Is there any way to tell? I'm sure if your car is bottoming out that's a sure sign. The reason I ask is because my car has a strange stance. From the driver's side. It looks as if the front is just a bit higher than the rear. And the passenger's side is just the opposite of that. What would cause this?

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-Adam
sqoach@yahoo.com

^^^^^^new project^^^^^^

84 SE (FOR SALE)*SOLD(?)*

85 Coupe (parts car)($50)*sale pending*

86 SC

look at your rear springs.. mine was sitting weird once..ended up I had a broken spring (no idea how that happened)..

also on shock/struts, check for oil leaks to see if they should be replaced..

When in doubt, replace them.

Anytime I buy a "new" Fiero I replace the shocks & struts and completely tune it up.....even if it doesn't need it. That gives you a base to start from. By replacing the shocks and struts now you know exactly when they were replaced and if you have future driveability problems you can rule out the shocks/struts or blame them, depending on how old they are, etc.

Shocks and struts are cheap and easily replaced by the backyard mechanic......the shocks are really a piece of cake. The struts are a little more involved, but doable. Just make sure to get an alignment afterwards.

Also, buy a quality shock/strut......stay away from the el cheapos. You'll regret ever buying them.

That's just my opinion. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by mrfiero (edited 09-25-2001).]

MrFiero... you emit the sounds of experience. What do you use to compress the spring. I've heard that the "cheap" tools are rather dangerous- but I'd rather not spend the money on a so-called professional shop for such an easy project. Suggestions?

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Medium Metallic Green 87 GT
3.1L High Output
4 Spd OD Tranny
Open (read: Loud) Exhaust
and More!
-Rob Bartlett

Basically the same question as MinnGreenGT. I'm planning on buying the Ground Control coil overs this winter and want to do the job myself. I understand that adding the new springs to the new struts is fairly easy, but I don't want to put the old springs through my roof when I pull them out of the car. Suggestions?

I was going to go ahead and replace the struts because I have a brand new pair of Macpherson(sp?) struts in my room. I guess I'll buy a pair of shocks since they're not too expensive. Should I try to get a set of new springs also? Or can those be replaced pretty easily another time? Thanks.

*bump*

read the stuff at www.monroe.com It should give you some answers. Just when you can say a shock/strut is worn is always hard to say. There are simply too many variables. (Other than the obvious if it's leaking it's bad that is...)

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11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.

MinnGreen,

I used the "cheap" kind of spring compressors (two threaded rods with hooks on the ends) on my struts with no problems. When the strut is off the car and fully extended, the spring isn't compressed all that much. Still, you MUST BE CAREFUL! You only need to compress the spring enough to loosen it off the seats. I also snap some Vise Grips on the spring (on the "downhill" side of one end of each spring compressor) to make sure the spring compressors don't "walk" around to the other side of the spring (this has happened to me once; once was enough!). Also, handle the compressed spring carefully. Don't drop it or toss it around. Reassemble the strut promptly and relax the spring. Finally, don't do this near anything that could be easily damaged(like near your windshield).

Did a rather large person own your Fiero before you? Seriously though, I know someone who used to own a Nissan Stanza like mine many years ago and he was huge. He stretched the seat supports back and made the front drivers corner sit lower than the rest of the car. I guess the spring was compressed with him driving it all the time and it stayed that way.

I know the shocks and struts on my '88 are toast. It creaks and I feel every pebble I run over. If I push down on the hood, it bounces several times. It still handles like it's on rails though. It's such a sharp contrast when I drive my 86SE with Koni's.

How easy are the '88 shocks to replace? Do you have to re-align the front?

TIA!

quote Originally posted by MinnGreenGT: MrFiero... you emit the sounds of experience. What do you use to compress the spring. I've heard that the "cheap" tools are rather dangerous- but I'd rather not spend the money on a so-called professional shop for such an easy project. Suggestions?

Sorry for not responding sooner, but my computer time has been slashed drastically. I'm lucky to get on the internet once every 2-3 days (went back to school).

I have changed shocks and struts more times than I can remember and I only used a spring compressor once (the very first time). The rear springs really aren't under much of a load and you can safely remove the top nut without comrpressing the spring. I use an impact wrench and slowly remove the nut. It "pops" off with little fanfare.

Since the majority of my Fieros had lowered springs, reinstalling the strut assembly is a piece of cake.....just push down with your left hand (to compress the spring a little bit) and hand tighten the nut. I leave it loose until after I install it into the car. This way you can make any needed adjustments to line things up. Once the 2 big bolts and the three top nuts are secured I tighten the nut to the appropriate torque.

Voila! Job complete.

If you are using stock springs then reassembly might be difficult without the spring compressors, but I really don't know.

I hope this helps.

BTW.....If your Fiero seems to bottom out fairly easily over bumps, potholes, etc and is generally ill handling , then the odds are good that you need new shocks and struts. Like I said before, "when in doubt, swap 'em out!"

Thanks Mike, I've heard it is pretty easy to do the front shocks. I've gotten estimates from shops >$200 to replace them, I think they're nuts.

Do you think this is something the average do-it-yourselfer can do? Or do I need air tools?
Oh yeah, would I have to remove the front wheels and put on jackstands, or can I just drive up on ramps and remove the shocks?
Thanks again!

[This message has been edited by turbo86se (edited 09-27-2001).]

quote Originally posted by turbo86se: Thanks Mike, I've heard it is pretty easy to do the front shocks. I've gotten estimates from shops >$200 to replace them, I think they're nuts.

$200 just for the shocks?! That is WAY too much.....even if that includes the shocks! Shocks are the easiest things to replace and you can do it in less than an hour (I'm sure your time is worth $200/hour! ). Like I said above, the hardest part is getting the old shock off, but with a new "nutbreaker" tool it is a 5 minute job.

quote Do you think this is something the average do-it-yourselfer can do? Or do I need air tools? Thanks again!

While air tools help, they are not necessary. I am just an average do-it-youirselfer too and I have never had a problem. It's just getting over the initial "fear" of doing something new. I never used to do my own repair work, but when I had 6 new AC Delco plugs (just the plugs, nothing else) installed back in 1990 for $134 I decided to learn how.

For the strut, lay the assembly on the ground (pointing away from you) and slowly wrench the nut off......you'll probably need a 1/2 inch breaker bar or ratchet, at least it'll be easier that way (versus a 3/8).

The hardest part with the rear is getting the two big bolts broken loose. They can be a bugger. This is where a good impact wrench helps.....Use a 1/2 drive breaker bar on the big nut and loosen. It might take a lot opf elbow grease, but it should break free.

E-mail me if you need any help ir have other questions.

Front shocks are easy on 88's. If you can take off a wheel you have about all the skills needed. I did mine and it took a bit over an hour. I did break off the nut. I think I used a saws all to get it off. But they should come with net nut's and a bushing. At least mine did, I think I used KYB or something.