88 rear struts (Page 2/3)
qwikgta SEP 15, 07:24 PM
Paul, I know you are, as a matter of fact, I was looking at that post before I went on my rant. I always watch what your working on.
wftb SEP 16, 10:45 AM
On the front lower controls arms of 84-87, I really think poly is a step backwards from OEM rubber bushings. There is so much binding going on that the poly gets sloppy in a hurry. I was really surprised to see how bad they had gotten over the years. When I replaced the OEM rubber they were 16 years old and still in good shape.

It is too bad the harder rubber that was used on the IMSA cars (the GTU class?) is not available.

I have a combination of Del-A-Lum bushings on front upper control arms and rear lower control arms. On the front lower control arms I have Febest (Polish made copies of Lemforders) bushings. The upper rear arms have poly and as soon as they wear out I will probably put Febest in them too. They allow up and down movement without the binding caused by the non alligned pivot points. None of these options will fit a stock control arm without a lot of work and fabbing.

I am watching Trinton's build in the construction zone to see how his customrear cradle with Corvette suspension works out.But it is hard to say how long that will take.

[This message has been edited by wftb (edited 09-16-2019).]

Will SEP 16, 11:33 AM
Steven Snyder and I have independently done some of the design work for Bilstein inverted struts. The engineering is not that difficult. However, selling them into the same market as Koni would require significant liability insurance, which will be a significant cost factor when amortized over a small product line.

Adapting something newer is probably going to be more trouble than it's worth. Component replacements are readily available. Coleman racing makes custom spindles and is set up for something closer to the volume that the Fiero market needs than any larger manufacturer. I'm working on a rear knuckle design to adapt either Mitsu EVO VII or C6 Corvette parking brakes with C7 Corvette hub (or any large pattern GM hub for aluminum knuckles).

[This message has been edited by Will (edited 09-16-2019).]

pmbrunelle SEP 16, 12:21 PM

quote
Originally posted by Will:

Steven Snyder and I have independently done some of the design work for Bilstein inverted struts. The engineering is not that difficult. However, selling them into the same market as Koni would require significant liability insurance, which will be a significant cost factor when amortized over a small product line.



Kind of weird how that works out; the liability insurance should in theory cost less if the number of units sold is small.

My dad actually took a home inspection course, and considered doing home inspections as a sideline. However, he found out that the liability insurance premiums were pretty much fixed for one person. So whether you inspect homes 5 days a week as your full-time job, or just once or twice a month, you pay the same premium. So home inspection didn't work out as a side gig.

Would-be homeowners don't seem to want a list of house defects; they want a scapegoat they can sue.
Will SEP 17, 11:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by pmbrunelle:


Kind of weird how that works out; the liability insurance should in theory cost less if the number of units sold is small.

My dad actually took a home inspection course, and considered doing home inspections as a sideline. However, he found out that the liability insurance premiums were pretty much fixed for one person. So whether you inspect homes 5 days a week as your full-time job, or just once or twice a month, you pay the same premium. So home inspection didn't work out as a side gig.

Would-be homeowners don't seem to want a list of house defects; they want a scapegoat they can sue.



Well... Yeah, insurance drives a lot of things, and the *right* insurance can be a key enabler when other paths are blocked.

Because struts and brakes are such safety-critical items, and will be installed by someone the designer/fabricator of the parts never met, whose individual skills are uncertain and group skills are all over the map, having a business entity and the appropriate insurance would be prudent for the seller.
Larry Nakamura SEP 17, 09:06 PM
I have Koni struts on the rear of my 88GT. I have had them since 1991 or
so. I also have Koni shocks on the front of my car. The attraction to purchase
them was first they are Koni (supposed to have a good reputation), they are
adjustable, cost at the time was not huge, and they have a lifetime guarantee.

I guess the last item is no longer true since they no longer make them. Oh
well it goes to show that there probably isn't anything that is actually LIFETIME.
Will SEP 18, 08:22 AM
The Koni Custom Shop can rebuild and revalve them.
Iain SEP 20, 05:01 AM

quote
Originally posted by cvxjet:

I have a somewhat Crazy idea; Bilstein makes some very good strut >>INSERTS<< that you can easily set up for the Fiero in whatever tuning you need- but the problem is fitting an insert to a Fiero Knuckle.

Could someone make an Insert holder/adapter for the Fiero which would allow us to have the better Monotube shocks? I know a guy had posted a how-to of cutting an old strut apart and welding/modifying it to be an insert adapter- but it seems someone could make a good one and then sell it- I would really enjoy having the modern "Good ride AND good handling" that newer shocks give you....

Just a crazy idea......



That was me.
I've just been emailed direct about it as apparently the images no longer work.
It is almost ridiculously easy, just needs a grinder and the ability to weld (or farm that out for beer).
I don't have time to fix the thread at the moment I'm ridiculously busy with other things, but all the images are here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jfsd23NTVr7Vjy5SA
msweldon OCT 05, 05:14 PM
Anyone considered cannibalizing the stock worn rear strut housing and going with a Koni 8611 strut insert? Haven't done any measurements yet with the stock rear strut to see if any 8611's are a fit without internal spacers etc....if this works it makes me cringe at all the stock fiero strut housings I've S-canned over the years..

See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXSnNZt3NiI

Although I went with Bilstein HDs on my restored Mazda 6s, many 6 owners go with these strut inserts as there is no Koni option for their McPherson struts...

When I spoke to TrueChoiceKoniRacingServices.com they stated to convert my koni rears to double adjustable the most economical way would be to use these inserts in the koni strut housing... otherwise you're looking at about 550$ plus parts to revalve and add a jounce/bound adjustment.

Still might do this myself instead of just having the Koni Red Fiero struts revalved.

[This message has been edited by msweldon (edited 10-05-2019).]

qwikgta OCT 05, 06:45 PM

quote
Originally posted by msweldon:

Anyone considered cannibalizing the stock worn rear strut housing and going with a Koni 8611 strut insert? Haven't done any measurements yet with the stock rear strut to see if any 8611's are a fit without internal spacers etc....if this works it makes me cringe at all the stock fiero strut housings I've S-canned over the years..

See:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXSnNZt3NiI





What freakin' great idea. We need to really check this option out.

Rob