Rear end links for an 88 GT (Page 1/1)
jc8367 AUG 13, 09:35 AM
What have people been using? I hear the Fiero Stores version needs cutting. Rodney's Zero Lash has many sizes, which is appropriate for my car http://rodneydickman.com/pr...29c2440aee57469e398.
What about local shops like Napa, Pep boys, Autozone or Advanced?

Thanks in advance
olejoedad AUG 13, 10:33 AM
Prothane and Energy Suspension both offer good quality parts.
Vintage-Nut AUG 13, 11:18 AM
I put in Rodney's Zero Lash End Links which are 'plug n' play'

Edit: I installed then both on the Front and the Rear

Stock '88 Suspension
http://rodneydickman.com/pr....php?products_id=187

[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 08-13-2023).]

Raydar AUG 14, 10:09 AM
This is what I installed on mine. (The application says "front", but I think the front ones are longer than these.)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CNB5GI/
sledcaddie AUG 20, 08:23 PM
According to earlier posts, the fronts are 136mm long. The rears are 81mm.
Patrick AUG 20, 09:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by jc8367:

What have people been using? I hear the Fiero Stores version needs cutting. Rodney's Zero Lash has many sizes, which is appropriate for my car?



IMO, it's best to measure what your particular car requires, as many cars will be a bit different than each other, especially if any suspension mods have been done. I believe it's optimum to have the end of the "arms" of the sway bar parallel to the ground while the car is sitting normally. I've borrowed this image to show what I mean.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-21-2023).]

sledcaddie AUG 22, 01:23 PM
Great photo, Patrick! Does anyone even make those nylon bushings anymore? Mine had just crumbled away.

Also, what is the rule of thumb on how much to tighten down the rubber washers? Some say to tighten until the rubber is the same diameter as the washers. Your thoughts?

[This message has been edited by sledcaddie (edited 08-22-2023).]

Vintage-Nut AUG 22, 04:35 PM
When I removed my factory end links out to put in Rodney's Zero Lash End Links, both the front and rear were tightened 'all the way' when the plain machine nuts hit the end of threads of the bolts.

Edit: If you don't tighten the nuts to the end of the threads, then you'll need Nyloc nuts to 'hold' the nut positions you want on the bolts (like in the borrowed image above)

[This message has been edited by Vintage-Nut (edited 08-22-2023).]

Patrick AUG 22, 04:55 PM

quote
Originally posted by sledcaddie:

Great photo, Patrick!



Thanks. I'll take credit for finding the photo... but seq gets credit for originally posting it in This thread.


quote
Originally posted by sledcaddie:

Also, what is the rule of thumb on how much to tighten down the rubber washers?



I'm no authority on this... but I usually tighten the end link lock-nut until the rubber bushings are about half their original thickness. You definitely don't want any play in the end links, but I've always been leery that over-tightening and over-compression of the rubber may lead to it splitting/failing prematurely.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 08-22-2023).]

82-T/A [At Work] AUG 23, 08:19 AM

quote
Originally posted by Patrick:

IMO, it's best to measure what your particular car requires, as many cars will be a bit different than each other, especially if any suspension mods have been done. I believe it's optimum to have the end of the "arms" of the sway bar parallel to the ground while the car is sitting normally. I've borrowed this image to show what I mean.







Sage advice... I've long since replaced these at least a dozen times on my cars and never thought to check / compare what it was originally. Is there a more accurate way of determining what kind of tension should exist? I always made the assumption to tighten them down until it eliminates any play.