4x4 Action Group

Please explain to a newbie what 'flex' is and what is good and bad about it.

The good about flex is that it ensures that tyres remain in contact with the ground as long possible - providing good traction.
The bad is that it puts stress on control arm bushes and make the drivers of IFS equipped vehicles jealous

Flex is MASSIVELY overrated and I will not get drawn into this debate [emoji3]

AxEgo wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:49 am

Please explain to a newbie what 'flex' is and what is good and bad about it.

Flex is slang we use for axle articulation, as per Thys' video with a solid axle vehicle there is a lot more movement/travel than with IFS allowing your wheels to stay in contact with the ground and gain traction.

With your Fortuner you will have some flex/ wheel travel at the back with the solid axle, and a lot less in front with the IFS.
Which will give you some advantage over a vehicle with IFS all round.

If you have a SFA you will have wheel travel front and back giving it an advantage over the IFS of your fortuner for example.
SFA also doesn't bottom out like IFS.

KurtG wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:27 pm

Flex is MASSIVELY overrated and I will not get drawn into this debate [emoji3]

Flex is for people who actually 4x4 and not do scenic drives.

KurtG wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 13, 2018 12:27 pm

Flex is MASSIVELY overrated and I will not get drawn into this debate [emoji3]

Here is proof of the last comment in my previous reply

Thank you Jean!

You can watch all the videos you want. You will never understand Flex and what a beautiful thing it is unless you see in in person. This is where I love the Rubicon with it's Sway Bar disconnect. It really is beautiful to watch

Bear in mind that the axle pivots around the bump stops, The wheel that is lower gets some force from the wheel that goes up, to go down.

The axle acts like a lever around the bump stop.
Like this.

Mike Nel wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:32 pm

You can watch all the videos you want. You will never understand Flex and what a beautiful thing it is unless you see in in person. This is where I love the Rubicon with it's Sway Bar disconnect. It really is beautiful to watch

Men with real Wranglers like Jean and me get out and disconnect our sway bars with our hands.
That is also why TJ owners are such good lovers. We do it all ourselves.

Chris Stoffel wrote:

Mike Nel wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 13, 2018 2:32 pm

You can watch all the videos you want. You will never understand Flex and what a beautiful thing it is unless you see in in person. This is where I love the Rubicon with it's Sway Bar disconnect. It really is beautiful to watch

Men with real Wranglers like Jean and me get out and disconnect our sway bars with our hands.
That is also why TJ owners are such good lovers. We do it all ourselves.

Net so Oom! [emoji41]


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Some flex

Very nice [emoji106]
Is your XJ running again?


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Jeanvn wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 13, 2018 6:37 pm

Very nice [emoji106]
Is your XJ running again?


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XJ knows about suspensions and how to get the best out of them.
But his XJ is on bricks. Sad really.