Everest Rear Coil-Sprung but no IRS

**Luke Plaizier** · 11-09-2013, 09:22 AM

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mell...257BE20024130A

Lukeyson

TC200six · 11-09-2013, 10:19 AM

Solid axle? Shock horror!

Seriously though, I don't get why a larger SUV like the Everest needs IRS. The Landcruiser, which the Everest will be a competitor to, are fitted with rear live axles right to this day.

So live axles are still the preferred set-up for heavy duty vehicles. Despite how the media keeps suggesting "IRS is essential". For what?

chevypower · 11-09-2013, 10:47 AM

Though the body-on-frame Explorer and larger Expedition have IRS (and they offer massive ride comfort), the Everest looks like it has a better set-up for off-road. Live axles aren't bad. Vehicles that work well with live axles are the Mustang, Wrangler, and basically anything designed for serious work. Live axles offer better articulation for off-road and load carrying. Plus they are simpler and more rugged. Where the Grand Cherokee needs to lift wheels in the air to get over obstacles, the Wrangler keeps all four wheels on the ground. Live axles still have their place.

grey_esp · 11-09-2013, 10:49 AM

Its a 4wd! for me its a shame they dont have live axle in the front too. IRS can not articulate like live axles do, end of story. But irs front and live rear is a good compromise For a family oriented SUV. Interesting read tho, last time i checked the ranger has dual speed tranfer and centre diff housing as do most 4x4s these days, the author seams pretty hung up on comparing it to a landrover.

jpd80 · 11-09-2013, 10:54 AM

This goes to understanding who is going to buy your vehicle and what it will be used for..

IRS would be a nice addition but evolving Everest from a leaf spring rear to coils is probably
a prudent and conservative move to get the new product out the door without gambling
on things that may go terribly wrong in the first generation. This is about avoiding errors.

Bossxr8 · 11-09-2013, 04:49 PM

Live axle is just what you want for an off-roader. The Territory/Edge/Explorer or whatever it will sell alongside is a soft-roader for people who don't go off-road.

Look out for the possibility of a leaf sprung version too.

mac_man_luke · 11-09-2013, 05:06 PM

Now they just need to make a coil sprung ranger

FPV GTHO · 11-09-2013, 05:12 PM

You could already see in the concept Everest it was going to be a live axle. No off road IRS is going to have the diff centre exposed and you could clearly see that on the rear pics.

vanman_75 · 13-09-2013, 07:48 AM

It needs a full diff not irs (towing machine) ..will be a ripper and most likely the next vehicle for family duties.. timing will be right for me too ...can't wait .

GQ_Smooth · 13-09-2013, 08:32 AM

4x4's should have a live rear axle
SUV should have a IRS

Depending how Ford wish to position the Everest, should dictate on what it should have.

Road_Warrior · 22-10-2013, 04:28 PM

So the forum's own mcnews/Trev has spied a couple of the FrankenRangers in a car park, and got some pretty good pics of it too, especially the rear suspension:

http://news.drive.com.au/photogaller...022-2vyd7.html

Looks kind of like the Falcon's old Watt's Link? I guess if it aint broke...

malazn mafia · 22-10-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey_esp

Its a 4wd! for me its a shame they dont have live axle in the front too. IRS can not articulate like live axles do, end of story. But irs front and live rear is a good compromise For a family oriented SUV. Interesting read tho, last time i checked the ranger has dual speed tranfer and centre diff housing as do most 4x4s these days, the author seams pretty hung up on comparing it to a landrover.

IRS on the front? Thought IRS stood for Independent Rear Suspension

99AUXR · 22-10-2013, 05:17 PM

IFS

2011G6E · 22-10-2013, 07:36 PM

Whenever we've owned a car with an IRS...first was a pair of Commodores (VS-II and a VX-II) and the G6E...I crawl underneath to check things out. Two things spring to mind: First, "that's an amazing piece of engineering", and second, "That's going to cost an awful lot of money to maintain one day in the future...".

Our Triton has a live axle at the rear, as does our old Celica. Not exactly sure you always must have an IRS to make a car "better".

Adding complexity doesn't automatically mean a better vehicle...

grey_esp · 22-10-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

IRS on the front? Thought IRS stood for Independent Rear Suspension

I was wondering if someone would pick that up. It wouldn't let me edit it. Took a while tho :-)

grey_esp · 22-10-2013, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

So the forum's own mcnews/Trev has spied a couple of the FrankenRangers in a car park, and got some pretty good pics of it too, especially the rear suspension:

http://news.drive.com.au/photogaller...022-2vyd7.html

Looks kind of like the Falcon's old Watt's Link? I guess if it aint broke...

