Why does Ford have a solid front axle?
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 18
From: Calhan, CO
Why does Ford have a solid front axle?
My neighbor brought over his new GMC 3500 to compare trucks with my 2017 F350. He likes the IFS for its car like ride and he says Ford should ditch the old school SFA. I listened to him for a while and then it was time to go. He pulls into the street and shows off by putting his truck in 4x4 and spinning all 4 tires and thats when it happened. BLAMO! The front IFS let go with a crack and a pop and that was the end of it. He does have slightly bigger tires on it but was still not a good showing for his GMC. I did not rub it in but I think he understands the difference between a Dana Super 60 and his IFS.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 275
Likes: 6
Rides like a car, breaks like a car.. Solid front axle for the weight capacity and strength, plus aftermarket parts are plentiful.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
The main benefits of a solid axle are less wear points. Ball joints on independent suspension cycle frequently while ball joints on the solid axle knuckle cycle only when turning.
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Tuned
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 467
Likes: 48
From: Mount Arlington, NJ
Independent front suspensions can be plenty strong... ask anyone in the military who has driven HMMWVs and 6x6s. Ford and Ram use SFA on their heavy-duty 4x4s for two reasons - cost and customer request. It's a less expensive front end to develop/maintain, and people still want it. Ford could put a very rugged IFS under the F-450 if they wanted, but customers probably wouldn't like the price.
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Tuned
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 391
Likes: 18
From: Calhan, CO
Then put IRS in the rear.
Anything can be made strong, even ifs. But GM does not build them that way. IFS has an inherent weakness that a solid axle just does not have. Thats just the way it is. If there that good then GM should put independent suspension in the rear too. Only a solid axle in the rear would work.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 507
From: Phelan CA
Anything can be made strong, even ifs. But GM does not build them that way. IFS has an inherent weakness that a solid axle just does not have. Thats just the way it is. If there that good then GM should put independent suspension in the rear too. Only a solid axle in the rear would work.
You won't see independent rear suspension, because it would be far too costly to engineer/build a system to handle the weight requirements of today's HD pickups.
The military can afford 5 ton trucks with independent rear suspension, but again those probably cost $500000 each.