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| SpeedDirect’s new Shark Bite aluminum control arms for 2nd- and 3rd-generation Corvettes brings new ride and handling potential to the popular performance car in a lightweight and modern engineered product. |
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| Here’s a hidden advantage of the new Shark Bite control arms, the exclusive use of a Rulon bushing and steel extension. This space-age technology offers a friction free pivot point for the upper bushing mounts of the aluminum control arms. |
Ever since its inception, the Corvette has first and foremost been considered a handling machine. But as advanced technology has provided today’s models with the components to virtually outhandle all competition, the older models have been left behind and have suffered the embarrassment of being outcornered by the neighborhood soccer mom’s minivan. I know this sounds unbelievable, but I can confirm that most of today’s sporty imports can run circles around even a solidly modified C4, like I have sitting in my garage. Yup, I had to hang my head one day after a Mitsu-something beat me through the twisties.
So what about those popular C2/C3 models. First, they are anywhere from 25 to 44 years old, but the chassis design for both models was developed in the late ‘50’s and early ‘60’s. It’s an understatement to say that advancements in suspension design have been made during the intervening years. More and more C2’s and C3’s are being rebuilt and utilized as drivers, and driving them can bring out some of the short comings of the original technology to the fore in a very apparent -- and unflattering -- way. As mentioned above, it isn’t long before you realize that your daily driver handles better than your sports car. And that’s not cool!
Suspension geometry plays a significant role in handling and the early Corvette’s poor original geometry bears much of the blame. Modern tire technology requires a machine’s suspension to behave different than what it was originally designed to do for tire technology of the ‘60’s. Improvements to the front end will, therefore, make the most dramatic changes in overall handling. The good news is that it is very easily remedied. So easy, in fact, that it can be solved with bolt-on products and a few hours of work with basic hand tools.
