Manx Club

which is better IRS or swing axle rear ends? I am trying to figure it out. I have heard good reasons for both. If anyone has an idea let me know. Thanks, Drake

It totally depends on and whether you plan on leaving it stock and how you're going to use the buggy. If you're going to leave it stock and use it off-road/on-road, swingaxle is best(67 & 68 is very best). If it will be stock and only used on-road, stock IRS is better. If you plan on upgrading your A-Arms and CV joints (spending money), IRS is best.

If you have an original Manx (series 1) or knockoff, the inner arms of the IRS will not clear the body....in that case, swingaxle is better.

I have had my buggy for 8 years and it has transformed. Started as a swing axle, on a rusty pan, with a lot of holes in the fiberglass, but it was fun. Spent the next few years making it dependable, repairing the fiberglass, tightening torsion, rewiring, you know how it goes. Then the next year I built the motor, ended up with a tight 2180. Lots of power, two trannys later, I had one built to take it.Then after bending a couple of pans I tore it down to the ground, and built a full cage tube chassis. I used the rear torsion from a 69 IRS bug, and had to build another tranny. Man this bug can climb, but in the whoops it's like a pinball. Now I am widening the front beam and adding 4" extended trailing arms and 3X3 rear trailng arms. Moral of the story, dont limit yourself, you never know where your gonna want to go!

Sounds like your'e already set up for an IRS??

I would vote for an irs rear end. They are much easier to modify if you want and you don't have the camber issues that you would with the swing axle rear and because of the longer torsion bars they have a softer ride. But I think we need to know what you are planning on doing with your buggy to help you make the best decision.

I would be using mainly for street,( around town ), but I also would want to use it in my local southern california deserts, and in the sand too. Thanks for all the info everbody, I am still looking for the right buggy for me. so please keep leaving me your advice. Drake

OK you're going to use it both on and off road. Now you have to decide whether you want a stock(cheap) transaxle set up or a modified(expensive) one. If you can afford it an IRS with beefed up and possibly wider and longer A-arms, along with better CV joints, is better in every way than a swingaxle. But if you're not ready to spend hundreds of dollars just on the rear suspension and drive axles,(not counting gearbox internals) then a good stock 67 or 68 transaxle will work fine and last a long time.

you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a beefed up rear suspension. Ya if you want to get longer arms you do but you can get a kit to box the stock arms for $35 from cip1 r just about any VW parts dealer. And with the stock arms you can get somewhere around 10 inches of travel. If your going to be on the street and some sand I would strongly suggest IRS. It's plenty good to start with and you have the ability to upgrade later if you so desire.

thanks everyone, I think I am going to shoot for a buggy with IRS.