Exploded IRS Diff
 

Dustin found the picture you were looking for....maybe i should get a brace. Found this on the billetflow website.


Problem:

http://www.billetflow.com/IRSFailure_Case3_Pic002.jpg



Which one looks the best, im leaning towards the billetflow one as it seems to be the most popular and looks the strongest.

LFP:
http://www.lightningforceperformance...ges/girdle.jpg

STEEDA:
http://www.steeda.com/images/555-7716-450.jpg

BILLETFLOW:
http://www.lethalperformance.com/ima...-BRACE_MED.jpg

ouch

Yea IRS isn't exactly known for it's durability when drag racing. I'm so scared of tearing mine up I've never even come close to taking it to the drag strip. I know just from the wheel hop when I take my buddies for a ride that it'd be short day at the track.

They all look almost identical to me other than the Billetflow one being painted/powdercoated..

Seems like you can very rarely ever go wrong with Steeda, but honestly I'd say it's up to your preference. I'd be deciding between Steeda & Billetflow, some of the welds look kinda crappy on the LFP..

I got to see that very picture 3 times on my IRS... now I use a live axle.

Ford IRS


http://69.90.174.252/photos/display_...79909257,1.jpg

it looks nice but if you play rough with it you will break it

Pardon me for asking, but what would cause that to happen? Just constantly raw-dogging the hell out of it?

that particular example is clear launch damage. mine broke because the whole thing is like a 17 piece screwdriver. With all those parts one is certain to break, which leads to many more breaking immediately afterward. The rear covers are hella weak and that is the source of much of the assplosion action. The constant loading and unloading of the diff and cradle bushings causes havoc with the carrier and that leads to a crack which leads directly to an assploded carrier. Mine even had the rear cover to cradle bolts BOTH work themselves out and then all hell broke loose.

I would get whatever one is the cheapest cause all 3 are gonna do the job of keeping that differential in the housing.

And the IRS can be made pretty strong with better bushings to cure the wheel hop, some stronger axle shafts, and a diff brace and you can do work.

Yeah if you replace everything with stronger parts it will be awesome

Its not like you can take a Straight axle and go do work with it either when its stock.

True. I'd rather keep it on the road courses, where the IRS belongs. Plus, I can't smoke Z06's at the drag strip like I can at the track.

This is why Aluminum should never be used to house a diff.

have you bought the brace yet? done the install yet? Let me know how it goes, i'm looking at getting the billetflow brace when i get home. Its easy to install right? Just remove the bolts where the cover goes on and simply bolt it back up right? It shouldnt leak much fluiid out at all since there is still the other bolts holding it on there pretty good, just have to replace whatever comes out of there. Or do you have to replace the entire gasket if you decide to put a cover on?

my question is why buy this brace rather than just replacing the whole cover with a stronger than factory one?

I have heard these work great, and haven't looked real hard but is it that the a aftermarket replacement cover just isn't as available or as strong as this set up?

Its that the brace is much cheaper and made for IRS cars. I'm guessing you are talking about rear end girdles right?

rear end girdles aren't made for the IRS that I know of. I used eventually an iron housing from a t-bird which held up well but ran kinda warm and required a diff cooler for much hard track use. The rear cover is going to be aluminum pretty much no matter what so you're kinda hosed on that bit. Just make sure you tq the bolts correctly. If one backs out you'll be in for a 1500-3000 dollar repair bill.

fore preforamnce is supposed to be comming out with a nice diff cover, im going to stick with the stock and get a billetflow brace. Ill do a writeup and take some pics when i do the install.

http://www.lethalperformance.com/03-...-cover-p-28522

Sweet let me know when this goes down.

You should take note how many people notice your dif cover and say its F-O-R-D not F-O-R-E. I personally thought it was a typo, not gonna lie