Today’s Street Suspensions Deliver a Feel for the Road

This article originally appeared in the April 2025 issue of THE SHOP magazine.

For auto enthusiasts, nothing is better than climbing behind the wheel of a vehicle that provides immediate feedback and complete control. Whether racing into the next turn or cruising down the highway, a true connection between car and driver goes far beyond simply steering in a chosen direction.

Quality aftermarket street suspension systems enhance that relationship between man/woman and machine, offering ride, handling and even safety improvements. For shops, they are vital upgrades to popular Pro-Touring projects, taking any vehicle’s feel for the road to the next level.

Technological advancements and new system designs means there’s always something happening in the street suspension market. Suppliers offer professional updates on industry trends, the hottest new components and sales tips for shops looking to provide an enhanced motoring experience.

CHANGING WITH THE TIMES

Many of today’s street suspension systems are designed with the goal of making traditional hot rods more appealing.

“While there will always be a place for factory restored automobiles, the recent restomod craze of converting older muscle cars and classics to a more modern suspension setup is really driving this segment,” says Scott Adcock, creative services manager for Specialty Products Company (SPC Performance). “Most of these cars were originally designed to work with bias-ply tires and, with all the upgrades being done to other parts of the car, it only makes sense to have a vehicle that drives as well as it looks while taking advantage of today’s modern tire technology.”

Gary Nelson, who performs R&D development for Aldan American, traces the market back to the 1970s, when tire technology advanced to the point that suspensions originally designed for those bias-ply tires became outdated.

“Today’s automotive industry produces far more advanced vehicles compared to those of the 1960s and ‘70s. Take the 1965 Mustang, for example—while it was an incredible car in its time, imagine what a modern buyer would think of it today,” says Nelson. “Our customers expect modern performance from their vintage hot rods and muscle cars. We’ve developed bolt-on kits that upgrade classic cars to meet the demands of today’s high-performance tires. Plus, the ability to fine-tune the stance is a major advantage.”

The technology that goes into quality Pro-Touring suspension systems is ever evolving, spurring constant research and development, says Jason Wilcox, marketing supervisor for Total Cost Involved.

“In just a few short years we have seen a huge influx of dual-clutch transmissions, traction control and even ABS on these old cars and trucks,” he observes. “This constant evolution has helped raise the bar on what these old vehicles can achieve while simultaneously making them safer for your family.”

Of course, the market isn’t all older vehicles. Jason Brady, marketing coordinator for Ridetech, explains his company’s street suspension systems can be found as standard equipment on recent specialty builds such as the 2024 Shelby F-150 Super Snake and the Hennessey MAMMOTH 400 Ram Sport Truck.

He notes that more than 5.3 million new full-size truck platforms across the Big Three were purchased over the past three years, providing a fertile market.

“Each year, some of these vehicles end up coming out of their manufacturer dealer warranties as well, opening up the likelihood that they’ll start to see performance modifications,” he says.

COMPLETE CONTROL

As more and more builders turn to street suspension setups, the market naturally attracts additional suppliers. Reputable companies warn shops of the detriments of low-quality systems.

“Understanding the full scope of what’s available, ensuring the components work as intended and having confidence in the brand they’re selling is crucial,” says Nelson. “That’s why reliable support, fast shipping, and well-designed kits—like Aldan’s—make a difference in helping shops deliver quality results without unnecessary headaches.”

Brady notes that the proper setup will enhance overall vehicle performance.

“A common misconception performance shops face when selling or installing modern street suspension systems is that all aftermarket lowering systems have a poor ride quality and decrease load capacity of the vehicle,” he says.

Adcock offers a list of performance upgrades these setups provide to covert non-believers:

• Adjustment is far easier than shimming.
• Taller ball joints allow for improved suspension/steering geometry.
• Systems are readily adaptable for transplanted front “clips,” which may not be located quite right and have caster issues.
• The complete suspension and steering package is designed to work correctly together.

