Fanatic
The yellow V6 Camaro I saw on my way to dinner today looked great, especially nice without all that SS graphic junk on the body. Really stood out and looked sleek.
And a 300hp direct injected V6 with IRS is nice modern hardware too.
The Camaro is a sports coupe not so much a relic trying to retain the traditional pony car solid rear axle. Because for Ford today, the main reason is probably tradition when it comes to the choice of solid rear axle.
And a 300hp direct injected V6 with IRS is nice modern hardware too.
The Camaro is a sports coupe not so much a relic trying to retain the traditional pony car solid rear axle. Because for Ford today, the main reason is probably tradition when it comes to the choice of solid rear axle.
Last edited by IS-SV; 06-27-09 at 11:25 PM.
#45
Lexus Test Driver
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post