Are solid axles dead?

[another69]

I love the simplicity of a solid axle, don't get me wrong. It is really easy to spend more than 4 grand on a decent one though- I have close to that in my Strange rear with Hotchkis leafs.

I have not installed a locating device because it may just be better to ditch the leafs than to band aid them. The locating device would help the side to side (as well as affect rear geometry I think), but than what about the wheel hop? add some Caltracs maybe? I would be left with a leaf spring mess for about the same cost as the torque arm I originally considered.

As far as low weight, my car is now 3160# with an iron block SBC. 55% front / 45% rear. Wouldn't the car perform better if it was closer to 50/50, even if it gained some weight in the rear?

I know that some permanent camber can be set on live axles, but it would not be possible to dial in any kind of a camber curve (not even sure how important that is in the rear) without IRS.



There is no doubt in my mind that a well set up solid axle would outperform a poor IRS, but what about a well set up IRS ( corvette, porsche, nissan, viper, bmw, ferrari, etc) ? I know that the jag type IRS is pretty much all we are offered, but that doesn't mean that a well adapted IRS would really perform great. I especially like the corvette setup with the torque tube and trans in the back. I know that IRS is really nothing new, it just sticks in my mind because as a kid I saw it under one of my favorite cars- a Shelby Cobra.