Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

[Nikos95]

I have seen a few shots of people doing C4 rear end swaps into fbodies for an independant rear end. I havn't had any luck finding any info beyond a few bad pictures. Anyone here tried it, or looked into the work required?

[hockeyman]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

I'd sure like to see pics of it! I can't even imagine how much the Vette's rear costs :eek:

[UDLOSE98]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

someone did a 4th gen. with indep. rear. I have seen the pics, it might have even been in the lounge.

[loser]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

someone did a 4th gen. with indep. rear. I have seen the pics, it might have even been in the lounge.

i dont remember where it was either, i think it was a lt1. looked VERY nice. ill try to find it.

[Nikos95]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

i dont remember where it was either, i think it was a lt1. looked VERY nice. ill try to find it.

Ya everyone I have seen was a '93-'97 z28.. I just really want to know what it takes to do that work! Talk about an insane new level of performance.

[Vracer111]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

Insane new level of performance? The only things that will improve with an Independent Rear Suspension is decreased sensitivity to bumps on the surface (the independant part of IRS) and not so much rear self-steering from toe-out as the body rolls when cornering. IRS adds weight, more parasitic driveline drag loss, and has no real handling advantage over a live axle on a smooth road/track surface other than the ability to adjust camber and toe. Then again with a live axle, the rear wheels always stay perpendicular to the ground throughout the entire suspension travel, not leaning inside-to-outside throughout the suspension travel like with an IRS.

Independent rear suspension is more of a "cool" factor than a major performance handling improvement. The live axle design of a 4th generation F-body is all about handling and performance to begin with.

[Nikos95]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

Insane new level of performance? The only things that will improve with an Independent Rear Suspension is decreased sensitivity to bumps on the surface (the independant part of IRS) and not so much rear self-steering from toe-out as the body rolls when cornering. IRS adds weight, more parasitic driveline drag loss, and has no real handling advantage over a live axle on a smooth road/track surface other than the ability to adjust camber and toe. Then again with a live axle, the rear wheels always stay perpendicular to the ground throughout the entire suspension travel, not leaning inside-to-outside throughout the suspension travel like with an IRS.

Independent rear suspension is more of a "cool" factor than a major performance handling improvement. The live axle design of a 4th generation F-body is all about handling and performance to begin with.

Didn't think of it to that level. But now that you bring it all out, that does make alot of sense.

[V6Bob]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

VRacer111 has some good points, but it's not the whole deal. The decrease in "unsprung weight" is substantial and will allow the wheels to follow the road better. It's the reason why, in every pavement race series where it's allowed (like, not NASCAR) race cars use independent rear suspension. People have long tried to incorporate live axle virtues into a better suspension. For example, the DeDion, frame moounted the diff to reduce unsprung weight. None has succeeded.

The real joker is chassis design. The fbody chassis was designed to accept certain suspension loads at certain places. Somehow tack a Corvette rear on and the chassis will be stressed in new ways. It may (probably will) flex.

Car design is a complex thing. You can't change just one thing and expect great results. An independent rear fbody would be a poser thing, not a performance mod.

[Nikos95]

Re: Anyone ever do a indepedant rear end?

The real joker is chassis design. The fbody chassis was designed to accept certain suspension loads at certain places. Somehow tack a Corvette rear on and the chassis will be stressed in new ways. It may (probably will) flex.

Another thing I over looked, boy its great having forums like this before I went and did something stupid.