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| 1987 GT – Rear Struts Do Not Hold Camber Setting (Page 1/2) |
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Brian A
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JUL 21, 08:02 PM
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fierosound
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JUL 21, 08:50 PM
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cartercarbaficionado
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JUL 21, 09:03 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by Brian A:
Does anyone know of a way to restore the camber adjustment clamps in the rear strut assembly of a 1987 Fiero GT (5-sp, V6)? The car is my street legal track car.
The axle / strut assembly keeps slipping so my rear camber goes off.
Per the photos below, it appears that the groves in the strut assembly have been polished off not giving the axle assembly anything to “bite” into when the two pieces are clamped together with the two bolts. Any ideas how to fix thiis?
In case it is salient, my dampers are Koni rebound adjustable which were (apparently) designed for the Fiero. (They came uninstalled in the trunk of my car.) The assemblies also have Suspension Technology springs which are stiffer than stock.
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the struts dont have grooves in them when new usually... at least the oem ones didnt on my 84,87 and 88 when i replaced the struts,
my 84 had a similar issue and i ended up with a camber bolt in one side and a locking washer on the other and that seems to have fixed it? (bolt was for a 2001 gtp and is only there since the lock washer wouldnt hold on that side at all.) i would do to a junkyard and steal the washers from a lates 90s grand prix rear suspension as the knuckes use similar struts and hardware to the fiero
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jelly2m8
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JUL 22, 03:40 AM
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Your bolts are not tight enough. Even if you install camber bolts you need to tighten them properly, suspension bolts like pretty much all bolts are designed to provide clamping force, not sheer loads. [This message has been edited by jelly2m8 (edited 07-22-2025).]
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fieroguru
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JUL 22, 07:04 AM
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What are you torquing them to?
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Frenchrafe
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JUL 22, 07:36 AM
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Yes, what torque setting are you using?
Mine are done up with "bend the extension bar" Nm to tighten, and they never slip!
😉------------------
"Turbo Slug" - '87 Fiero GT. 3800 turbo. - The fastest Fiero in France! @turboslugfiero
https://youtu.be/hUzOAeyWLfM
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Brian A
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JUL 22, 10:27 AM
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| quote | | Originally posted by fieroguru:What are you torquing them to? |
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| quote | | Originally posted by jelly2m8:Your bolts are not tight enough. ... |
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| quote | Originally posted by Frenchrafe:Yes, what torque setting are you using?
Mine are done up with "bend the extension bar" Nm to tighten, and they never slip! |
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I'll be darned. I never questioned the needed torque. Thank you.
I've been cranking on the wrench but have just been using "normal" pressure. It may be that I, and the alignment shop, are just not tightening them enough.
What IS the torque spec for those nuts???
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stevep914
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JUL 22, 10:53 AM
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Fierosound is correct; you have no camber bolt is the lower hole with the flange on it. Essential for maintaining camber.
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cvxjet
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JUL 22, 11:06 AM
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The correct torque value is 140 Lb-Ft...Very high. Once, I was chasing some hot bikes on a backroad and hit a very large dip- the car hopped all over the place and I barely got it under control....The next day I looked at the rear wheels and one had slipped to positive camber! I actually made some small metal pieces that fit in the slot between the shock bracket and the camber bolts, to keep it from ever slipping again.
Here is a list of Fiero torque values- suspension, subframes, brakes....It is over in the FAQs section- print out a copy and keep it;
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum9/HTML/000048.html
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Brian A
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JUL 22, 02:14 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by stevep914:
Fierosound is correct; you have no camber bolt is the lower hole with the flange on it. Essential for maintaining camber. |
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Did the car come with camber bolts?
I have never used them. It looks like they depend on the external washer to hold the setting. Great to hear that they work, but they are a lot smaller diameter than regular bolts so can’t be torqued as much as the plain ones.
| quote | Originally posted by cvxjet:
The correct torque value is 140 Lb-Ft...Very high. … I actually made some small metal pieces that fit in the slot between the shock bracket and the camber bolts, to keep it from ever slipping again.
Here is a list of Fiero torque values- suspension, subframes, brakes....It is over in the FAQs section- print out a copy and keep it;
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum9/HTML/000048.html |
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I will ponder making spacers. That seems like the most solid solution.
Thanks for the torque value and the table. Indeed I will save the table.
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