It strikes me that the '05 Mustang's front McPherson strut and rear Panhard rod live rear axle suspension is amazingly ( maybe even suspiciously), similar to the 3rd gen F-car. Of course it's all bolted on to a far more rigid DEW substructure. I really wonder how much money was actually saved when they threw away the LS/S-Type/ T-Bird, SLA front suspension and multi-link IRS?

Here are some thought provoking comments:

Hau Thai-Tang on why Mustang gets a live rear axle-----

"That's mainly to keep down costs. It's also partly because the majority of Mustang owners don't care what kind of suspension they have, and partly to serve the street racers and quarter-milers who love a live axle's simplicity and cheap interchangeability."

And this from Phil Martens, Group VP of product creation--------

"When I first got here ( in March 2002),I made the decision to put the solid axle back in. To go out and immediately disband what people know this car to be, which is the best high performance sports car for under $20,000, is a mistake."


I'm gonna tell you guys something.......

If that were Dave Hill and Bob Lutz saying that about the next Camaro....I'd be so pissed off, I'd be ready to blow a head gasket.

 

It's sad, It just shows how far out of touch with the customers these engineers are...
At least they didn't pull the Mustang off Ford's rouster...

 

Let your head gasket blow man.

When they dropped the SLA from the front it reduced man hours.Part costs and a simpler assembly proccess.Not only that it is proven struts can handle with the best of them on a "street car".
2000 Cobra R/Z06 very close in the handling departent.And the Cobra was heavier if Im not mistaken.(just and example)

Im not trying to say one is better then the other Im just saying both are options.Speaking of the rear suspension.You can see there is one part thats the same design.Panard bar,Nothing more.
One other thing.I hope it doesnt ride like a Camaro!!!!!

 

Yeah, some people hate percision handling, and responsive suspensions...
They're better of buying Mustangs...

 

A straight front axle with leaf springs is also an option......but it doesn't make it better.

 

Aftermarket vendors which Ford works closely with may have balked as well. The car will handle better than the current car, but lets face it, the Mustang has never been meant as this type of car.

 

Yeah, I'm looking forward to the first road test of a Mustang GT. I get the impression it will perform like an LT1 4th gen. Maybe alittle faster in the 1/4 mile...but probably not a canyon carver.

Although the Cobra will get the CBS IRS......I'm still wondering (as I posted in another thread), if a 500 hp Cobra could lap Nurbugring faster than a 400+ hp 5th gen Z/28.

 

Ford actually went out and ASKED enthusiasts what they wanted to see in the car. Among other venues I'm sure, they came to NMRA and FFW races. In fact, I was was asked down at a FFW weekend race in Gainseville a few years ago SPECIFICALLY about what I'd like to see for a rear suspension. IRS or live axle...guess which one I picked?

I like the decision. Makes sense for those of us of the non-road race variety (you're welcome to use the redneck label if you like ).

 

Again I'll repeat my mantra of a well-designed IRS shouldn't give drag racers too many problems. Unfortunately the Camaro won't shed it's "low-tech" image until it does some things to help itself, and IRS across the board is one of those things.

 

As a Mustang owner myself, I too was for the Live Rear Axle on the base and entry V8 cars. These cars are where the unwealthy individual strives to create his own weekend warrior/daily driver. I agree with Mark that a correctly designed and applied IRS shouldn't be a huge hindrance to the drag racer - but at what additional costs? There is NO WAY you can pull the Ring and Pinion swap, add roll-overs or traction control links, and narrow the axles for tub/slicks on an IRS system like you can with a Ford 8.8 or 9" for anywhere close to the same money - NO WAY.

IRS costs more - PERIOD. It therefore makes perfect sense that those who know what it is, and are savvy enough to enjoy it's benefits, should be willing to pay the premium that it requires. Hence, putting the IRS system on the upscale cars like Cobra is a perfect solution.

Also, the typical 16-24 year old high school or college kid that is likely the buyer/driver of the base V6 car couldn't tell you what IRS means, much less feel the difference in ride quality. The kids are just ecstatic to have a car at all, and "look cool" in a Mustang as opposed to dad's ol' Granada or something. And again, these kids don't have the extra $ching$ to lay out for un-necessary things like IRS.

For the GT and Base cars, I think they did the right think for the time being - and I have no problems with it at all.
Now, if a BOSS 302 were to be offered, we'd have to have a talk about IRS because that car SHOULD be a corner-carving wonder - they were never intended to be drag cars - that was Mach 1 work in the old days. Likewise, any SVT Cobra should be IRS equipped, as should the Roush and Saleen offerings unless ordered for strip duty IMO.

FWIW - I do see Charlie's point about being miffed. I wouldn't have said anything about "mainly to keep down costs" - that implies they did it to be cheap. If cheaper was a side effect of giving the public what they want... GREAT, but why not just say "we gave them what they asked for" and keep your pie-hole shut about the costs? A subjective case of saying too much if you ask me.

 

There is some validity to this - assuming the IRS itself is strong enough to stand up to the abuse that is dished out by more than the "Friday night test-n-tune" folks. One benny with the IRS is the potential increase in traction that can be reaped by both rear tires staying planted better as the body tries to twist under hard load.

That said, the IRS has some significant downfalls. Chief among them is the added weight, relative complexity, and cost. I believe it to be generally accepted that those issues - and others - offset the benefits.

Again....this is from a drag racing perspective only, and ignores other IRS benefits, including better handling, road manners, etc.

 

Personally I don't mind the Mustang GT to have a solid rear axle. if it was up to me I'd make the IRS and option to be had on any Mustang if the owner wants to buy it. Keeping the solid rear as an standard part and making the IRS an option would satisfy everyone. And when i say IRS I mean a true multi-link unit designed for the car from the begining. This would be a big hit for lots of 03-04 Cobra owners who've had to make the swap on their own. Now the engineering and packaging not to mention production problems would probably keep this from ever happening.

Now on the front suspension getting rid of the SLA setup from the Lincoln LS was a mistake. The 05 Mustang deserves the best Ford can give it and strut just isn't it.

 

It is time that solid rear axles in cars went the way of 8-track tape players and vinyl seating.

It can't cost that much more, since every front drive car out there has it (yes, I know it is a bit different, but not that much different)

Again, Corvette seems to do just fine with it at the strip... and Corvette has had IRS since 1963!

 

I have never heard of a Corvette owner complaining about traction issues or rear end "hop" from thier IRS. Also, i have never heard of any of them complain about a the strength of the rear. In all the high dollar/high horse power aftermarket Corvettes, they never touch the rear and this includes cars like the TT Lingenfelter Vettes. So I think it can be done right without many comprimises.

If the cost and development can be spread throughout a few vehicles, then I wouldn't think the cost would be that much of an issue. Also, if the Camaro has an IRS, then it is something over the comparable Mustang models and then the top level Camaro will have the IRS to compete with the Cobra in the handling department.

 

There is no doubt that the Vette IRS is much better than what has so far shown itself in the Mustang (and probably always will be better). However, go do a search on some of the Vette Forums and you will indeed find some of those that drag race do have wheel hop problems. Nothing like the 99-03 Cobras - but it is there. Also, you'll find some breakage issues. I have personally seen a Vette spit out a halfshaft at Cecil County (Nov 2002). Granted, it was a low 11/high 10 second car - but its still a weak point.

About Camaro/Mustang with the IRS....that's a few years away. It is possible that the GT will be offered with the IRS at that point, as Team Mustang said the chassis was designed "with the IRS in mind", or words to that effect.

Speaking only for me....I hope to always be able to get a live axle, but time will tell.