Shark Bite Corvette Suspension

[BrianE]

I have an 80 Corvette. Does anybody on here have any experience or knowledge about the speeddirect.com Shark Bite Suspension System?? It replaces the rear transverse leaf spring with a pushrod activated coilover set-up. Been to some Corvette forums. Either I'm not at the right ones or most of the guys are just into restoring them.

[Norm Peterson]

I think if I was going to go to that much trouble, I'd want to be working with a C5/C6 sort of linkage instead. Chevy stopped using the half shafts as suspension upper lateral links for good reason.

There's nothing mechanically wrong with a "laydown" spring/shock arrangement, although the shock rods are likely more exposed to the elements.


Norm

[BrianE]

Thanks Norm for stating what is clearly obvious from the pics. I just about fell for the flash!! I do like the C5/C6 stuff though!!

[silver69camaro]

I'm with Norm. I'm building a '64 right now (same rear suspension as your '80), and I couldn't think of a better rear suspension that would require some major surgery. Instead, I'm just using a fiberglass leaf and some good shocks, along with some poly bushings.

And yes, the Corvette forums are awful. I'm embarrased to say I'm a member of Corvetteforums.com. They're just as bad as the BMW forums.

[vette427-sbc]

http://www.vettemod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2639&highlight=shark+bite

Some good info here about it. There are lots of threads on CF about this setup with mixed reviews. I love my VB&P dual mount leaf