Suspension: Description and Operation

Fig. 1 Typical front suspension. Exc. Camaro & 1984---88 Corvette:

Fig. 2 Front suspension exploded view. Camaro:

Fig. 3 Front suspension. 1984---88 Corvette:

All models except Camaro and 1984---88 Corvette use a Short-Long Arm (SLA) type front suspension with independent coil springs riding on lower control arms, Fig. 1. Ball joints link upper and lower control arms to a spindle assembly, and tubular shock absorbers are used to dampen spring action. On some models, a spring steel stabilizer shaft is connected between the chassis and lower control arms to control side roll.
A modified strut type suspension is used on Camaro, Fig. 2. Each wheel is independently connected to the chassis by a lower control arm, spindle and a strut assembly which locates the spindle and controls ride by dampening spring action. Coil springs are mounted between the lower control arm and crossmember, and a stabilizer shaft is connected between the chassis and control arms to control side roll.
The front suspension used on 1984---88 Corvette consists of forged aluminum upper and lower control arms and steering knuckle, a fiberglass mono-leaf spring, shock absorbers and stabilizer bar, Fig. 3. The front spring is transverse mounted on the crossmember and bears against lower control arms. The stabilizer bar and shock absorbers are connected between the chassis and lower control arms, and control side roll and dampen spring action respectively. Upper and lower control arms are connected through the knuckle, which is specially designed to move the wheel center line rearward of the conventional ball joint center line.