Live or IRS

[DavidC]

Hi,

Just got back from donnington today, and noticed that most of your westies were IRS.

Now, my simple question is this: Would there be any problems with using the escort axle with a reasonably powerful engine such as the XE or Zetec, or is the choice between IRS or Live purely a cost, handling and 'NEW' registration issue?

Thanks

DC

[pants]

Ive gone 4 irs because:

escort axles are getting hard to find.

Im building a megablade and the ratios available for sierra are better. LSD  in 4x4 diff - cheap

More comfortable ride

I dont believe the handlings better though!!!- some will disagree.

I thought irs was the lighter option, but not sure about this now

Cheeers

MArk

[DavidC]

okay, here's another question.

With which setup is it easier to get the 'tail out' controllably when enjoying a bit of spirited driving (on private roads of course)?

[neo]

escort axles can take plent of stick,especially rs 2000 and 1.6 units, a mate has a 300bhp cossy motor in a mk2 escort rally car,works to good effect and lasted so far,when it breaks theres plenty of quaife bits to rebuild it stronger.

[DavidC]

Neo, that's what I wanted to hear Keeps my costs down a bit.

I've basically decided to go for a Car engined westy, and am kinda swayed towards an SE rather than SEI due to cost, and talking to a guy at work who tested quite a variety of sevens before deciding on a Live Axled westie (tho it's a pre-lit).

As for BECs, I think I'll leave that for another project later on, like a MK GT1 which I saw at Donington today. Really liked the GT1, it just needs a bit of the unecessary weight removed from the spaceframe.

DC

[Westfieldman]

Just remember that rally cars spin the wheels a far bit so the loading throught the transtition is a little softer that on dry tarmak and sticky tyres

What is the cost differance?

4x4 diffs are £40ish

Quafe bits to mend a live axel will cost a fair bit

look carefully at all the cost first.

Paul.

[garyo]

I've had 200bhp/160lb/ft going through my live axle for a couple of years now, and heard of plenty others with similar bhp. I think the real danger is that you get an older live axle westie with the weak trailing arm brackets.  There are quite a few threads on the BBS talking about this.

Live is quite a bit lighter than IRS - not sure how much by, but it's something significant like 35kg.

Gary.

[Taurus]

I'm currently building, live axle zetec powered. When I purchased this from Westfield they recommended that I did not go above 190bhp.

I had no trouble sourcing an Escort axle the automatic is the same as the rs2000. Kit Fit also supplies Escort axles, diffs etc.

The live axle is lighter than the IRS don't know by how much though.

PRT.

[Blatman]

Hmmmmmmmmm.................

I thought you (DavidC) were a student of engineering. I also though that the car in the picutre is the Student Drive competition thingy that some colleges do. If that's the case, I'm going to ask a leading question.

Given the education you have, and being given a clean sheet of paper to design a front engined, rear wheel drive car, with the parameters for rear suspension being it must have the best "set up" for ride quality, adjustability and handling, would you fit a live axle? Be honest now...................    

[DavidC]

But, what if all I want is a fun car on a low budget ?

I suppose the cost difference is only £600 (starter kit price diff)+ £50 more for the Sierra Disc axle from Andy Spares.

hmm...£650. I'd really like to drive each to see the difference, but Westfield only have a megabird demo atm, and at 2/3 the weight it won't help the decision at all.

DC

[Mark Stanton]

With all due respect to the folks at Kingswinford a BEC demo car does NOT "behave" like a CEC      

If you are undecided then wait until you are able to test drive what you want      Is there a local friendly club meet you could go to and ask someone to take you for a spin, if Westfield haven't got any CEC demo cars available      .

Seems odd that, there's only a "Bird" demo car, they've often got a large selection of cars at their disposal, try again later, while you're saving your purchasing tokens    

[DavidC]

Well, I went to the factory in June, and there were no demo cars then. At teh show I was told that any demo cars they build end up getting bought really quickly.

When is the next Warwick/Notts/Northampton area meet?

DC

[Mark Stanton]

Warwick/Notts/Northampton area meet?

Full details in club magazine          cos I can't remember em  

[Pmaltby]

Hey dave, i was advised not to put a live axle in because the diff would not cope with the power from the 1800 zetec i.e if one wheel started spinning then you would go nowear, if an LSD was fitted if one wheel started to spin the the LSD would send some power to the other wheel and get you moving, that was what wesfild told me anyway.

Cheers

[Blatman]

Mr Maltby seems to be confused. You can fit an LSD (for that is what he is describing) to either a live axle or an SEi Westfield (unless Mr Maltby is talking about Quaiffe ATB LSD's, and the shock loading issue that they have........). I reckon the Ford live axle would be OK to 200bhp (I'm only guessing, mind) and you have a limited selection of "uprated" parts. Fit an independent rear end, and you have the option of using Cossie diffs/internals (good for 350-400bhp, and more. in 1989/1990, Cossie R500's were producing circa 500bhp in the BTCC..........) and if you really need to, you can have indestructable driveshafts made up by one of the specialists.

So, get an SEi......................