#1  
Old 01-22-2005, 04:55 AM
RetroTA RetroTA is offline
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Can you tell me the difference between 79-81
front suspention and 78 and lower? I have an
81 under construction and I have a 78 parts
car. When I look up suspention components
(brakes especially) I get two different part
#s for these years. My main concern is, Are
sub frames, controll arms and spindles the
same? Thanks, Pat

  #2  
Old 01-22-2005, 04:55 AM
RetroTA RetroTA is offline
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Can you tell me the difference between 79-81
front suspention and 78 and lower? I have an
81 under construction and I have a 78 parts
car. When I look up suspention components
(brakes especially) I get two different part
#s for these years. My main concern is, Are
sub frames, controll arms and spindles the
same? Thanks, Pat

  #3  
Old 01-22-2005, 07:14 AM
Skip Fix's Avatar
Skip Fix Skip Fix is offline
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I think the biggest difference was 1977 to 78 as the front bearings were different sizes, so spindles/rotors don't interchange. Later brakes were of the "low drag" variety so that may be the difference in part #s but I think really it is all pretty interchangable.P/S pumps and boxes switched to O ring type fittings either 80 or 81. Otherwise my 81 and 78 all look pretty identical. I had read somewhere that around 81 the outer tie rod ends changed so when using later B body 12" rotor spindles that may need to be addressed, I'm not sure if the F bodies changed that also.

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1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever!
1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand
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1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project
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  #4  
Old 11-06-2022, 10:08 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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This is the best and most relevant thread I could find instead of creating a new one.

Is the Lower Control Arm assembly different between 1979 and 1980? For a stock replacement, 1979 and earlier are hard to find or extremely expensive (+$200 from Classic Industries). But 1980+, you can find them on RockAuto for $68 plus shipping. Wondering if anyone has used 1980 on earlier since they look identical; at least from vendor pics? Thanks!

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Old 11-07-2022, 09:58 AM
78w72 78w72 is offline
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i know 1981 upper control arms & bushings are different. the upper rear bushing on 81s & maybe 80 are smaller than 78.

some bolts were changed to metric around 79/80 also but the subframe itself & all bolt holes or mounting locations are the same from what ive seen.

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Old 11-07-2022, 10:15 AM
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As stated 81 us different upper A arm bushings. Lowers look pretty similar but I agree there are metrics in the bushings of some.

I did check my 78 outer bearings out recently and they are the same as earlier even though my 78 manual says they changed.

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Skip Fix
1978 Trans Am original owner 10.99 @ 124 pump gas 455 E heads, NO Bird ever!
1981 Black SE Trans Am stockish 6X 400ci, turbo 301 on a stand
1965 GTO 4 barrel 3 speed project
2004 GTO Pulse Red stock motor computer tune 13.43@103.4
1964 Impala SS 409/470ci 600 HP stroker project
1979 Camaro IAII Edelbrock head 500" 695 HP 10.33@132 3595lbs
  #7  
Old 11-07-2022, 04:26 PM
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FrankieT/A FrankieT/A is offline
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I think spindles are the same but outer bearings different and so are rotors because of the bearings. All should be interchangeable with correct combinations.

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  #8  
Old 11-07-2022, 09:57 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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This is all very helpful, and thank you. Still a little confused but only because so many factors in play.

I have then confirmed the part numbers for the Upper Ball Joint as well as the Lower Control Arm Bushings are exactly the same for 1979 and 1980 only (I did not look beyond 80). Given this, I think its a safe assumption that the 1980 Lower Control Arm assembly will fit onto a 1979; using the 1979 spindle, upper control arm, brakes, etc, that's already on the car since apparently 1979 and 1980 share the same ball joints and control arms. Maybe its not a cross reference b/c 1980 uses a metric bolt?

Or am I missing another factor?

Not that vendors are always 100%, but Year One has an original GM and says its compatible for 1977-1981 models:
https://www.yearone.com/Product/1967...lh#prettyPhoto


Last edited by MO Olds; 11-07-2022 at 10:07 PM.
  #9  
Old 11-07-2022, 10:09 PM
MO Olds MO Olds is offline
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Pic of Year One new old stock control arm...
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