Chevy Hi-Performance Homepage Chevy High Performance
Get Adobe Flash player

Chevrolet Chevelle Rear Suspension Tips & Parts - Power to the Pavement

148 0309 Guide 02 Z
The Chevelle factory four-link... 
   
  read full caption
148 0309 Guide 02 Z
The Chevelle factory four-link system uses a pair of upper and lower control arms with the suspension supported by coil springs. The upper control arms are angled outward to locate the rear axle under the car, eliminating the need for a Panhard bar or a Watts link.
148 0309 Guide 03 Z
This is a side view of a drag... 
   
  read full caption
148 0309 Guide 03 Z
This is a side view of a drag race four-link system. While the Chevelle's upper arms are angled, the system operates very similarly to a drag race four-link. In the sidebar, we've extended the lines to indicate the instant center (IC).
148 0309 Guide 04 Z
One of the first things you... 
   
  read full caption
148 0309 Guide 04 Z
One of the first things you can do to improve traction is to lower the rear ride height until the lower control arm is parallel to the ground. Costing little, lowering the ride height shortens the distance from the rear axle to the instant center by increasing the down angle of the shorter upper control arm.
148 0309 Guide 05 Z
According to Global West,... 
   
  read full caption
148 0309 Guide 05 Z
According to Global West, using a boxed lower control arm with a stiff polyurethane bushing can cause binding when the car is turned into a steep driveway. Eventually, this bind can create cracks in the lower-control-arm mounts in the chassis.
148 0309 Guide 06 Z
Pinion angle is also crucial... 
   
  read full caption
148 0309 Guide 06 Z
Pinion angle is also crucial to ultimate traction. Several companies make an adjustable upper control arm that allows you to quickly set the length. This is Currie's arm with a beefy 1-inch-diameter threaded shaft.
148 0309 Guide 07 Z
Edelbrock offers a complete... 
   
  read full caption
148 0309 Guide 07 Z
Edelbrock offers a complete rear setup for a Chevelle with rectangular tubular lower arms and adjustable uppers. The adjustable upper arm features a spherical bearing on the chassis end that articulates with a polyurethane bushing for the rear-axle side.

Prev | 1  | 2  | 3  | 4  | Next

Chevrolet Corvette Research
Chevrolet Corvette Find new Chevrolet Corvette information as well as review photos, specs and more. The Corvette has a V8 standard engine producing 505 horsepower, and has a 8 star frontal impact rating for the driver and a 8 star frontal impact rating for the passenger. You may also be interested in the Chevrolet Impala and the Chevrolet Camaro.
148 0309 Guide 01 Z 148 0309 Guide 10 Z
148 0309 Guide 08 Z 148 0309 Guide 11 Z
148 0309 Guide 09 Z 148 0309 Guide 12 Z
 
Chevrolet Chevelle Rear Suspension Tips & Parts - Power to the Pavement
On the search for more traction? We show you how to dig into your Chevelle's rear suspension and... more
 
Chevrolet Chevelle Rear Control Arms - Angle Of Opportunity - Tech
A Guide To Choosing Chevelle Rear Control Arms... more
 
1971 Chevrolet Chevelle - Red is for Hot
Paul Bartlett's Boulevard Bully & Weekend Warrior... more
 
396ci Chevrolet Chevelle Engine Rebuild - Freshening Up A 396ci Chevelle
We show you how to restore a 396ci Chevelle close to the original 360 hp engine with just a few... more
 
Chevrolet Chevelle Wiper Blade Kit Install - A Clean Sweep - Tech
DSE's Seven-Speed Wiper System Keeps The Rain Away... more
 
1965 Chevrolet Chevelle - The White Bomb
A Band Of Brothers Rides Again In The Sleeper's Sleeper... more
 
Somewhere In Time
The SS 396 Chevelle put the musclecar movement into Fourth gear in 1966. The middleweight Chevrolet... more