Well....I suppose it's only proper to welcome JJ and Buddy to what has become the premier tech-thread on this forum. It's all good (so long as JJ doesn't go nuts over the air compressor issue...sheesh).
Mike....I'm not trying to drag you into an SFA/IFS debate or anything, I'm seriously just fascinated by the technical merits of each. I don't really think of things in terms of opinions...we just study facts and support conclusions.
I sincerely appreciate the education on the subject matter. At present, my thought is that GM should have given the H2 either the H1's gear-driven hubs for awesome clearance OR have gone with an SFA...and that's what I'll be telling the reps and others! And when someone asks why GM didn't use SFA....I'll also know that it wasn't part of their existing parts bin.
What it comes down to is this: I didn't design, engineer or build the H2....I merely laid down the cash for it. I have no 'defensive ego' to protect in supporting the thing. It is what it is and I'm open to knowing/understanding both the strong points as well as the weak. With that said....Jeeps suck!!! (kidding)
Don, the air suspension is actually pretty cool. Not only does it offer all the cool sounds of the air-release occassionally, but it does jack the back up for additional clearance...that clearance DID make a difference over that rock-garden as compared to rigs that didn't have it! GM typically just calls the feature "auto-ride", but by adding a switch and sensor, they were able to allow it to be used also as a height control.
Sway-bars....yeah, I see them hanging down and wonder why they did that. Oh well....could removing them while offroading really make that much a difference? I can see how it would allow each wheel to be more independent....but by how much?
I became friends with Tom Cepek (son of Dick Cepek). He's working on a suspesion system where shocks can actually follow the terrain and the computer can make adjustments. We've all seen those old cruiser-cars that hop and move around....well, he's going to have some kind of deal where each wheel can be manipulated. Imagine running a side-slope and still being level inside the vehicle. The computer could totally raise one wheel and fully extend the other (better then simulating SFA). Course...this is in the works AND will be costly....but the future is indeed interesting.
Anyways..that's long enough a post. And Mike....which chrome grille guard is better and who makes the best 20" wheels??
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