Just wanted to know how many of you guys would still buy a HD if it was offered with a SFA. Thanks Nick.

Depend on the ride. So undecided.

Don't care about the ride. I just want to plow with out bottoming out on every bump in the road. With tortion bars there is now way to add bigger springs like you can with leaf or coils. If you want the truck to ride better dont ride around empty. Edited by: Turfmower

SFA any day of the week.

I Agree SFA all the way!! I love my 1096 K1500 4wd, and I would buy a new HD in a secone if it had SAF!!





Take care





Will

sorry, my 1986!!!!

If I didn't care about the ride and if I wanted a single front axle, then I would have bought a Dodge.

....and if I didn't care about the transmission, and the interior, and the front styling, and .... aw, never mind.

SFA or a stouter IFS.. (sticking to the point)

But if you want to go there....

Think of the results this exact same poll would produce on a Ford or Dodge site.Edited by: hoot

If I didn't care about the ride and if I wanted a single front axle, then I would have bought a Dodge.

....and if I didn't care about the transmission, and the interior, and the front styling, and .... aw, never mind.


If you want a nice ride get a car. trucks are for work and have been pussified by all the Yuppies buying them

I think most people would like the ride feel of IFS and the versitility and use of a SFA.. Just my .02.....

If I didn't care about the ride and if I wanted a single front axle, then I would have bought a Dodge.

....and if I didn't care about the transmission, and the interior, and the front styling, and .... aw, never mind.


If you want a nice ride get a car. trucks are for work and have been pussified by all the Yuppies buying them

Hey Turf, what do you drive?

I drive a Pussified truck. Me a no yuppie.

Just wanted to know how many of you guys would still buy a HD if it was offered with a SFA. Thanks Nick.


Okay, I'm confused.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Wacko.gif Not really anything new for me since it happens quite regularly, but I digress.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif


Is the poll to find out whether we would buy another GM HD if it was offered with a SFA, or is the poll to figure out which we prefer, SFA or IFS?


Thanks,
Dennis

If GM offered the choice between the two what would you choose? Sorry for the confusion. Nick

I would choose SFA. I was hoping when they introduced the HD back in 01 that it would have it, to compete directly with Dodge and Ford. I bought one anyway. IFS is OK.. I liked it but I'll take SFA if they offered it.

I think most people would like the ride feel of IFS and the versitility and use of a SFA.. Just my .02.....


and 500hp while we're wishing http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/HiHi.gif

If I didn't care about the ride and if I wanted a single front axle, then I would have bought a Dodge.

....and if I didn't care about the transmission, and the interior, and the front styling, and .... aw, never mind.


If you want a nice ride get a car.* *trucks are for work and have been pussified by all the Yuppies buying them

Turfmower's response implies that the GM IFS is a weak system and does not hold up to other than normal city and highway use. This is NOT the case. A bunch of us have been using the IFS trucks on the back roads of AZ and CO since they first came out with the 1989 model. We have had four wheel drive failures, battery failures, deer hits, etc, but not one of us has ever had a front suspension failure. This probably represents about 20 to 30 trucks between us, 3 of which have been mine. (This back road driving is normal stuff, such as hunting and exploring, not Baja racing.)

If the suspension does everything I want (be it IFS or SFA) and it has the better ride (and control) logic says that is the one to get. Based on "pussified" logic, should one get a manual transmission over a Allison because that is the old school way of doing things? I don't think so.

I have a buddy who owns a 2003 Dodge/Cummins and he won't go where I go because the truck is such a beater. When pulling out of a camp spot this summer, I was in 2 wheel with the Allison in "D" and thought nothing of it. He was in 4 low, and 1st gear of his manual and whined louder than his Dodge turbo about the road. Makes you wonder who is pussified!

And I have a car, but like my truck betterhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif. Edited by: BH in AZ

I own both, and I can tell you that the SFA is the only way to go. The handling seems more sure footed, and you know that the front wheels always run true with a load, such as a plow.

SFA is the only i think. I own both with plowa ana there is no comparisin. Solid all the way!!!!

SFA = Solid Front Axle . . .


IFS = Independant Front Suspension . . .


Solid is way to old School, IMHO, but it must have it's place, I like IFS, thus I'll take my Pussified D-Max and enjoy it . . . .

