Time to replace the bushings in my 87 dog-bone, and it seems the fierostore only has them up to 86??

I hate to buy an entire arm for 50 + when all i need is new bushings.. Anyone know where i can get a new set, or am i just stuck and gotta get the entire thing?

Take your dogbone in and get the center drilled straight through, then you can use the 85 bushings

quote Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero: Take your dogbone in and get the center drilled straight through, then you can use the 85 bushings

I thought the bushings went all the way thru ??? I can modify it myself if need be.

Check out a new one at Advance Auto. Last I looked, they were less than $10.

For what it's worth, when I first bought my car it did not have a bone. I got one at the junk yard, but the bushings were shot. I cleaned the old ones out and then bought a rubber mallet at the dollar store. I cut the mallet head in half and removed the handle. I shaved to where it was slightly bigger than the hole in the bone. Then I pressed it into the bone opening. I drilled a hole in the center for the bolt and metal sleeve and voila! A new dog bone for a $1. 3 years later, it is still there.

Jim

[This message has been edited by jimbolaya (edited 05-08-2008).]

quote Originally posted by jimbolaya: For what it's worth, when I first bought my car it did not have a bone. I got one at the junk yard, but the bushings were shot. I cleaned the old ones out and then bought a rubber mallet at the dollar store. I cut the mallet head in half and removed the handle. I shaved to where it was slightly bigger than the hole in the bone. Then I pressed it into the bone opening. I drilled a hole in the center for the bolt and metal sleeve and voila! A new dog bone for a $1. 3 years later, it is still there. Jim

Now that is an idea, if the local parts store doesn't have one ( upper post ) ill give that a shot. I can always turn the head down on my mill.

I was almost considering putting in wood or aluminum... I dont care about vibrations and i thought 'the stiffer the better'

A rubber mallet. That's some very thoughtful engineering.

quote Originally posted by Matthew_Fiero: Take your dogbone in and get the center drilled straight through, then you can use the 85 bushings

I did that too, here's little write up for you, pictures, tips, part numbers.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...060811-2-069534.html

It's very easy to do.

quote Originally posted by jetman: I did that too, here's little write up for you, pictures, tips, part numbers. https://www.fiero.nl/forum/A...060811-2-069534.html It's very easy to do.

Ah, now i understand what he was talking about. Instead of using a hole saw i might just stick it on the mill.

Thanks..

If you are looking for rubber bushings on a 6 cylinder Autozone still sells them

http://www.autozone.com/R,A...artProductDetail.htm

Same PN sells for $4.11 on Rock Auto, but it does not recognize it as fitting a Fiero.

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: If you are looking for rubber bushings on a 6 cylinder Autozone still sells them http://www.autozone.com/R,A...artProductDetail.htm Same PN sells for $4.11 on Rock Auto, but it does not recognize it as fitting a Fiero.

cool, for 10 bucks its not worth futzing with making my own or modifying anything. We do have autozones around here.

When i did a search at advanced auto it came up blank so i figured it would at autozone too. oops

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 05-11-2008).]

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: If you are looking for rubber bushings on a 6 cylinder Autozone still sells them http://www.autozone.com/R,A...artProductDetail.htm Same PN sells for $4.11 on Rock Auto, but it does not recognize it as fitting a Fiero.

Wow, good find.

Are these the tapered bushings?

Sold in pairs or individual?

[This message has been edited by jetman (edited 05-11-2008).]

I do not know. I saw this is some of my researching of posts here on Pennocks.

Not sure what you mean by tapered bushings. This looks to be the original aluminum dogbone with the rubber bushings installed.

[This message has been edited by sjmaye (edited 05-12-2008).]

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: I do not know. I saw this is some of my researching of posts here on Pennocks. Not sure what you mean by tapered bushings. This looks to be the original aluminum dogbone with the rubber bushings installed.

Ill be finding out tomorrow as im going to pick one up on the way home. But i agree, it appears to be the entire thing, not just the bushings.

That would be an amazing price for a complete 87 bone, keep everyone posted, ok?

quote Originally posted by jetman: That would be an amazing price for a complete 87 bone, keep everyone posted, ok?

Not a bad price just for bushings too, but ill know for sure tomorrow afternoon.

Any update?

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: Any update?

No, im a loser: had to work late and honestly just didn't feel like stopping. Ill do it on the way home tomorrow and post a picture of what's in the box

quote Originally posted by User00013170: ... and honestly just didn't feel like stopping.

I feel your pain. Done that many times

It was the entire bone, not just bushings.

Its about 1/2" longer center to center then my OEM one out of an 87 Auto, hopefully it wont make that much of a difference. ( raining today, so i cant try it on the 5speed where its needed ).



( sorry about the sideways picture )

[This message has been edited by User00013170 (edited 05-14-2008).]

I doubt that will work. At least not like I would want it. I try to install so I do not have to torque the engine to get it to line up. Don't want to have the rubber bushings under load just sitting there. Seems the AZ database is incorrect. I did see another post somewhere that had other part numbers to consider. I will hunt and peck.

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: I doubt that will work. At least not like I would want it. I try to install so I do not have to torque the engine to get it to line up. Don't want to have the rubber bushings under load just sitting there. Seems the AZ database is incorrect. I did see another post somewhere that had other part numbers to consider. I will hunt and peck.

