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It’s no secret that suspension design has evolved dramatically over the past fifty years. No matter how well-equipped an old school muscle car might have originally been from the factory, the technology used a half-century ago pales in comparison to the sophisticated engineering that has become widely available today.
With everything from production-style tubular chassis to independent rear suspension systems now just a few clicks away, enthusiasts have a lot of different options at their disposal when it comes to incorporating these advances into a restomod build. But for those who’re looking to get modern handling performance without reinventing the wheel (or obliterating the piggy bank), Rekudo has developed solutions that can dramatically improve the surefootedness of your second-gen Camaro or Firebird with direct bolt-on components.
“The idea here was to create a system that would provide good street manners as well as the capability to take on track days and autocross events with more aggressive suspension geometry,” explains Greg Whittle of Rekudo. “While there are options out there for those who want to go really hardcore, we’re looking at this more from the perspective of someone who wants their suspension to look fairly similar to OE, but also get that improved geometry so the car will deliver much better handling performance without the need for fabricated chassis components and things like that. In a way, it’s almost like a new sub-section of pro touring.”
The Rekudo 1970-1981 Camaro/Firebird Suspension System (p/n VK070000) will give your second-generation F-Body improved handling without taking away from that stock, muscular look these cars are known for.
Along with lowering the car and delivering a more performance-focused ride, Rekudo’s new suspension kit addresses two key shortcomings inherent to cars built from that era – the inability to really dial in and balance caster on both sides of the car, and the lack of negative camber available to improve turn-in response and cornering grip. “What you discover with a lot of cars that were built in the 70s is that, even if they’ve never been in an accident or anything like that, you don’t always have the same caster angles from left to right,” Whittle says. “So we incorporated multiple caster pills into the kit which allow you to make those adjustments and balance out your caster. And because of the geometry we used with our control arm, you can go anywhere from zero degrees of camber all the way to a very aggressive negative two degrees, depending on the shim pack you decide to use.”
Rekudo’s second-gen F-body suspension components can be purchased as a full kit or a la carte, but Whittle points out that while these parts are direct bolt-on factory replacements, the parts that make up the kit have been developed to work together as a holistic solution. Here’s what it consists of:
For those who’d prefer to purchase these components individually, Whittle suggests starting with the springs, shocks, and anti-roll bar first. “Since the control arms and spindles are going to affect the suspension geometry, you would want to do those upgrades after the other suspension components from this kit have been installed.” And to help support your F-body’s newfound handling prowess, Rekudo is currently putting the finishing touches on a big brake kit that employs a similar factory-style approach as well.
The system utilizes four-piston calipers and mill balanced 11.75-inch rotors at all four corners, and the rear calipers use different pistons in order to yield the appropriate front-to-rear brake bias. And while the factory calipers were made from cast iron, the Rekudo calipers are made from forged 7075 aluminum.
“And that means that they’re very strong and very light weight,” says Whittle. “These calipers are about half of the weight of a factory C3 caliper.” Rekudo also utilizes a modern seal design that’s similar to what you’ll find on a contemporary Brembo brake caliper in order to enhance durability, and the rear rotor incorporates a clever emergency brake adjuster design that is accessible without taking anything apart.
“The suspension kit’s spindle also has the brake caliper and steering arm mounting forged right into it for additional strength,” Whittle says. “Those elements tend to be bolt-on pieces with generic spindles – a company will create a single spindle design that can be used for both sides of the vehicle and then the mounting hardware bolts to it to configure it for a given side of the car. These Rekudo spindles are specific to the left and right sides of the car.”
Rekudo’s suspension kit for the second-generation Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird will be available in early 2022, while the big brake kit is expected to hit the shelves later in the year. Whittle notes that Rekudo has more F-body stuff on the way further down the line as well. “We just put the finishing touches on our development work for the first-generation F-body, and that system should be available toward the end of next year.”