I noticed these braces inside the LCA's on a car in the boneyard today. The car was nothing special, an '85 LG4 Auto. I've never seen anything like them before, though I must admit that I have never looked for them. I'm guessing they were extra bracing for the LCA's, but are they factory or aftermarket? They fit perfectly in the side holes of the factory LCA's; either the front two or the back two. The car I pulled them from had them in the front two holes, towards the front of the car. Just curious what I stumbled onto.

 

two more pics

 

Yep, some 3rd gens got them while many others didn't. I don't know which ones or why, other then it will make the arm less flexible. Those braces were also used on g-body's that had a rear sway bar. The bar ends bolted to the LCA's with the brace preventing the arm from collapsing.

RBob.

 

^^^This^^^

Lots of parts on these cars are like that; semi-universal, so they fit a bunch of different body styles. Just like the front LCAs, which have shock holes, even though these cars don't have front shocks at all.

 

Was it a sport coupe or Z28/IROC?

 

Interesting. Thanks, guys.

 

Base Z28. Non-Iroc.

 

As noted above it was for the G-Body sway bar that mounted between the two LCAs, they prevent the LCAs from collapsing when the sway bar bolts are tightened down through the LCA. My guess is either someone swapped in the LCAs from a G-body or just the two little brackets thinking they will add strength.

Could have been from the factory but I would be very surprised.

 

Was Working Under The Car Today Checked Mine,They Were Factory,Not Sure What The Determining Factor Was For Which Car Got Them.

 

Those bracings did come on F bodies with the beefier suspensions like Z28's and the IROC's. Possibly the 1984-1985 F41 Camaro sport coupes.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this was original to the car. The body nor the suspension were in particularly good shape, though it's hard to say what has happened to the car over the last 30 years. I was measuring the rear sway bar when I noticed it. 18mm rear and 32 solid front.

 

Yup; seems kinda random which cars got those LCAs and which got the ones without. There's quite a number of mysteries like that about these cars; almost like there were several suppliers or plants, each of which was given a different set of drawings, and none of which were operating at the same time as the others. Typical "old GM" in a way, I guess.

 

I wrote the following up sometime ago:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...r-control.html

JamesC

 

I haven't seen them on any 86 and up cars, anyone else?

 

Hey James, you sure did and I even commented on it. LOL. Btw, I could have sworn I have seen those braces listed on my 1987 shop manual. Have to dig it up.

 

Picked a pair today a U-Pick-It off a 85 Z28.

Also saw two cadillac's with the sway bar attachment bracket - they are not the same - and are mounted at the rear of the LCA on the caddy - but at the front on the Z28 LCA.
.

 

FYI

Per GM parts diagram - Lower Control Reinforcement p/n 10000097 used on 83-86 Camaro.
.

 

Yes. For more info, please see the link I provide above.

JamesC

 

Oops - how did I miss that.
.

 

My GM Chevrolet 1987 Camaro shop manual has the reinforcements listed under the rear suspension section so it was at least up to 1987 unless someone has a 1988 to 1992 GM Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird shop manual to confirm.

 

My 86 Z28 LG4/5-speed has them.