Quote:
Originally Posted by Pharmacist
Regardless, there is still the issue of tuning and adjustability. Ford may be able to extract great handling from that solid axle, but sooner or later you will hit the glass ceiling. Independent multilink suspension offers high levels of adjustability in terms of ride height, camber, toe, etc with aftermarket parts. With a solid axle, you're stuck with what the factory offers, without much room for improvement and customization.
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It doesn't really seem to hurt them much, though. The 5.0s are consistently ruling the charts in the Continental Tire series and all of the other cars there are running IRS setups.
I think partly due to advertising BS the SRA gets too much of a bad reputation. People just assume that IRS is better regardless, but let me tell you, a good solid rear axle is much better than a mediocre IRS setup (they do exist!).
I certainly don't feel left wanting when it comes to the performance of the rear end. It's very well controlled in corners, over bumps, etc. It's very well done and can be made even better with aftermarket Watts Link systems, better dampers, control arms, etc.
There definitely is plenty you can do to a solid axle setup. It's a different animal so it requires a different approach.
That said, if Ford can develop a good IRS for the next generation Mustang I will gladly welcome it. But I am not opposed to the SRA based on the fact that it's "old" and "not adjustable."