What We Did
Upgrade F73's rear suspension
Bottom Line
Detroit Speed's well-thought-out package is proven to work on and off the track
Cost (Approx)
QUADRALink suspension: $2,500;
Moser 9-inch housing: $1,045
The Detroit Speed QUADRALink...
The Detroit Speed QUADRALink suspension replaces the factory leaf springs with an adjustable four-link-style suspension system, which includes a track bar, upper and lower control arms, and all the mounting hardware.
Wheelhop, excessive body roll, and tire spin are all the result of overpowering a factory coil or leaf-spring rear suspension system. Control is what gains traction, and traction leads to faster acceleration and stability during high-speed cornering. While the factory leaf-spring suspension systems on many early Chevy muscle cars worked well for the era, suspension has evolved, making the original stuff sorely dated.
Using our F73 Camaro as an example, we wanted it to accelerate hard and take corners at greater speeds. We wanted a suspension system that's strong enough for racing yet comfortable during normal street use.
Asking for the world? Sure, but thanks to Detroit Speed we can have it. We're talking about its QUADRALink system that's completely tunable and designed specifically for '70-81 Camaros. This package features an adjustable track bar, upper and lower control arms, and optional coilover shocks that allow you to upgrade from the factory leaf-spring setup. The coilover shocks feature a custom valving for the ultimate performance and ride quality, including ride height adjustability. Overall, it's a truly one of the best setups we've seen for this chassis.
To help with the install,...
To help with the install, Detroit Speed includes paper templates used to trace sections of the frame and body that need to be cut out, namely the metal braces for the upper control arm mounting brackets, track bar, and shock mounts.
Knowing that we had a straight...
Knowing that we had a straight unibody and subframe, A&E removed the gas tank, rear axle assembly, and leaf springs, following the instructions. It's the added details that make this kit ideal for builders like A&E or a very experienced home mechanic to install.
The shocks, leaf springs,...
The shocks, leaf springs, and axlehousing were unbolted and removed. The kit uses the factory front leaf-spring mounts, so these were cleaned and painted.
This area of the unibody will...
This area of the unibody will also be trimmed to make room for the lower control arm bracket.
While the system is intricately detailed and well thought out, it does require careful measuring, cutting, welding, and grinding. So it's not a bad idea to enlist the help of someone with the proper tools and know-how. We turned to the crew at A&E Motorsports, who have been handling F73s since the beginning.
It's only a matter of time before our second-gen is ready to hit the streets. With our Detroit Speed suspension complete, we'll follow up this segment with the Moser 9-inch details and start putting the drivetrain and sheetmetal back together. Stay tuned-this is going to be one wild ride!
To make room for the lower...
To make room for the lower control arm, a portion of the factory subframe needs to be cut away and later boxed in to strengthen the area.
On the upper portion of the...
On the upper portion of the rear subframe, an area is cut out to make room for the top shock mount.
This template is used for...
This template is used for making a square hole in the Camaro's floor, just behind the passenger seat, to provide room for the upper control arm mounting pocket. Note: The instructions also show how to modify the rear seat frame.