Front Suspension

wildrussian · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 12:53 pm

Another stupid question, Here is what I don't understand, Liberty has IFS but it still has an exle in the front. I know its there cause I changed the diff fluid in it. How is that supposed work? what is that Front differential for :?:

Without this forum I would be a dumb uneducated hick.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 1:03 pm

What you changed the fluid in is the front differential, which in turn is connected to the two half-shafts that go out to the front wheels. If you had a two wheel drive Libby then you wouldn't have that and it would look just like any other rear wheel drive truck with IFS.

chefdab · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:40 pm

On an IFS axle the half shafts pivot at the differential where as a SFA is a solid tube welded to the center section(differential).

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:42 pm

wildrussian wrote:

Another stupid question, Here is what I don't understand, Liberty has IFS but it still has an exle in the front. I know its there cause I changed the diff fluid in it. How is that supposed work? what is that Front differential for :?:

Without this forum I would be a dumb uneducated hick.

The front diff does the same thing the rear diff does,transfer power to a set of wheels,but the front diff will only recieve power(torque) when you shift the t-case into 4wd.

slikjr · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm

If a KJ didn't have the "IFS" the front axle would look the same as the back axle of your KJ (plus of course steering knuckles and what not added on). Sometimes the "diff" on a IFS is called a "differential carrier". Basically, take the pumpkin from the rear, and attatch a CV jointed half-shaft to either side of it. The center differential part of it is what you changed the fluid in.

Lay man's terms. Hope that helped

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:27 pm

To further simplify, IFS affecte the style of front differential you have, but IFS refers to how your suspension is set up. Each side can articulate independent of the other, therefore you have the softer ride as what one wheel hits will not counteract or affect the other side's wheel. The different style differential/axle allows the IFS to work.

Independent Front Suspension.

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:31 pm

USAFCOP wrote:

To further simplify, IFS affecte the style of front differential you have, but IFS refers to how your suspension is set up. Each side can articulate independent of the other, therefore you have the softer ride as what one wheel hits will not counteract or affect the other side's wheel. The different style differential/axle allows the IFS to work.

Independent Front Suspension.

*After disconnecting the sway bar

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Thu Aug 16, 2007 7:43 pm

Quote:

*After disconnecting the sway bar

Absulutly false,the sway bar does not effect how the front IFS works,it just helps keep the body level during turns.The L/R sides will still operate independetly of each other,just remember the sway bar is a spring.

wildrussian · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 6:00 am

note to self... L.O.S.T. is the best place to get useful info if you don't know something

Thanks guys

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:13 am

tjkj2002 wrote:

Quote:

*After disconnecting the sway bar

Absulutly false,the sway bar does not effect how the front IFS works,it just helps keep the body level during turns.The L/R sides will still operate independetly of each other,just remember the sway bar is a spring.

That's why you get more articulation when you disconnect the swaybar, right

jason thompson · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 7:29 am

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Quote:

*After disconnecting the sway bar

Absulutly false,the sway bar does not effect how the front IFS works,it just helps keep the body level during turns.The L/R sides will still operate independetly of each other,just remember the sway bar is a spring.

That's why you get more articulation when you disconnect the swaybar, right

yes you do get better articulation with the sway bar off but it still has 0 effect on the way IFS works
heck I get better articulation with the sway bar off of my TJ but it is still SFA

sway bars due what they are called they control sway they are NOT ridgid thus they do not effect the left or right suspension but the body of the jeep relative to the lower A arms where it mounts

BeepBeepJeepJeep · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:58 am

jason thompson wrote:

BeepBeepJeepJeep wrote:

tjkj2002 wrote:

Quote:

*After disconnecting the sway bar

Absulutly false,the sway bar does not effect how the front IFS works,it just helps keep the body level during turns.The L/R sides will still operate independetly of each other,just remember the sway bar is a spring.

That's why you get more articulation when you disconnect the swaybar, right

yes you do get better articulation with the sway bar off but it still has 0 effect on the way IFS works
heck I get better articulation with the sway bar off of my TJ but it is still SFA

sway bars due what they are called they control sway they are NOT ridgid thus they do not effect the left or right suspension but the body of the jeep relative to the lower A arms where it mounts

Oh I thought the sway bar was rigid :oops:

DarbyWalters · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:20 am

Actually you are both "kinda" right...without adding my own text here is a great link that explains the function of a sway bar:

http://www.stealthtdi.com/SwayBars.html

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 9:44 am

DarbyWalters wrote:

Actually you are both "kinda" right...without adding my own text here is a great link that explains the function of a sway bar:

http://www.stealthtdi.com/SwayBars.html

Yeah that does explain alot on how the sway bar works but it still does not affect "how" the suspension works in stock vehicles to the degree of reducing flex,yes it does reduce it a little but not enough to really bother discountecting the front bar.Now on a SFA vehicle it will affect the suspension alot more,that articale mostly applies to race cars which is a whole different ball game.

Here is a pic of some good IFS flex with a front sway bar on,and the sway bar on this H1 is twice as thick as the one on the KJ(can't see it since it is located on the back side of the front suspension,but it is there),can't say it is affecting the operation of the front IFS but it is keeping the body fairly level.

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

I really like the smooth flexy feel without the swaybar. I definately allows the wheels to travel more than with it on the Liberty.

TDI4BY · **Joined:** Sun Apr 02, 2006 11:56 pm **Posts:** 644

I was just thinking about something. The swaybar allows the body to stay more "flat" on the road and getting rid of the swaybar makes it stay more flat on the trail in off camber situations. That Hummer pic looks very flat but the Liberty would be leaning way over with the swaybar and probably more like the Hummer without the sway...

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Fri Aug 17, 2007 3:37 pm

Quote:

That Hummer pic looks very flat but the Liberty would be leaning way over with the swaybar and probably more like the Hummer without the sway...

Tha main reason for that is the KJ has a solid rear axle and the H1 is IFS and IRS(no rear sway bar on a H1).

Front Suspension

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