Performance Suspension and Brakes

Brakes

Well to start the Chevette shares its front suspension with the Fiero, so most upgrades for the Fiero will work on a Chevette. Held Motorsports offers larger brake packages. The one thing that some people might find to be a problem is the different bolt pattern it has a 5x100 for the fiero, Chevettes come stock with 4x100. This isn't a problem if you want to use aftermarket rims that have covers over the lug nuts (like my rims) you'll never see the difference. Held has packages from 9 inch rotor all the way to 13 inch rotor for use on the Fiero. They dont however sell the spatula you'll need to peel your face from the windshield when you slam on the brakes. More recently I've found this guy Darrell Morse who can custom make a set of hubs so you can use Eldorodo or Trans Am or even Corvette rotors on your Chevette. Each set is custom made to your specs so Whatever rotors you want he'll make it to fit. A third option is to use Ed Wericks Brake conversion that uses S-10 calipers and rotors. To Contact Ed Werick about his brake conversion click here Email Ed.

Suspension

Polyurethane Control Arm bushings are available for the Fiero and can be used in the Chevette. The stock part numbers are the same.Held Motorsports also sells dropped spindles, you can drop the nose of your Chevette up to 2". Again with this you'll need to use the 5x100 bolt pattern rims, but it lowers your center on gravity and will help your cornering. Also available are tubular control arms with a coil over conversion. Theres a few pluses to the tubular control arm/coilover kit, one is no more shock on top of the control arm so wider and larger rims can fit without any spacers. Another is if you need a wider track width for wider rims you can have them made up to 3 inces wider. I haven't yet added these peices but I plan on as soon as cash allows. I'll be carving the roads showing Porshes how its done.
Addco makes swaybars for about $160 thru Summit Racing 1 inch in the front and 5/8 inch in the rear. If you dont want to go with a full sway bar kit you can always go to the local auto parts store and purchase an end link kit and swaybar bushings which will tighten up the cornering a bit being that the polyurethane doesn't flex under load, and the original peices in there now are at least 20 years old.

Tires and Rims

As far as tires go the stock 155/80/13 tires are smaller than my bicycle tires. You can go with 175/70/13 or 205/60/13 which will give you a little bit better handling. My choice is a larger rim, my 78 has 14 inch rims. I bought mine from Pep-boys$200 for a set of 4. You will need a 1/4 inch spacer to clear the shocks in the front. If you want to go even larger 15 inch rims would use a 195/50/15 and 16 inch rims would need a 205/40/16. Of course as you go up in size you have to worry about clearance, thats where the tubular control arms fit in. Now the rims, a cheap easy way to dress up your Chevette is to get some 13 aluminum rims from a front drive car or chrome rims from an old Vega. As I mentioned 14" VW rims are a way to step it up an inch. 15" Geo Storm rims also fit the Chevette easily.

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