One thing that I’ve heard is that solid axle cars are lighter then there independent counterparts. Is there any truth to this? I see in the game that it’s the other way around.
Most likely not.
This is true for FWD cars that use torsion beam/twist-beam rear suspension, which is relatively lightweight, very simple, and more compact compared to independent rear suspension. This tends to be considered a “semi-independent” suspension design.
If you’re talking about the old-fashioned live solid axle found in older RWD cars and 4WDs, then no, I doubt it.
[quote=“Sayonara”]This is true for FWD cars that use torsion beam/twist-beam rear suspension, which is relatively lightweight, very simple, and more compact compared to independent rear suspension. This tends to be considered a “semi-independent” suspension design.
If you’re talking about the old-fashioned live solid axle found in older RWD cars and 4WDs, then no, I doubt it.[/quote]
And the rear-engined cars (Ferdinand Porsche invented the torsion beam for the Porsche 356 and VW Beetle.
Part of the weight gain on the new Mustang had been attributed to the new IRS setup. So I would say yes.
The rear suspension on the Beetle and 356 was a trailling arm suspension that used a torsion springs instead of coil springs, so it’s not really the same thing.
The torsion-beam suspension found in a lot of modern FWD hatches is also a form of trailing arm suspension, but instead of having a swaybar and additional lateral bracing for each arm, you add a beam between the main two trailing arms. The springs used for those can also be either torsion springs or coil springs.
if I remember the 2000 cobra r with IRS was a bit heavier then the previous cobra r (95 era), with the solid rear.