Suspension / ChassisQuestions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?
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I have an 85 IROC. I ordered Gabriel bearing plates, which according to the shop, fit 82-92 Camaros. Long story short, they don't fit the three retainer studs (two fit--the third, the one toward the rear of the car, doesn't). Thinking they might have been boxed incorrectly, the shop ordered Moog replacements. Same story, the fit was off. By the way, apparently the part numbers for the above cross-reference with GM.
Anyone with advice or part numbers chip in. I need to get my car on the road again.
JamesC
__________________ "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy." Hamlet
"Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies." Nietzsche
very long time ago i was doing front end on a 70 nova with moog parts. i got wrong size control arm bushing, went to GM parts, same thing, tried several other stores all same size and same pn, finially went to another store and got same pn but differant size part, and it fit. guess anything can happen in the world of replacement parts.
__________________ MM Black Diamond 538 F&AM
Ex quocumque facere poteris te sauciabit, nihilo comprehenso.
After market companies, like Gabriel and Moog, claim that their strut bearing plates will fit 82-92 cars. However (GM says there are two series, 82-86 and 87-92), the after market will only fit 82-86 if the 87-92 three-stud retainer is used. GM has discontinued one side, so the bone yards are the only answer.
The Moog part numbers are correct. They, however, did not fit my 85 IROC until I replaced the retainer with ones from an 88. I'll try to post pics in the next couple of days.
Here are some pics of the problem outlined above. Below is the 82-86 version of the bearing plate and its retainer. Both are from my 85 IROC. Note the thumb's distance between the tower and the retainer slot.
As a consequence of the distance change, the after market bearing plate, which is supposed to fit 82-92 vehicles, will not fit 82-86 vehicles without also swapping the retainer in from an 87-92 car. As can be seen, one of the retainer studs from the 82-86 version will not fit through the slot of the after market bearing plate.
I bought either the Moog or the Monroe version a few years ago. For the part where you are pointing too they made a wider slot to fit both versions. These were for my '86, after that was wrecked I swapped everything over to an '88 this past weekend.
I didn't even think to look at them for any differences. Anyone know if I should swap the bolt plate back to the '88 version? Or should I just get my alignment done and call it finished like I want to do?
__________________ '88 Formula, T-5, 350, Dart heads, SLP Headers, 3" race magnum muffler, Hotchkis springs, Tokico Illumina 5 adjustable shocks and struts. Now with the infamous traction delete option :-(
Oh; hell. Anyone use the KYB strut mounts? (part #s SM5027 and SM5028) Don't have them next to me, I can't tell about that slot. When you guys put the 87-92 retainers on your 82-86's, were there any problems with the retainers fitting up? Dammit...
__________________ -Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)
No, no fitment probelms (Steve Spohn claims one manufacturer makes all bearing plates) with the 87-92 retainer. This morning the CarQuest shop who'd called the Moog tech line received a call. They had been unable to locate an 82-86 car to study. I offered to send them the bearing plate and retainer from my 85. We'll see if they take me up on it.
Not that I didn't believe anyone, but I had to see it for myself... yep, the same thing occurs with the KYB mounts. Looks like I'll be hitting the junkyard Saturday morning... hopefully the guy won't charge me and arm and a leg. I have my one "cheap" junkyard, and the other place varies like you wouldn't believe.
__________________ -Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l)
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just bought some plates a month back, and turns out I ordered the 87-92 plates for my 86. Dang Nabbit! Guess I can use them on the 92, but why were they changed by GM in the first place.
__________________ -Justin- out of my mind and I'll never know why '86 Pontiac Firebird 305-4bbl / 700R4 T-Top WS6
'92 Pontiac Firebird 305-TBI / 700R4 T-Top
'76 Chevrolet Silverado C10 350-4bbl / TH350 longbed click for my Homepage at CarDomain to see my mods da computer: AMD A64 3400+ @ 2.6GHz in green Aspire SuperAlien case.click for a pic! Teddy!
Thanks for the info and pics, JamesC. I successfully installed some strut mounts from Spohn Performance using stud retainers from an '89 RS with no problems.
Originally posted by Justins86bird why were they changed by GM in the first place.
I think I may have answered my own question. I got a set of the new retainers last week and compared them to the older version. Having the rear stud closer in towards the strut allows the mount to be slid slightly farther back allowing more caster.
I suppose you could fab them up with some time and expense, but I'm with Tom on the bone yard venture. I bought mine for $10 and the whole transaction didn't take more than fifteen minutes. Even if the yards aren't particularly good in your area, you should still be able to come up with something without too much trouble. But each to his own.
your parts man should check for retainer rings from monroe they do make the newer style to go with the new strut mount part#901923 & 901924 hope that helps
Teddy! 
