Reccomendatiosn '86 5KTQ

[Robert Deis]

On Mon, 7 Jan 2002 Eric_R_Kissell at email.whirlpool.com wrote:

> On Mon, 7 Jan 2002, Robert Deis <rdeis at io.com> responded:
> >The 86 is a split year.  Early 86 cars have somewhat different rear
> >suspension parts that are substantially more expensive.
>
> Could you explain what these differences are?  Which parts are different?
>
> I have only noted a difference in the the rear traverse link (a.k.a. rear
> tie rod) where it mounts on the inboard end, but that end rarely wears out
> anyway.

That's the first.  I have not been able to find the outer end alone
available, only the entier assembly as a unit.

The trapezoid arm has at least two differences, one being that the large
inboard bushing is actually fairly small, and the other that the front end
has a stud. (according to bently, the later front end has a hole to
receive a bolt.)

The front bushings for the late trapeziod arm (Blau gives part numbers and
says 4 required) are similar in diameter but much shorter than the ones on
my early 86.  It's possible that two of these small bushings would replace
the one long bushing in my car, but I didn't try it.  I'd prefer to get
the single bushing part.

At the moment I'm using front fontrol arm bushings in place of the
large-inner rear bushing- (they fit perfectly and I needed to get the car
back in one peice)- but they're much softer than the correct part. I
expect that will add some slop to the back of the car, but it made a
reasonable improvement over what was already there...

> As far as expense of the parts which were different, the updated parts
> allowing the use of the newer style parts should not be too expensive in a
> salvage yard, if you ever needed to go that route.

Probably true.

--
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Rob Deis                  "Let the people know beforehand what the law
  MiB3347                      is and what they are to expect."
  rdeis at io.com                              -- 18th Congress, Rec. 75