I've rebuilt the entire front, and my car is still squirrelly, so I'm going to do the rear as well.

Is there any other options besides www.fierostore.com's 1988 REAR TRAILING ARM KIT?
"1988 REAR TRAILING ARM KIT
Replace your bent or broken trailing arms with a set of powder coated, TIG-welded steel replacements. Each steel trailing arm features polyurethane bushings, which will greatly tighten your rear suspension for more responsive handling.
Part #59408
Price:$299.00"

I've heard about putting poly in the old links, but I cannot find a good thread on it. www.summitracing.com lists two different kits: "Prothane Motion Control 7-305" (Prothane Rear Trailing Arm Bushings), and "Energy Suspension 3-7103G" (Energy Suspension Torque Arm Bushings)

So, what's a trailing arm vs a torque arm? Do I need both kits from summit? If so, I'm thinking of just getting the new kit from the fierostore. Anybody had any quality issues from the kit? They've been mostly good to me, but I've had an issue or two, and mostly dealt with only simple components that are less dimensionally critical.

Any comments, questions, or links to valuable threads / advice will be appreciated.

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1988 Fiero GT
Custom Corvette / MR2 electro-hydraulic power steering
17" rims covering up 11.25" rotors with Cadillac Calipers & drop spindles
ClevelandFieros has moved!!! Update your links to the following:
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Have not seen it myself yet but I have been wanting to try "The Fiero Rear Bump-Steer" kit from http://www.westshorefabrica...KitCarSuspension.htm
Have it as part of my future project car. They also sell adapters for installing an 88 cradle if you could actually find one.

Thanks, but that's an entirely different subject. I already have a 1988 car, I just need to rebuild it after 180,000+ miles.

The Fiero Store P/N 57305 will provide the bushings you need to tighten uop the rear of the car. No need to replace the arms unless they are bent, or the adjustable lateral arm (used for rear toe adjustment) is rusted solid. As far as replacing the bushings, it's very simple and retty much a matter of drving out the old bushings and installing the new bushings - be sure to use plenty of lube on the new bushings. Much easier than a front end rebuild.

A question - have you checked the tightness of the long bolt that connects the lateral arms to the bottom of the 88 rear knuckle? If the bolt is even a little bit loose, the car's handling will suffer.

quote Originally posted by olejoedad: The Fiero Store P/N 57305 will provide the bushings you need to tighten uop the rear of the car. No need to replace the arms unless they are bent, or the adjustable lateral arm (used for rear toe adjustment) is rusted solid. As far as replacing the bushings, it's very simple and retty much a matter of drving out the old bushings and installing the new bushings - be sure to use plenty of lube on the new bushings. Much easier than a front end rebuild. A question - have you checked the tightness of the long bolt that connects the lateral arms to the bottom of the 88 rear knuckle? If the bolt is even a little bit loose, the car's handling will suffer.

Thanks. Just to confirm, "The Fiero Store P/N 57305" will provide bushings for all the links, right? While I'm in there, I'd like to do them all. Anything else you'd recommend doing while I'm tearing the rear end apart? I think I'm going to get their, "1988 REAR SWAYBAR POLYURETHANE END LINK KIT" (Part #59409) also. I've already replaced the struts (with homemade coil-overs), but other than that I'm not too familiar with the rear.

I've read about that bolt before, but being not-so familiar with the rear suspension, I cannot wrap my head around where that bolt is. Last year I was under there with the wrenches, and I checked everything I could get to, it was all tight. It's funny, I've been into the front end so much I can visualize each component in my head, but the rear, I haven't a clue. Judging by the front bushings, it is time to do the rear as well.

Thanks again,
Tom

According to their catalogue, yes, all the bushings are included. I would do the poly sway bar links as well.

The rear suspension on an 88 is quite simple. The bolt I'm referring to is the long bolt that runs front to back on the bottom of the bearing knuckle.

Are your rear struts any good? My 88 had a blown rear strut as was all over the road, even worse going over bumps. How's the alignment, front and rear?

Hey there TG oreiF 8891, or 1988 Fiero GT as in a mirror. Here is a picture of the long bolt that olejoedad is talking about:

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John
1955 Chevrolet 210 Sedan (Sitting idle for the moment)
1988 SE seized duke... next engine... L81?
1988 CJB T-Top (Project car) # 385 of 1252
2001 Saturn LW300 (Daily driver until CJB done)
2001 Saturn SL1

quote Originally posted by FieroCustom: Hey there TG oreiF 8891, or 1988 Fiero GT as in a mirror. Here is a picture of the long bolt that olejoedad is talking about:

Thank you very much. I guess it is very simple. I've done quite a bit of work back there, but I'm a very focused worker, so anything outside of the scope of my project was ignored. I see you opted for the poly; I sure hope they have it in black. Sounds like there aren't really any benefits to the new links and I should just put poly in my old links.

topher_time:
It's got newer KYB struts and home-made coil-overs in the back.

Not a problem, glad to help out when I can.
~John