The 24 Hours of Lemons Forums → Lemons Tech → Suggestions for IRS/IFS
Greetings
I need suggestions for bolt-on front and rear IRS subframes. I am not picky about brands, I am just replacing front and rear beam axles. Narrow and cheap is preferred. I don't have exact specs yet as I don't have my hands on the car.
Thanks
If there's a servicable suspension there to begin with, I'd stick with it even with a beam front (unless they're swing axles).
Complete, bolt in and narrow: Miata is about it. They're not cheap though. I couldn't find them within budget.
Requiring fab & design work: there are lots of strut type front suspensions with subframes but you'll need to improvise. I'm using BMW 2002 hardware mostly. There are several choices for RWD trailing arm suspensions like BMW and Datsun 510/zcar.
What's the vehicle?
Most of the Japanese sedans from the mid 80-90's have IRS, and use relatively straight forward bolting arrangements. That may or may not be true for the European sedans, aka BMWs, which have in my opinion more complicated rear IRS. But its what you can think to weld/bolt to your car.
I've seen one or two 510-200sx, 280zx rear IRS attached to Datsun 510 wagons (originally solid axle).
I'm thinking 90's Nissan Maxima, 280 zx, might be good, or the late 80's toyotas.
But go look at what's in your local JY, crawl underneath a few, and take a tape measure and some ideas about how its going to bolt to your car. Same answer for front.
Now if you find a good donor, but say the front shock set up is too tall, look at other cars from the same maker, to find a similar front strut that is shorter. Most car makers re-use parts, or at least bolt patterns and bolt sizes, so many times the front shock from a Honda civic fits an Acura Intgra, and vise verse (and so on for datsun/nissan, toyota)
BMW E30
It attaches to the car at 3 hard points: left and right sides of the subframe, and the diff cover.
Check to see if anyone's parting out a Jaguar XJ6 in your area. The rear suspension assembly is heavy as hell (about 300lbs), but you can remove the cage to get it in. Be sure and do all your brake work before you get it installed - inboard brakes are a PITA. Also check to see if anyone is selling a non-running XJ6 dirt cheap. We picked up our car running for half what people are asking for the rear axle assemblies.
Thanks for the suggestions. If the thing doesn't get sold out from underneath me, I'll be checking out the junkyards.
Here's a hint, but don't expect it on the track -this- season
Thanks for the suggestions. If the thing doesn't get sold out from underneath me, I'll be checking out the junkyards.
Here's a hint, but don't expect it on the track -this- season
I hope you found a hotshot
Nah, I wouldn't chop up a hotshot.
BMW E30
It attaches to the car at 3 hard points: left and right sides of the subframe, and the diff cover.
I count 9 points total.
L&R upper shock mount
L&R trailing arm mount
L&R sub frame mount
L&R upper spring (separate from the shocks)
Rear diff mount (1)
so 2+2+2+2+1 = 9 points, probably about 11 bolts
in comparison http://www.zhome.com/ZCMnL/tech/R200.htm
Miata all the way.......common and cheap + they work well
Jaguar has 10 bolts, the driveshaft (4 bolts), a brake line, and the parking brake cable. I just pulled mine out to redo the brakes on saturday. You'll have to cap the brake line or you'll lose all the fluid in your brake reservoir. An RX-7 caliper caps the line just fine.
A bedframe has more structure than a Crosley chassis, plan accordingly.
Could always build it.......
Okokok I'll shut up now
Nothing made by Ford.
Nothing made by Ford.
What about a Pinto or Mustang II?
ronman wrote:Nothing made by Ford.
What about a Pinto or Mustang II?
Solid rear axle.
Lemonious Monk wrote:ronman wrote:Nothing made by Ford.
What about a Pinto or Mustang II?
Solid rear axle.
I meant for the front.
A bedframe has more structure than a Crosley chassis, plan accordingly.
Reminds me of the first time that I shot a British WWII Sten gun. As soon as I held it in my hands, I said to the owner "I'm pretty sure that this was made by British prisoners from parts they stole from their prison bunks." Total piece of crap. Fun to shoot (but man does it pull to the left), but seriously, I think the trigger was made from a spoon handle.
I can't imagine driving a car of similar quality manufacture. Even in Lemons.
RichVS wrote:A bedframe has more structure than a Crosley chassis, plan accordingly.
Reminds me of the first time that I shot a British WWII Sten gun. As soon as I held it in my hands, I said to the owner "I'm pretty sure that this was made by British prisoners from parts they stole from their prison bunks." Total piece of crap. Fun to shoot (but man does it pull to the left), but seriously, I think the trigger was made from a spoon handle.
I can't imagine driving a car of similar quality manufacture. Even in Lemons.
Thus the bumper sticker we will have on the Triumph:
"All parts falling off this car are of the finest British craftsmanship"
Seriously.
So here it is
Looks to be in fine shape
It's -very- narrow. Maybe FIAT spider suspension?
Out of curiosity, how big is that Saab V4?
So much awesomeness. Where did you find it?
Craigslist, or Burleson, depending on how the question is intended 
Listed at 400, purchased for less, still have to get a flatbed and go get it soon. It's almost too nice to turn into a Lemons car.
I figure it's going to have to be a 2012 car, law school starts kicking by rear in August so slow build in in the cards.
Meh. Needs an italian v6 twin turbo motor.
It's -very- narrow. Maybe FIAT spider suspension?
Could always add 6-8" overall width with custom fender flares ala Bastardos Dauphine
Unfortunately, the sweet SOHC motor has been replaced by some flathead POS.
Not that I was planning on running that motor, but it would have made nice garage art.
Still a decent deal.
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