I thought straight axle was mainly for offroading purposes. Gave better traction. Whats the big deal?

GM needs to put a SFA on the 3500 SRW and DRWs and a little beefier IFS on the 2500HDs

I haven't busted anything on the IFS yet truckpulling with 33x12.5x17 mud tires and 1000-1500# hanging off the front with a locker in the front axle, home made tierod sleeves and rancho 9000X shocks as the only upgrades. I do strap the centerlink and lower the torsen bars when not hanging weight off the front and just strap the centerlink and leave the torsen bars up when the class allows hanging weight.

IFS benefits over SFA for truck pulling:

4" Wider front track gives the rear tires 4" of untouched ground to dig into.

IFS won't unload a tire when the opposite side goes thru a dip, hole or rut in the track.

Controlled toe-in with IFS is good because it throws dirt away from the rear tires and sometimes the sled pan.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/1ZC_TomacDuramaxCanfield4wheelJamboreeDHRAexhibiti onpull7-25-04a.jpeg
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/uploads/397_012_12.jpgEdited by: mtomac

I own and 4 wheel a 1966 Ford Bronco. It has a very solid front axel. It has exteneded radius arm and long travel springs. Does not get much better for off roading.


I have driven my Chevy on some of the very same trails that I have driven my Bronco on. The Chevy is very, very impressive. As long as you are not high centered, the truck is not going to stop. If you do think you are not getting the traction you want, apply the brake pedal very lightly while applying the throttle. You will be very suprised with the traction you obtain. I have crawled up very steep, rocky grades with my big truck. Tire placment is crucial. The Bronco is still just a little better off road.


Now lets talk on road, where we spend 90 % of our time. There is no comparison. The IFS has the solid front axel beat hands down. With good tires and shocks, you would be amazed how fast you can corner a 7000 pound vehicle. Solid axels suffer from extreme body lean/roll in hard corners.IFS have a smooth, stable and predictable ride. Solid axel vehicles dip and weave. They are unpredictable and inefficient. If there is a surface irregularity, why would you want to adjust the entire vehicle? Makes more since for the effected tire to adjust, while the rest of the vehicle maitains the road. I have test driven the other trucks, GM is still my favorite.


IFS get a bad rap because they are complicated for some lesser mechanics to maintain and repair. They are also complicated for some lesser drivers to adapt to . All and all it is a better way to go.


Now if I could just get some injector comfort.

If I didn't care about the ride and if I wanted a single front axle, then I would have bought a Dodge.

....and if I didn't care about the transmission, and the interior, and the front styling, and .... aw, never mind.



If you want a nice ride get a car. trucks are for work and have been pussified by all the Yuppies buying them




Turfmower's response implies that the GM IFS is a weak system and does not hold up to other than normal city and highway use. This is NOT the case.


Many of us may differ with you... I replaced the LF hub at 48k, the RF hub at 52k, the pittman arm and idler at 56k, all worn out. I am 90% highway miles. The whole front end is underdesigned IMO.

about the front hubs.... ford has sealed hubs also on their SFA, and they run about $350 or so each. I prefer the SFA mainly because it can be lifted higher and a bit cheaper, also the much stronger steering link

Solid axels suffer from extreme body lean/roll in hard corners.IFS have a smooth, stable and predictable ride. Solid axel vehicles dip and weave. They are unpredictable and inefficient. If there is a surface irregularity, why would you want to adjust the entire vehicle? Makes more since for the effected tire to adjust, while the rest of the vehicle maitains the road. I have test driven the other trucks, GM is still my favorite.

I used to argue these same points when I had my GM's. This Dodge convinced me there isn't a big difference. I don't have excessive body roll at all. My GMC did do better in high speed cornering. I don't do a lot of that these days anyway. My truck sits a lot higher than the GMC. You don't slalom with a taller truck as it is.

I also NEVER had an IFS part truly fail on a GM truck in the 14 years I drove them. Thier biggest problem is the four bushings on each side that have to have a certain amount of cushion so as not to transfer road harshness to the frame. This flex in the bushing creates havoc anytime you overload the suspension. That's the part I hate and that's the reason it bends tie rods.

Straight axles rule! The IFS on these truck are junk IMO. Tie rods are puny and weak.....balh blah blah IFS rides good but I would rather have the strength

Buy a Dodge. $300 for the advice, please.