I have a ’66 Chevy II with a 355 cubic inch small-block and a Muncie four-speed. Over the years, I’ve made some small suspension modifications with Global West De-A-Lum bushings. On the freeway, the car can get into a violent front-wheel shake where the steering wheel wobbles really badly in my hands. It gets so
Before we get into the importance of subframe connectors, let’s first talk about what vehicle subframes are. What is a Subframe? A subframe is a discrete structural component in vehicles. That’s a fancy way of saying that a subframe is separate from the vehicle frame (in a body-on-frame configuration), or separate from a vehicle’s body shell
Are solid sway bars stronger than hollow sway bars? It’s a frequently asked question from people preparing to make upgrades to their vehicle’s suspension because upgrading to a high performance sway bar is among the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective ways to improve handling and control on a muscle car or classic vehicle. As you’ll see
Spring rate is a key factor in choosing the right springs for your suspension system. Spring rate is defined as the amount of force it takes to compress a spring one inch. A 200 lbs./in. linear spring, for example, will compress one inch when a 200-pound load is placed onto it. If another 200 pounds is put onto the spring, it will
Lateral control is how the rear axle housing is kept in a side-to-side alignment with the chassis as the rear suspension moves through its travel. And it’s more important than you think. Lateral control is essential when installing a traction device on any vehicle with a live rear axle, with the exception of a car with conventional leaf
When Hotchkis Performance talks about suspension, we listen. Hotchkis sent us this primer on updating the suspension on classic 1960s and ‘70s muscle cars to make them handle like a late model. According to Hotchkis, an upgraded suspension is not just a performance advantage, it’s also a safety issue on modified vehicles. The stock suspension—even one
[portfolio_slideshow id=34358] Leaf springs have been used since the days of horse drawn carriages, and are still found on the back of new pickup trucks today for one simple reason: they work! Leaf springs locate the axle fore and aft and side to side, hold up the chassis, and provide excellent load-carrying capabilities. That doesn’t
[portfolio_slideshow id=24722] If you have a Fox-body or SN95 Mustang, a 1980s GM G-body (Grand National, Malibu, El Camino, etc.) or something like an early Chevelle or a GTO, it has a triangulated four-link rear suspension. This type of suspension has coil springs and upper and lower trailing arms (also called control arms). The upper
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