.... At least it's in the correct Topic 
C4 Rear Suspension
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C4 Rear Suspension
This could be a good discussion....
Starting to give this some serious consideration. I think it would be a nice improvement over the existing rear suspension. It'd require a little fabrication, but nothing overly major. Now, the Dana44 from a C4 is a little wide in the bat-wings, but a Viper unit would be a pretty good fit. New crossmember, some brackets for the trailing arms and a little tweaking and it should go in pretty easily.
Thoughts?
Starting to give this some serious consideration. I think it would be a nice improvement over the existing rear suspension. It'd require a little fabrication, but nothing overly major. Now, the Dana44 from a C4 is a little wide in the bat-wings, but a Viper unit would be a pretty good fit. New crossmember, some brackets for the trailing arms and a little tweaking and it should go in pretty easily.
Thoughts?
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the C4 d44 is not wide in the batwing area, the total span is a 1/2" narrower than the 80-82 one and it will fit inside your frame. The only other part needed is an old C3 pinion mount bracket converted to bolt to the c-beam pad on the diff.
Brackets for the trailing arms? Why
The viper has the c-beam pad on the pass side where the vette one is on the drivers side, the diff is nearly identical, even the bolt holes I think but the viper case does not have the holes to mount the lower camber brackets, the bosses are not even there so you can't drill your own (I too saw that cheap viper diff on ebay, they're on there every now and then and they're dirt cheap)
Brackets for the trailing arms? Why
The viper has the c-beam pad on the pass side where the vette one is on the drivers side, the diff is nearly identical, even the bolt holes I think but the viper case does not have the holes to mount the lower camber brackets, the bosses are not even there so you can't drill your own (I too saw that cheap viper diff on ebay, they're on there every now and then and they're dirt cheap)
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Originally Posted by DJ Dep
Geez Dave....they're all to scared to talk to you!!!! 
Is it for road racing or the strip or both?
Dep
Is it for road racing or the strip or both?
Dep
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Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
the C4 d44 is not wide in the batwing area, the total span is a 1/2" narrower than the 80-82 one and it will fit inside your frame. The only other part needed is an old C3 pinion mount bracket converted to bolt to the c-beam pad on the diff.
Brackets for the trailing arms? Why
The viper has the c-beam pad on the pass side where the vette one is on the drivers side, the diff is nearly identical, even the bolt holes I think but the viper case does not have the holes to mount the lower camber brackets, the bosses are not even there so you can't drill your own (I too saw that cheap viper diff on ebay, they're on there every now and then and they're dirt cheap)
Brackets for the trailing arms? Why
The viper has the c-beam pad on the pass side where the vette one is on the drivers side, the diff is nearly identical, even the bolt holes I think but the viper case does not have the holes to mount the lower camber brackets, the bosses are not even there so you can't drill your own (I too saw that cheap viper diff on ebay, they're on there every now and then and they're dirt cheap)
The C4 suspension has 2 trailing links instead of the trailing arm. They should be placed so the forward ends of the links are just behind the opening for our t-arms. The C4 bracket might be useable and just welded in place.
I mentioned the Viper as I know someone doing some work and putting one in. The pics make it look like a pretty straightforward job.
Last edited by ddecart; Jun 24, 2005 at 11:07 PM.
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Nope. Or I sure don't think so. It's a Dana44, just like the C4. Not sure if it's internals are any stronger. I know it has a specific bearing setup which makes things more expensive (naturally).
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Originally Posted by ddecart
The C4 suspension has 2 trailing links instead of the trailing arm. They should be placed so the forward ends of the links are just behind the opening for our t-arms. The C4 bracket might be useable and just welded in place.
I mentioned the Viper as I know someone doing some work and putting one in. The pics make it look like a pretty straightforward job.
I mentioned the Viper as I know someone doing some work and putting one in. The pics make it look like a pretty straightforward job.
The rods don't have to be behind the opening for the trailing arm, they can be inside, no problem just a little modification. I tried to install a C4 susp (dropped it because of track width and my 12" wide wheels, it would mean monster flares) the C4 bracket can be modifed and welded in place but I would do a custom job, why not build a bracket like I did for my custom IRS that bolts in place of the stock trailing arm? All you need is custom length trailing rods ( a bunch of heim joints and 5/8 or 1/2 sleeves)
c4 susp & dog bones:
increased track width
Do realize that the C4 toe control system is not optimal, the rods are too long and the center mount is only somewhat in the correct position with the suspension vertical or near vertical (the links are parallel w/ the halfshafts) anywhere beyond that and the pivot point is in the wrong place giving toe changes. (and the early suspensions had a real high roll center giving a nasty jacking effect)
The bracket
The notch in the frame is not necessary but I used large bolts and a wide bracket w/ large spacers inside. (I have since plated over the frame to make it stronger there)
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From: The Villages FL
C4 Suspension
We used the entire suspension from a donor 1985 Corvette. We opted to reduce each side of the rear by 15/8" to ensure the tires would be inside the fenders using P285R40-17's on 17x91/2" rims. Flares would be easier, but would not look right on my Corvette. The Dana 44 gets into the cargo holds, so we have had to modify the holds to a smaller size to get the inch or so we needed for the pumpkin without rubbing.
It is not the easiest enhancement, but is certainly doable.
Spike
It is not the easiest enhancement, but is certainly doable.
Spike
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Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
oh the dog bones or trailing rods (they're not really a trailing arm, that name is reserved for the C2/C3 type suspension), also called foward links.
Either of you guys have suspension pics?