Looking at the pic of the rear with the tow bar receiver hanging out. Do we think the bumper will be extended to cover that up or will that just be a temp tow bar for testing? Looks like a knee cap buster they way it is atm.

coolelxr · 22-10-2013, 08:30 PM

My 2013 Prado also has a similar setup and it does fine as the family taxi both on and off the bitumen. If ford used the Prado as a benchmark like they did the X5 for the Territory, then I'll have all the ammo I need for another Blue Oval product in the driveway after the Prado lease is up.

XP6 · 22-10-2013, 10:28 PM

"IRS can not articulate like live axles do"

Tell that to the pro buggy guys!

XR Martin · 22-10-2013, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey_esp

Looking at the pic of the rear with the tow bar receiver hanging out. Do we think the bumper will be extended to cover that up or will that just be a temp tow bar for testing? Looks like a knee cap buster they way it is atm.

Towbar is designed to suit the Everest body, which probably has more overhang than the Territory bum that the prototype currently has.

mik · 22-10-2013, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

Whenever we've owned a car with an IRS...first was a pair of Commodores (VS-II and a VX-II) and the G6E...I crawl underneath to check things out. Two things spring to mind: First, "that's an amazing piece of engineering", and second, "That's going to cost an awful lot of money to maintain one day in the future...".

Our Triton has a live axle at the rear, as does our old Celica. Not exactly sure you always must have an IRS to make a car "better".

Adding complexity doesn't automatically mean a better vehicle...

I agree whole heartedly mate, while there is no doubting a well set up irs is a good thing, but the old live axle with long travel springs still makes for a good ride and a pretty trouble free rear suspension, and very cheap and easy to maintain, especially the old leaf spring style.

grey_esp · 23-10-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XP6

"IRS can not articulate like live axles do"

Tell that to the pro buggy guys!

Pro buggies are designed to go flat out across a desert and do jumps Independent suspension is ideal for that. Go have a look at what the serious 4x4 comp trucks are using.

chevypower · 23-10-2013, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey_esp

Pro buggies are designed to go flat out across a desert and do jumps Independent suspension is ideal for that. Go have a look at what the serious 4x4 comp trucks are using.

Yeah Pro Buggies just need long-travel suspension for jumps, they don't need the articulation for rock crawling and such. I don't know exactly what all the differences are, but I haven't seen independent suspension 4x4s do what the solid axle Jeeps do off-road.

XP6 · 23-10-2013, 05:53 PM

You can only articulate to the point of rolling over, true about the need for long suspension travel for jumps but they can take large articulation angles and still keep the cabin area at a reasonable angle
Its a matter of engineering and co$t$

mcnews · 23-10-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grey_esp

Looking at the pic of the rear with the tow bar receiver hanging out. Do we think the bumper will be extended to cover that up or will that just be a temp tow bar for testing? Looks like a knee cap buster they way it is atm.

Yep I took the latest photos on Drive. Was up there on a Hayabusa on our annual post GP ride and stay in Bright. One was diesel, one petrol. The guys were all drivetrain engineers. The tow rig was to tow the big test trailer load rig they had. They were doing on road and off road stuff.

XR Martin · 23-10-2013, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnews

Yep I took the latest photos on Drive. Was up there on a Hayabusa on our annual post GP ride and stay in Bright. One was diesel, one petrol. The guys were all drivetrain engineers. The tow rig was to tow the big test trailer load rig they had. They were doing on road and off road stuff.

What was the petrol engine? I imagine it wasnt the 2.5 N/A engine from the Ranger...
Ecoboost perhaps?

mcnews · 23-10-2013, 08:50 PM

I am thinking Eco boost but just speculative

deadfish2 · 23-10-2013, 10:07 PM

another simple reason why they would want it a solid axle (despite being better anyway for a 4x4) is you wont be able to have a big tow rating while also keeping a decent downforce rating.
look at other irs setup wagon's, i.e pajero, pathfinder, they have an ok tow rating around 3t, but only have like 150-250 downforce, irs just simple squats in the *** to much

LOWAU · 25-10-2013, 02:19 PM

Think of the positives, NO MORE DIFF BUSH!!!!