The Datsun 510 is a cult icon for a reason. Often referred to as the “poor man’s BMW,” its lightweight chassis and independent rear suspension made it a “giant killer” on the Trans-Am circuits of the 1970s. However, 50 years of automotive evolution have passed, and what was revolutionary in 1971… is a significant bottleneck for a modern performance build.
When you lower a 510 today, you aren’t just improving the look; you are fundamentally altering the suspension kinematics in a way that the factory engineers never intended. To truly unlock the potential of this chassis, you have to move beyond simple lowering springs. You need a total Datsun 510 suspension overhaul.
The 510 utilizes a MacPherson strut front and a semi-trailing arm rear. From the factory, these systems were designed for high ride heights and skinny tires. When enthusiasts install coilovers and drop the car 2–3 inches, several handling “ghosts” appear:
Roll Center Collapse: As the front lower control arms move from a downward angle to pointing up toward the chassis, your roll center drops into the ground. This increases the “roll couple,” making the car lean more in corners despite having stiffer springs.
The Rear Camber/Toe Curve: Because of the pivot angle of the rear semi-trailing arms, lowering the car naturally induces massive negative camber and “toe-in.” This leads to uneven tire wear, a twitchy rear end under heavy braking, and a loss of mechanical grip.
Bump-Steer: At lower heights, the steering rack and tie rods no longer move in the same arc as the control arms, causing the wheels to steer themselves as they travel over bumps.
To fix the front end, you can’t just replace the bushings; you have to replace the architecture. Our Datsun 510 Front Suspension Kit is a comprehensive solution engineered to modernize the 510’s steering feel and grip levels.
Our kit revolves around a tubular crossmember that is significantly lighter and stiffer than the factory stamped-steel unit. The most critical feature, however, is the Roll Center Correction. We have integrated adjustable mounting points for the lower control arms, allowing you to bring the arms back to a level or slightly downward position even at extreme drop heights. This restores the suspension’s natural resistance to body roll, providing a flat, predictable cornering attitude.
We’ve eliminated the vague, old-school steering by including Quick Steering Knuckles and adjustable tie rods. This allows you to dial out bump-steer entirely by shimming the tie rods to be parallel with the control arms. Furthermore, for those looking to ditch the L-series engine, our crossmember is modularly designed to provide ample clearance for SR20, KA24, or even LS-series oil pans, turning your 510 into a true multi-generational hybrid.
The factory rear trailing arm setup is the single biggest limitation of the 510 platform. Our Datsun 510 Rear Suspension Kit represents a total re-imagining of how the 510 puts power to the ground.
Instead of a fixed semi-trailing arm, our kit converts the rear to a fully adjustable multi-link system. This is a game-changer for anyone serious about performance.
Total Alignment Control: In a standard 510, you have to weld in slot kits to get even a tiny amount of adjustment. Our kit offers On-Car Adjustability. You can dial in your camber, toe, and track width with simple hand tools while the car is on the rack.
Corrected Wheel Centering: A common issue with lowered 510s is the rear wheel shifting forward in the wheel well. Our design allows you to move the wheel location by nearly 2 inches, ensuring your tires are perfectly centered and maximizing your aesthetic “stance” without fender interference.
The Custom Mustache Bar: We’ve replaced the rigid factory mustache bar with an adjustable version. This allows you to fine-tune the differential height and angle, which is crucial for maintaining proper driveline angles.Especially if you’ve swapped in a modern transmission or an R180/R200 differential.
We know that modern 510 builds are pushing 300, 400, or even 500 horsepower. Stamped steel arms simply cannot handle the deflection caused by modern sticky tires. Our tubular arms and reinforced subframe provide the structural integrity needed to launch hard and hold a line without the rear end “squirming” under load. Plus, the high-clearance design finally makes it easy to run a 3-inch exhaust without rattling against the chassis.
Upgrading your Datsun 510 suspension with Apex Engineered parts isn’t about erasing the soul of the car; it’s about allowing the chassis to finally keep the promises the 510’s legend made. By correcting the geometry at both ends of the car, you transform a nervous, dated cruiser into a precision handling machine that can legitimately challenge modern sports cars on the track.
Stop fighting 50-year-old engineering. It’s time to give your 510 the backbone and the brain it needs to dominate the street and the circuit.
Shop upgrades for your Datsun 510 suspension today:
Datsun 510 Front Suspension Kit | Datsun 510 Rear Suspension Kit
