Trailing arms... the long and the short of it.

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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NCArachnid
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider Sport
Location: Charlotte

Trailing arms... the long and the short of it.

Post by NCArachnid »

I have a '72 spider with a bent right long trailing arm. I have read that the later model arms were similar but stronger. If this is true will they fit on my older car? I have an '83 parts car with straight arms. I understand that the panhard bar must match with the rear-end housing but was unsure about the trailing arms. Also, has anyone tried the Classic Ricambi Polyurethane suspension bushing set? It sounds like a good idea. Beef it up and tighten it up all at the same time.

http://www.classicricambi.com/index.php ... f2e8a96754

I've already rebuilt the front end and used delrin a-arm bushings. It is very tight feels, like a go-cart or an old 911 (ok, maybe a stretch) but I like it.
Jon

1972 1600 spider (undergoing moderate freshening....yeah who are we kidding. Restoration in progress)
1983 Pininfarina 2000 FI (willing organ donor)
1968 Chevy C-10 SWB (faithful shop truck)
BEEK
Posts: 1833
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2010 10:45 pm
Your car is a: 1975 Spider
Location: clermont fl

Re: Trailing arms... the long and the short of it.

Post by BEEK »

yes, the upper and lower arms will directly interchange, and yes they are of a better design on the lowers, the late uppers somtimes fail at the weld areas, i would use which ever ones have the best bushings on the uppers as the breakage is rare
Automotive Service Technology Instructor (34 year Fiat mechanic)
75 spider
, 6 Lancia Scorpions, 2018 Abarth Spider, 500X wifes, 500L 3 82 Zagatos. 82 spider 34k original miles, 83 pininfarina, 8 fiat spider parts cars
son has 78 spider
User avatar
NCArachnid
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider Sport
Location: Charlotte

Re: Trailing arms... the long and the short of it.

Post by NCArachnid »

I found a good tech article concerning this subject and more at "another site".

http://www.mirafiori.com/faq/content/sw ... ndswap.htm

I hope this may be helpful to others pondering which parts can interchange and the differences in the rear axels through the years.
Jon

1972 1600 spider (undergoing moderate freshening....yeah who are we kidding. Restoration in progress)
1983 Pininfarina 2000 FI (willing organ donor)
1968 Chevy C-10 SWB (faithful shop truck)
User avatar
NCArachnid
Posts: 124
Joined: Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:13 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider Sport
Location: Charlotte

Re: Trailing arms... the long and the short of it.

Post by NCArachnid »

I guess I need to be more observant. Nice videos on the polyurathane trailing-arm bushings Strikeph!
Jon

1972 1600 spider (undergoing moderate freshening....yeah who are we kidding. Restoration in progress)
1983 Pininfarina 2000 FI (willing organ donor)
1968 Chevy C-10 SWB (faithful shop truck)
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