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Muscle cars just shouldn’t exist. But they do, and thank the stars for that, because they’re pretty amazing. And when it comes to suspension upgrades for muscle cars, you’ve got quite a few choices. Do you tweak what you’ve got or go for the whole kit and caboodle? Tough choices, right?
What we’ve done here is given you a list of things that you can (and arguably should) upgrade on your muscle car’s suspension, in order. Start simple and work your way up. You might want to stop at step 1, and that’s fine. Or you could be all about taking it to the very top, and that’s cool, too. Either way, we’ve got options for you.
Upgrade your stock stuff first.
If you’ve got an older muscle car, then you’ve got some upgrading to do. These start with the basics — things like new bushings, ball joints and other maintenance items — and extend into modifications to make older stuff function better. For example, stronger control arms designed for modern demands. Bigger brakes are pretty much required for any car pushing a ton of horsepower, so if you’ve gone big on your engine, make sure to upgrade those brakes and brake lines, too.
Some of these mods will work with other aftermarket components, others won’t. But if you’re just beginning to upgrade your muscle car, this is a good place to start.
Add beefier sway bars for better handling.
If you want to throw your muscle car around some corners, you’ll want some decent sway bars, front and rear. You can buy simple bolt-in replacement options that are considerable upgrades on the factory models — if your car even had them. These will minimize your car’s lean in the corners, making it more fun to drive in windy turns, and keeping your car flat in the process.
Bolt up a new clip.
If you’ve got one of the many muscle cars out there that can handle a bolt-in aftermarket kit, that’s your next step. See, although older muscle cars are fun, the stock suspension can leave something to be desired. So let’s say your car will take a new bolt-in front crossmember, complete with new control arms, pivot points and the like. It’ll be stronger than stock for sure, customizable for whatever motor you like and function better in the long haul. Do the same out back and consider a four-link suspension for even more handling fun. Are these clips cheap? Not necessarily. But they’re a huge improvement on what came out of the factory.
Want to go big? Upgrade to coilovers.
If you want the ultimate muscle car suspension upgrade, coilovers are pretty much it. These replace the stock coil and spring combo and replace them with a single unit that’s adjustable. Not only can you decide what ride height you want to sit, but with some kits you can also tweak and tune the shocks to your liking.
Why are coilovers such a big deal? Because it lets you dial in your suspension — literally. You can tune the crap out of it so that one day it’s comfortable for regular driving, or firmer for a day on the track. It’s the ultimate in tuning, and if you want to upgrade your suspension, it’s probably at the top of the list.
Go with airbags for instant adjustability.
Of course, if you want to upgrade your muscle car’s suspension for something a little more showy, then you can start looking at airbags. We sell lots of kits that are designed for muscle cars and handling, and that will give you the best of both worlds. Not only will your car handle great in the corners, but you’ll also be able to raise or lower it on demand.
So which is better: Coilovers or airbags? Well, it depends on what you’re looking for. If you want the performance, both will do. But airbags add another layer of complexity to the scenario that not everybody wants. If you’re looking to keep it simple, maybe stick with coilovers.
Decisions, decisions.
Choosing what suspension upgrades for your muscle car you should do isn’t easy. Even if you have all the money in the world, there’s no definitive way to choose, because there are so many variables to consider. But if you step back and look at the big picture like we did here, hopefully that will help you make your decision. It’s a toughie for sure, but one that will stand your ride out from the crowd.
