A Better Rear Suspension For Your ’73 Through ’87 Chevy C10 Truck

c10 suspensionWhen it comes to hot-rodding, personal tastes vary. That’s a good thing. Who wants to go to a car show or cruise night and see the same car, in the same color, with the same wheels, and interiors that look identical. Things would get boring really fast.

Thankfully, those varied tastes mean you’ll find a myriad of cars built in various ways, and even trucks that have been hot-rodded. But who would have ever thought a truck could be a hot rod? The folks at Total Cost Involved Engineering (TCI), that’s who.

c10 suspension

The kit is a bolt-on proposition, and you can do the install in your driveway.

Recently, we found this video that shows what it takes to upgrade a ’73 to ’87 C10 rear suspension by giving it a new four-link. There is a lot of detail shown in the video, and we thought you guys might be interested to see how it goes.

TCI’s four-link rear suspension helps enthusiasts create a lowered stance for improved handling via a lowered center of gravity. The advent of a smooth ride, better handling, reduced weight, and greater axle control are just a few more of the perks. This new kit offers a significant ride height drop and excellent performance while maintaining the utility of a truck.

Using a uniquely designed axle bracket that captures the axle tube, TCI was able to make the bracket a bolt-on piece, yet be extremely rigid. Fully boxed C-notches capture both the outside and inside of the frame using 3/16-inch plate steel. The C-notches were designed with the factory 12-bolt rearend in place.

C10 four-link

The axle bracket is a unique design that captures the axle tube 360 degrees. The bracket is bolt on, yet extremely rigid.

At full compression, there is roughly 1/4-inch clearance between the top of the axle housing and the bed. The four-link frame brackets are constructed from boxed 3/16-inch plate steel as well. The frame brackets attach to the same locating holes the factory leaf spring brackets used, making installation very simple. 1.25-inch O/D link bars come standard and are designed to handle the abuses of a drag strip yet articulate well for street and autocross use.

Adjustable four-link bars allow fine-tuning of wheelbase/pinion angle, eliminate wheel hop, and provide greater axle control. Ridetech adjustable coilovers come standard offer three positions of height adjustability. While fine-tuning of height can be done with the shock body. At the lowest setting, the fender to ground clearance is 24 ½ inches when running a 29-inch tire. Energy Suspension provides the polyurethane bushings with lubrication valleys and comes with its patented poly lube. Only American-made steel is used to manufacture TCI Engineering components.

C10 four-link

To add clearance, TCI Engineering supplies c-notches that capture both the outside and inside of the frame rail, using 3/16-inch plate.

The installation mostly requires drilling and bolting in of components. TCI Engineering designed the kit to reuse as many factory bolt holes as possible. This makes installation as straight forward as possible. The 1973 through 1987 Chevy C10 four-link rear suspension kit will work with your factory rear axle. Complete 9-inch axle housings are also available fully welded and ready to be bolted in.

All TCI Engineering products come with the company’s Dual Warranty. That means you get six years or a 60,000-mile warranty on wear and tear items like bushings, coilovers, and ball joints. Any items built in house by TCI Engineering – such as link bars, control arms, spindles, crossmembers, etc. – come with a lifetime warranty.

C10 suspension

The adjustable bars eliminate wheel hop and provide greater axle control. The adjustable coilover mounts offer three positions of height adjustability.

If your C10 – or any hot-rodded classic or street rod could use a better suspension, check out Total Cost Involved Engineering and make your classic handle like the hot rod it is.

Included Products

  • 1.25-inch heavy-duty upper and lower link bars with adjusters
  • Greasable urethane bushings
  • Heavy-duty bolt-in link-bar frame brackets
  • Ridetech single-adjustable coilover shocks
  • Heavy-duty frame brackets with built-in C-notches
  • Track locating bar
  • Heavy-duty bolt-on axle brackets
  • Hardware kit
  • Detailed instruction manual

Article Sources

About the author

Randy Bolig

Randy Bolig has been working on cars and has been involved in the hobby ever since he bought his first car when he was only 14 years old. His passion for performance got him noticed by many locals, and he began helping them modify their vehicles.
Read My Articles

Hardcore Chevys in your Inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Chevy Hardcore, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Chevy Hardcore NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

chevyhardcore

We'll send you the most interesting Chevy Hardcore articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

Chevy Hardcore NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

chevyhardcore

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


streetmusclemag
Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
dragzine
Drag Racing
enginelabs
Engine Tech

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • streetmusclemag Hot Rods & Muscle Cars
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • enginelabs Engine Tech

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

chevyhardcore

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Chevy Hardcore - The #1 Performance Bowtie Online Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading