How are your upper a arm shaft? Mine were rusted everything had to be cut off. I can not find a replacement. I’m building my own from a pto shaft. Only square steel I found on the farm. I’ll be drilling and tapping on the lathe. I’ll use a four jaw chuck so I can offset my holes. Then drill the through holes to bolt on to subframe. The upper a arms will now be bolted on using the same lower control arm bolts I hope that’s the plan. I’ll put a video together of the finished product. Also rebuilding all my callipers.
Sometime, back in the day, IIRC, Held Motorsports had full tubular set of A-arms to swap in but they went out of business and all the welding Jigs and schematics have yet to be found.
The rear suspension of the '88 Fiero was not inspired by the Lotus merger with gm, and not a Lotus subcontract either. I'm on my third '88, a Formula CJB, and my second, a Duke Coupe. The front and rear suspension of the '88 Fiero is THE ORIGINAL prototype DESIGN, but was not approved, with corporate mandating, instead, the use of the Pontiac PhoeniX front drive subframe AND the front end of the Pontiac T1000(aka Chevette), to get the car on the market faster, cheaper, and improve the profit margin. That $30 million, given Pontiac in 1986, went to modifying the original space frame, and developing new steering boxes, and proprietary brake components, plus considerable funds also went into developing electric steering, but ultimate, that was cancelled before the production year. The 88's were also suppose to get new body panels as well, but corporate denied approval for them as well.
When I say inspired I mean ,gm engineers had access to lotus and while the 88 fiero suspension was designed for the 84, I’m sure the lotus influence was felt. Also the 30 million was approved in 87 for the 88 model year. The new body panels were to be introduced in 89 and a all new gt body for 1990 to complete the true 2nd gen Car. The electro hydraulic steering would have been the first in the world was designed for the fiero and several cars were built for testing. It never made production before the car was cancelled. Even though the 88 suspension was designed for the debut of the car it was not used and the off the shelf parts are the first suspension as gm did not want the fiero to compete with the corvette as a sports car.
Great timing. Doing a rebuild on a 88 right now and it was helpful to see how it goes together done many 84-87 suspensions.
How are your upper a arm shaft? Mine were rusted everything had to be cut off. I can not find a replacement. I’m building my own from a pto shaft. Only square steel I found on the farm. I’ll be drilling and tapping on the lathe. I’ll use a four jaw chuck so I can offset my holes. Then drill the through holes to bolt on to subframe. The upper a arms will now be bolted on using the same lower control arm bolts I hope that’s the plan. I’ll put a video together of the finished product. Also rebuilding all my callipers.
I think the fiero store carries the parts you need. Check with them
Sometime, back in the day, IIRC, Held Motorsports had full tubular set of A-arms to swap in but they went out of business and all the welding Jigs and schematics have yet to be found.
Nice look at your ‘88 Fiero. Thanks for sharing.
Its my baby and i know most people dont know how different this model was from all other years.
Interesting. I just watched a video on the 2006+ W-body rear suspension. Other than the drive shaft, the basic suspension is nearly the same!
Great video. Thanks for sharing
The rear suspension of the '88 Fiero was not inspired by the Lotus merger with gm, and not a Lotus subcontract either. I'm on my third '88, a Formula CJB, and my second, a Duke Coupe. The front and rear suspension of the '88 Fiero is THE ORIGINAL prototype DESIGN, but was not approved, with corporate mandating, instead, the use of the Pontiac PhoeniX front drive subframe AND the front end of the Pontiac T1000(aka Chevette), to get the car on the market faster, cheaper, and improve the profit margin. That $30 million, given Pontiac in 1986, went to modifying the original space frame, and developing new steering boxes, and proprietary brake components, plus considerable funds also went into developing electric steering, but ultimate, that was cancelled before the production year. The 88's were also suppose to get new body panels as well, but corporate denied approval for them as well.
When I say inspired I mean ,gm engineers had access to lotus and while the 88 fiero suspension was designed for the 84, I’m sure the lotus influence was felt. Also the 30 million was approved in 87 for the 88 model year. The new body panels were to be introduced in 89 and a all new gt body for 1990 to complete the true 2nd gen Car. The electro hydraulic steering would have been the first in the world was designed for the fiero and several cars were built for testing. It never made production before the car was cancelled. Even though the 88 suspension was designed for the debut of the car it was not used and the off the shelf parts are the first suspension as gm did not want the fiero to compete with the corvette as a sports car.
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