mcbassass

I am getting a new car soon. I am looking strongly at the CL-S and at the Mustang GT. One difference between the two is that the CL-S has idependent front and rear suspension and the mustang has independent front but live rear suspension. What is the difference?

bc01cls

mc.........hit a bump in a GT and you'll immediately see. Harsh. Also in a turn with a live axle, your wheels won't stay as "planted" to the pavement, especially if you hit any kind of bump or tar strip. I had a 99 Cobra with the IRS and a 91 GT with a live axle and the Cobra was much smoother, when it ran, ha ha (99's have a TON of problems). The only thing live axles are really good for is drag racing and getting a lot of power down without wheelhop. IRS and dumping clutches is synonymous with broken half shafts. By the way, how can you be considering two such different types of cars? Don't get me wrong, since Mustangs are a lot of fun, but they are very "cheesy" on the inside when you compare them to a CL-P or CL-S. Although I like the looks of the new body style on the 'stangs a lot, I'm "off" Ford for a while until their quality control improves and service becomes just that-service! PS: Go to www.blueovalnews.com and check out their message boards.

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CL-S Sundance Gold, TR Typhoon Wheels, Solaris 9005, guards, nose mask, V-1 & remote.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...493&p=31386570

DtEW

bc01cls' description is pretty spot-on.

But why? Four things:

1. Lots of unsprung mass. To get the suspension to behave correctly, you have to dial up the damping over and above what is necessary for independent. And it's slower at regaining grip, once lost.

2. Hitting a bump with one wheel upsets both contact patches. With independent, a bump at one wheel may only affect the other on the same axle like 15%. With live, the same situation may affect the other as much as 50%.

3. No rear toe-in. Rear toe-in promotes stability and reduces the average driver's chances of trading ends.

4. Lateral shifting. Unless a live setup comes with a Panhard rod, the trailing arms may flex during high side loading and allow the entire axle to displace laterally.

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051/LP/SR/LD/HH

[This message has been edited by DtEW (edited 01-22-2001).]

bc01cls

Thanks DtEW............... I couldn't have stated it better. Perhaps we'll get him to "see the CL light" !!

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CL-S Sundance Gold, TR Typhoon Wheels, Solaris 9005, guards, nose mask, V-1 & remote.
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?...493&p=31386570

DtEW

Or the "IS300 light" !! (Actually, nah. It would seem that mcbassass is more interested in high-HP cars, based on his current choices.)

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051/LP/SR/LD/HH

[This message has been edited by DtEW (edited 01-22-2001).]