advantages of converting to IRS over solid axle?
Straight line traction, a solid axle is preferred - its not uncommon to see 'vettes and Cobras convert to solid axles when its a dedicated track car
For corner carving, the cost pretty much outweighs the benefit, especially with products like watts links available
...its been done though, just search
For corner carving, the cost pretty much outweighs the benefit, especially with products like watts links available
...its been done though, just search
Like Vin said. If price isnt a factor, then handling is the benefit. You also have more adjustment with alignment settings. With the IRS, toe, and camber can be adjusted, where with a solid axle, that would involve cutting the tubes at an angle, and pretty much permanently setting the angle.
This part of your sentence "launch traction differences" tells me you're looking for the wrong thing. IRS is not for drag racing, or any kind of straight line performance. The car will squat when accelerating away quickly, and in so doing gain camber, reducing the tire's contact patch, and causing the wheels to spin more easily. In addition, the added components of the IRS will increase the amount of resistance in the drive train, the by product of which is a reduction in "at the wheel" horsepower
Any other real performance benefits in road course, or autocross, racing would likely be negated since the car very probably wouldn't meet the rules to run in a class where it would be competitive.
That all being said IRS does improve ride quality. Some time ago I posted a write up covering IRS for the 4th gen which can be found here https://ls1tech.com/forums/suspensio...s-4th-gen.html