It stopped raining long enough to check the 5 speed, and ya its too long for that one too. Ill take it back tomorrow and bring my OEM with me to see if we can match it up.

When I bought the Prothane bushings for my dogbone, at a GTA Fiero show, Joe's wife Miriame( who was looking after The Fiero Shop booth ) told me to check all the other mounts on the engine & transaxle because they all wear at the same rate.

Sure enough, the rear transmission mount had a broken bolt.

Just passing on the advice. If the dogbone bushings are shot it is likely the engine is moving under torque placing undue stress on the other mounts

quote Originally posted by User00013170: It was the entire bone, not just bushings. Its about 1/2" longer center to center then my OEM one out of an 87 Auto, hopefully it wont make that much of a difference. ( raining today, so i cant try it on the 5speed where its needed ). ( sorry about the sideways picture ) I also checked out part# 2396. It is 7" long end to end while the dogbone in my 86 GT is 6 1/4" long. The cost at Auto Zone is $10.99 - but not the right part. They have another dog bone (Part# A2761) which is coming in Monday. The cost on it is $34.99 - according to their info this is the correct dog bone for the 86 GT but I will know for sure Monday when I go back to see it.

The old bone in the picture looks like a standard length bone and that should be interchangable in all year V-6 engines with "the ultimate bone" from the Fiero Store. IIRC, GM made a switch in the style of bushing used in the 87 year model bones with the tapered bushings due to the internal rib inside of the bone.

[can of worms]
The newer looking bone looks like the bone that I had in my 87GT automatic. Although GM only listed one bone for all V-6 models, I have personally seen at least 6 others that had a slightly longer bone but only on 87GT auto's.
[/can of worms]

For what it's worth, it's not the first time someone has had difficulties with bones and part numbers at auto parts stores. I hope that you can get it solved soon but at a cost of $34 bucks, you may be better served by rebuilding your old bone with prothane bushings for half that amount.

Thanks for the updates!

quote Originally posted by Larryh86GT: I also checked out part# 2396. It is 7" long end to end while the dogbone in my 86 GT is 6 1/4" long. The cost at Auto Zone is $10.99 - but not the right part. They have another dog bone (Part# A2761) which is coming in Monday. The cost on it is $34.99 - according to their info this is the correct dog bone for the 86 GT but I will know for sure Monday when I go back to see it.

Please let us know what you find. Mine measures right 4" from bolt center to bolt center. I have a email in to Anchor Industries asking them about all the available models.

Turns out that part number was for a n 88, and its different then a 87 or 86.

They don't stock the shorter one, even in the warehouse. Wants 35 bucks to order one. For that price id rather just get one from the fiero store.

Looks like its back to plan B, the rubber mallet idea, and later on order an 'ultimate'.

quote Originally posted by User00013170: Turns out that part number was for a n 88, and its different then a 87 or 86.

I did not know they were different between the years for the v6

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: I did not know they were different between the years for the v6

According to GM, they are supposed to be the same length on all the V-6 engines. Maybe you could try to look for a 86 or 85 bone from Anchor or the parts stores.

Same length but the design was changed in the 87 model year, that's where they used an internal reinforcing rib as opposed to external. The internal rib required the tapered bushings; thats the reason that the stores don't stock replacement bushings for 87 or 88.

If you can find a bone for 85 or 86 then it really should fit like a glove in as far as length goes.

quote Originally posted by jetman: According to GM, they are supposed to be the same length on all the V-6 engines. Maybe you could try to look for a 86 or 85 bone from Anchor or the parts stores. Same length but the design was changed in the 87 model year, that's where they used an internal reinforcing rib as opposed to external. The internal rib required the tapered bushings; thats the reason that the stores don't stock replacement bushings for 87 or 88. If you can find a bone for 85 or 86 then it really should fit like a glove in as far as length goes.

Strangely enough i think the 85 had a different part number at the store.

Gotta love after-market parts :|

The lengths are the same for all year V6 Fieros. The difference lays in the design. The early style uses plain cylindrical bushings in round holes, designed to fit tightly. The later design uses hourglass-shaped bushings in an oval hole, designed to allow more movement. The oval-hole torque strut is smooth on the outside, the round-hole one has a rib around the outside of the end loops. The original designs were optimized for vibration/noise control but it probably wouldn't matter to anyone but the pickiest what is used now.

JazzMan

quote Originally posted by sjmaye: Please let us know what you find. Mine measures right 4" from bolt center to bolt center. I have a email in to Anchor Industries asking them about all the available models.

Went and looked at Part# A2761 dog bone today. It is 9 1/4" long (or 7" center hole to hole). Looks like I will be ordering the poly bushings for my GT.

quote Originally posted by Larryh86GT: Went and looked at Part# A2761 dog bone today. It is 9 1/4" long (or 7" center hole to hole). Looks like I will be ordering the poly bushings for my GT.

Anchor 2761 is the replacement dogbone for the 88 Duke engine, definitely won't fit a V-6.

edit,,,, I took a look, the 2761 bone fits all years of the 4-cylinder Duke engine.

[This message has been edited by jetman (edited 05-19-2008).]