Hi all.
just a quick question cos its late.
Does anyone here know if there is a difference between the rear trailing arms for a JTD with drum brakes and one with discs?
Are they interchangeable?

I'm asking because I'm about to get a second hand subframe to renovate (which I believe are the same across brake types) and figure that as they often include trailing arms, getting useable trailing arms would be a bonus.
Mine is a 2002 pre facelift disc brake model, and is getting a bit creaky - so I'm trying prepare for the imminent swap by doing as much prep before taking the car off the road as I can.
It seems that s/h drum brake assemblies are plentiful and cheap, whereas my disc models aren't.
of course I expect to have to renew the bearings and bushes.

Thanks in advance for any enlightenment that you can shed on this.

Yes, they are interchangeable. I'd consider converting to drums if you can, as the rear disc set up had a few problems (especially with the handbrake side of things) which is why it was only in production for a short while. Fiat actually offered a conversion procedure to customers with rear disc-braked cars for a while so it may be woth getting in touch with the parts department of a friendly dealer to see if they have a parts list. That would tell you all the differences.

Don't forget that regardless of whether they're disc or drum, ABS and non-ABS swingarms are not the same - the main spindle for the wheel bearing is a different diameter I believe.

Thank you Widemouthfrog.
I just discovered the febi online system and was starting to cross check part numbers across models, so you have saved me a lot of time.

I assume that the presence of an abs light in the dash means that I am needing an abs equipped arm.

My second hand finds have ranged from a subframe only for £80 to a full disk/Spring backend for £360. So am thinking that I might go for just subframe and buy two new aftermarket arms from eurocarparts, about the same cost as s/h full backend, but of known quality. Providing the subframe will buff up well enough to coat.

Have you tried the forum ePER (button in the blue bar at the top of the page)? If not, get your cars VIN and give it a go. That will give you definitive part numbers tailored to your car.<br />
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AFAIK subframes are interchangeable across all Multiplas. The areas to check on secondhand ones are the 'cage' that forms the top mount for the dampers, the pressings that form the cones locating the top of the springs and in extreme cases the main cross tube. I've seen photos of one or two subframes where the main pressings have rusted through (perhaps on cars living nearvthe coast?) but these are chunky bits of metal so normally they're fine. If someone has changed the trailing arm bearings in the past and has had to cut the old bolts out with a slitting disc, they could have damaged the inside faces of the main left and right hand subframe pressings around the holes for the swingarm bolts. If these surfaces are pitted or damaged it won't give any new swingarm bearings you may fit a good chance of survival as the seals on the ends of the swingarms rely on these surfaces to some extent to maintain an effective seal.

If you get a complete subframe assembly, try to get one with ABS sensors that match your old ones. There are two(?) different types of connectors where the sensor cable plugs into the main loom. You'll find them under the grey plastic kick panels on the floor inside the car nextvto the rear passenger doors. I mention this because they are expensive and notoriously difficult to get the sensor itself out of the swingarm without breaking them.