First off with Independent Front Suspension we loose about ten
inches of ground clearance, look way up in there and you will see axle
boot or the height of a regular live axle:
http://www.billhughes.com/05cherokee...okee2front.jpg Plus look at
how it's bottomed out just getting on the car trailer. Then actually
look at the suspension and note the space between the bump stops the
open areas are the four inches of articulation, making it possible to
get stuck on a road:
http://www.billhughes.com/temp/LibertyAndTraction.mpeg Comparison:
http://www.billhughes.com/XJversusKJ.jpg
The rear end of my thunderbird is perfect for a run to Lost Wages,
It's Independent Suspension like the Ferrari or Corvette hugs the road
at high speed, but like the Libby and '05 Cherokee, it's put together
with puny stamped steel and rubber grommets:
89thunderbirdRearIndependentSuspension.jpg Just imagine pulling a
trailer, which way the tires would be pointing while trying to recover
from an emergency lane change and fishtail. Leave that for Real Trucks
with Real leaf springs.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O


QX wrote:
>
> Please excuse my questions, but I am new to the Jeep world.
> I am pretty sure IFS means Independent Front Suspension, but I don't
> understand how it compares with a solid axle, and why one is better
> than the other.
> Also, is SWB, Short Wheel Base? As in Wrangler? as opposed to the
> Grand Cherokee?
>
> I'd also like to know how an IRS (Independent Rear Suspension) affects
> towing capacity. Something I read on a jeep related forum. The tone of
> the thread was that in most cases IRS reduces towing capacity
> dramatically, but there are ways to maintain 5K capacity if it is done
> right?
>
> Just trying to learn more and more.
> Thanks