I'm running into problems getting the upper control arm bolt out. Any tips that I should be aware of? The text descriptions in Orgre's cave of these parts are just not sinking in. Does anyone happen to have an exploded view of the upper and lower control arms and hardware? Does anyone happen to know who publishes those kinds of diagrams or where they can be obtained? Sorry for the buffoonery on the cradle bolt topic.
Thanks.

Here's the diagrams from my shop manual:

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1984 Fiero SE

On the last ones I did the bolt had become "one" with the bushing insert making it impossible to pull the bolt out.
Ended up using an angle grinder to cut the bolts, just have to be very careful not to nick up the control arm or mounting points.

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Don't take life too seriously -- you'll never get out if it alive.

Thanks for the reply gents. Shop manual...of course! I'll take a look at mine...wrong year, but it might have it in there.

I need to replace the control arm bushings and I thought I read somewhere about "moog problem solver bushings" but I've not been able to find it or them. Anyone ever heard of them? I'm going to go with Ogre's suggestion and use rubber up front...does anyone have an part numbers for all the bushings up front or a kit number?
Thanks.

quote Originally posted by rwlekey: Thanks for the reply gents. Shop manual...of course! I'll take a look at mine...wrong year, but it might have it in there. I need to replace the control arm bushings and I thought I read somewhere about "moog problem solver bushings" but I've not been able to find it or them. Anyone ever heard of them? I'm going to go with Ogre's suggestion and use rubber up front...does anyone have an part numbers for all the bushings up front or a kit number? Thanks.

Haven't heard of "problem solver bushings" but Moog does make a "problem solver balljoint", it's slotted to allow more adjustment for camber.
Part # on the balljoint is K5292, have one sitting in front of me.

edited to add that the part number is for a front upper balljoint, forgot to specify.

edited again to add that part is for an 84-87, not sure off the top of my head if the 88 is the same, dad gum it, getting forgetful in my old age!

[This message has been edited by DRA (edited 12-18-2006).]

Still working through this and I've come across a couple of puzzlers:

1) in the first graphic above, my driver's side had the #1 and #2 (6mm) washers on both sides of the control arm as shown. On the passenger side, they were together on the rear side (both were where #2 is shown) on the control arm. The bolt had been replaced previously, so it is possible that it was reassembled incorrectly OR it could be that the alignment was that bad? The car was not driveable when I got it, so is there any way to tell whether I should put the driver's and passenger's side back together symmetrically or put them back together the way I found them?

2) On the steering rack, I removed the "flexible coupling pinch bolt" (I don't have a picture but it is in the 86 service man. p. 3B4-4, figure 8, part #4), but when I pulled the rack out, the coupling stayed attached and brought the "intermediate shaft" (Ibid part #2) along with it. I'm soaking the pinch coupling and pinion shaft in PB Blaster to try to get them separated, but my question is: Have I totally screwed the steering column up? Will this intermediate shaft piece go back in or do I now need to replace the column? It seems like it should slide back in, but I'm not sure.

3) Since I've got the steering rack out, I figure I might as well service it, but new inner and outer tie rods, a new rack bushing, and new boots will run over $125. For $165, I can get a rebuilt rack with new boots and inner rods. How hard is it to do the rebuild? Are there any other less expensive alternatives out there?

That's enough for this thread. Thanks for looking!