As we all know that vehicles changes year to year ever so slightly. My question is there any differences in the 88-96 front suspension between this year span. I do know from my research that the 84-87 C4 IFS is one inch shorter than the 88-96 IFS. The reason I ask is I have a 1949 Chevy Truck and have recently purchased the 88-96 C4 Corvette IFS kit from Flat Out Engineering http://www.flatout-engineering.com/products.html . What they say is to find a donor c4 corvette IFS and swap out the suspension once you get the kit welded into the frame. I’ve checked the junk yards around where I live in Mississippi and so far haven't been able to find even a corvette in one. So I think I might have to piece the suspension together by buying each individual part. So the main reason for the question is that I just want to make sure that if I buy a upper and lower control arm from say a 89 that the 95 spindle assembly will work. Also next weekend I’m going to be going to Cursin the Coast on the Mississippi gulf coast and I’m going to look to see if I can find some of these parts while I’m down there. I hope my question and explanation of the background is easy to understand. Also any advice on a particular year(s) to use or stay away from would be appreciated.

 

As far as I am aware there are no year to year differences other than the revised suspension change split in '88.
84 -87 parts don't mix with 88 - 96 parts



And as far as the rear goes , the width difference is in the outer components ( yoke / spindle/ brake setup) so you can swap those parts to change rear overall width.
Diff, susp arms , halfshafts all the same 84 - 96

 

The service control arms are '88 through end of production, the hub bearing/spindle are '88 through '90 and then '91 through end of production. I'd try to match the hub bearing/ spindle, the ABS is the only difference so theoretically you could mix but why?. I'd be inclined to make sure I did '91+ stuff just because there's substantially more model year cars for a re-supply if needed.

I don't believe there's any particular MY to avoid but I do believe the later MY cars had a composite upper control arm shaft, maybe '96 only or '95 & '96. Is there a reason to avoid that? Don't know. It would seem advantageous to gather everything from one car but is it necessary? Likely not. Maybe matching the upper control arms to assure like material for the shafts.

I've got control arms and spindles removed from a '93 recovered theft with something less than 40K that I've never considered selling but I might give it serious thought. I'd maybe listen to an offer! I'm not local so that's a "negative" to a deal too! It should be an easily shipped package though.

I didn't see any "advertised" difference when I clicked on the "thumb-nail" and I thought it odd that it didn't mention '87 and earlier or '88 and later. I was about to question the validity of their "fit all" application but being a little curious I thought I'd check the "PRICE"! I see the reference to both styles only in the pricing! You asked regarding '88-'96 in your original post so I assumed your kit to be for the later. That's a "wise-buy". I know of no good reason to do an '85 - '87 MY buy unless you had the parts already!

 

You could put a wtb ad in the parts for sale forum here. Cars are getting parted out all the time..
Dave

 

This setup with J55 brakes would have been cheaper than buying piecemeal
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-p...13-brakes.html

Alternative is new arms with all new parts
http://www.corvetterecycling.com/198...trolarmkit.htm

 

vetteoz Thanks for the image of the suspension layout as I have looked around for a complete diagram and couldn't locate one. Will defiantly be taking a print out of that with me.

WVZR-1 After reading what you wrote I agree with you on going 91+ like you said due to the more year of production. I hadn't thought about that before now. Let me see how next weekend goes and I might make you an offer or maybe take a little road trip who knows.

ddahlgren I might also do this after I go to that car show this weekend.

rodj I look at that link of the guy selling one and that was a good deal for everything just about 600. I wish I would have start my research a little before now and I might have been able to make a deal with him on it.

Thanks for everybody input as it's going to be very helpful when I go looking at that car show. Any other input is still appreciated.

 

Check with Dino's Corvette Salvage. Google the site. It will be relatively close.

 

Also check out Craig's list. I'm in Southern California, and bought an entire 1989 Corvette for $500.00. The only things I had to find were the rear left side dogbones as mine were bent from being hit in the rear. I found them on E-bay for a reasonable price.

 

badold65 I have been checking out craigs list but I don't, and I think most people on here agree, would hate to get a vette that just has a little bit of body damage just to rip the right front out. I'd rather either fix it and keep it or fix it and turn around and sell it. I have been checking on there though to see if I can find some that are being parted out but most of the time I'm finding that they are wanting to sell the whole thing.