“Adjustments not possible with OE parts are now possible, such as positive caster for older cars, which were designed for low/negative caster due to bias-ply tires and lack of power steering,” he says.

The ability for drivers to use—and sometimes abuse—these systems is a market driver, Wilcox notes.

“The one thing that the last 20 years has shown is our primary customers want to use their vehicles, not just have them sit in a climate-controlled garage,” he says. “That means we have to make sure our parts are capable of pretty much everything. Otherwise, we pigeonhole ourselves with ‘Race Only’ or ‘Not Recommended for Race Use’ parts. We have found an excellent middle ground with parts and setups that can be used for anything from daily commuters to competitive track cars.”

UP & RUNNING

Shops can be confident selling the latest street suspension parts and systems because the upgrades really do improve performance, safety and handling characteristics.

“Many shops are not aware that an adjustable upper control arm is available,” says Adcock from SPC Performance. “In addition, excellent selling points are that the arms can be adjusted while on the car, without removal and without using shims, and the clearance gained from the original shim configuration is a plus with vehicles that require additional header clearances.”

The ability to quickly get the kit they need with the confidence to know it will work as expected helps shops stay productive and ahead of projects.

“Profitability is also key, which is why having the option to buy through a local WD or directly from the manufacturer at a fair profit margin is crucial to keeping the lights on,” says Nelson from Aldan American. “We have strong distributor partnerships and offer direct wholesale pricing to qualified retailers and shops. Our team is available to provide both technical support and dealer assistance. Additionally, our website features a comprehensive product catalog, along with an online catalog link for easy research—and, for those who prefer a physical copy, we still offer printed catalogs upon request.”

For shops looking to get involved with the market, the first step is just that—getting involved, says Wilcox from Total Cost Involved.

“Build some cool vehicles that will make a statement about your potential. The firsthand knowledge gained from enjoying a properly suspended vehicle will provide real emotion to potential customers,” he says. “Take those vehicles to events, engage in conversations, listen to people and build long-term relationships. We call them ‘raving fans’ and if we’ve done our job properly, that’s exactly what they’ll be. I have worked somewhere around 500 shows over the last two decades and the highlight for me is hearing the build stories from customers.”

Finally, a real-life example will help build trust in first-time buyers, says Ridetech’s Brady.

“Build a shop vehicle to give customers a firsthand experience using the product you sell,” he recommends.

Street Suspension Products

HOT PRODUCTS: Bolt-On Adjustable Coil-Over Kits
FEATURES & BENEFITS: American manufactured for more than 40 years for American hot rods and muscle cars; designed for DIYers and professionals; grade 8 hardware includes factory-style washers and mechanical lock nuts; shocks and laser-cut brackets built in-house.
Aldan American
Gary Nelson
R&D Development

HOT PRODUCTS: Bolt-On Performance Coil-Over Systems
FEATURES & BENEFITS: Available for late-model cars and trucks; adjustable ride height; monotube Fox Factory coil-overs; adjustable damping; adjustable 24-position rebound; improved ride quality and sharper handling; bolt-on installation; made in the USA.
Ridetech
Jason Brady
Marketing Coordinator

HOT PRODUCTS: Adjustable Upper Control Arms
FEATURES & BENEFITS: Available for muscle cars including a variety of GM applications; designed to adjust the camber and caster settings without having to deal with the old shims or arm removal; arms feature a ball stud that is 1/2-inch taller than stock to improve camber curve.
Specialty Products Company (SPC Performance)
Scott Adcock
Creative Services Manager

HOT PRODUCTS: Pro-Touring Suspension Packages
FEATURES & BENEFITS: Available for Novas, Camaros, Mustangs and pickups; offer the ride and performance of a late-model vehicle; competitive edge for real street cars in Drag & Drive and autocross events; lightweight design improves braking performance and fuel mileage.
Total Cost Involved
Jason Wilcox
Marketing Supervisor