Solid Axle vs IFS

Looking into doing a solid axle swap but people say its not as smooth of a ride compared to Independent on the road. Is this true? And is it a better suspension for bigger lifts?

 

I’ll assume you’re a very well knowledged fabricator?

 

I got a buddy that’s pretty good on trucks. He did his own solid axle swap.

 

If pretty good is want you want then go for it, personally I like excellent, master fabricator, master welder.

 

It's going to ride much worse. A Jeep JL is about the best case scenario in something this size as far as handling goes and FCA has spent a lot of money getting it there. Your's will handle much more like a YJ when you're done assuming your buddy is a race truck level fabricator... "pretty good" is about two rungs on the ladder lower than I'd even consider having do this work.

Basically, don't fucking SAS a daily driver... it makes the truck far less safe and it's a downgrade in every way. I would only be doing this for a trail toy, not something I rely on every day.

 

I've driven a few SAS swapped trucks, a 3.0 Pickup, a 22RE 4runner, a 1st gen Xterra...etc.

Really if it has a SAS, its designed for travel and offroading, they never have sway bars and body roll like a bastard. Meaning really bad road manors.

I had a jeep XJ and it was fucking awful on bumpy roads even stock. There's a reason only jeeps have solid axles in the front.

 

Go for it man! Be sure to report back! Sounds like you're in good hands.

 

I might not even do it anymore these people are scaring me and changing my mind lol.

 

In that case I might just not even do it and just keep the Independent suspension.

 

Safety is always first and I’m planning on driving my truck to work daily so I’m not even going to swap it.

 

I mean his swap looks pretty damn good. If I had a picture I would show y’all.

 

You need to try driving a 1984, last year they put solid axles in for a good reason.

 

It’s not about looking good. It’s about being done correctly. There is a lot of engineering into a solid front axle set up steering angles, pinion angles, shocks mounted correctly so they work properly etc etc. it’s not just about rip off the IFS hang some leaf spring shackles and bolt up and axle, put on some tires and go.

 

I'd beg to differ. SFA rides better in my experience if you have it set up right. IFS is definitely much easier to set up and ride really "well," but you really have to bolt some long travel on to really see a difference in my eyes.

I'd read up and educate yourself on suspension geometry, shock geometry, valving, spring rate, etc... Everything. The more your know, the better. CRAWLpedia is an excellent source, as well as countless video on YouTube can explain in depth if you still don't understand.

For reference, I've been doing this research myself since I'm looking at putting one tons and 40s under my truck and I'm still going to daily it once it's done. So if you have any questions, I'd be glad to answer them to the best of my ability.

 

Kinda off topic but,
Ford super duty, jeep wrangler, Ram heavy duty Mercedes G class. Curious who else is still using solid front axles?

My JLU drives 1000x better than my 02 prerunner.

 

G-Wagen dropped it's solid axle on the 2019 refresh. You're basically down to HD trucks and Jeep JT/JL/JLU in the US.

Jeep worked some devil magic on the JLU and JT handling. Blew me away as a former Jeep tech (early 2000's TJ era) because the handling does not at all feel like a live axle anymore.

 

There were hints thrown out that the 2020 bronco would have the 3rd gen, Dana 44 wides. Possibly even the Ranger.

Hope that comes to fruition.

 

Dear God I hope they don't put a solid axle on the ranger, I don't know why they would since the F-150 is IFS, the rangers have a few problems already, I don't want to be telling customers that their brand new light duty truck is normal with the death wobble.

 

I sold my jeep once the death wobble started. I had already replaced the wheel bearings 3 times after offroading through water. I was sick of how fragile it was.

People want solid axles but don't understand the trade offs.

 

I've heard of very few cases of death wobble in the jl/jlu. And those were modified vehicles. Maybe they finally got it taken care of. I thought it was mostly worn out steering components causing it.