Brake booster repl.

[onemorespyder]

I've just replaced the brake booster on our 1980 pinnanfarina 2000 and I'm finding great difficulty in installing the pin in the fork to pedal attatchment point. There's no room to see when it's lined up and I just left it for the night so as not to break something in a fit of frustration. If anyone has a trick to accomplish this task I would be forever in your debt. In addition the spider will be for sale as soon as this is finished as we are retiring to Panama and will need a vehicle with more ground clearance.

Thanks in advance, Darrell

[onemorespyder]

This is Candice, this is my car. Please someone come up with an idea to get the holes together so Darrel can replace that pin. He is so frustrated, and I really need to get around to see my friends before we move. Someone must have done this before, the holes are about an eigth of an inch apart, but it is such a small work area, I don't even know how he will get the pin up there once they are aligned.

[vandor]

Hm, that's strange, I've done this a few times and never had much trouble, just wiggled it around for a bit and eventually found the hole.
Maybe use a mirror and a flashlight to see if the holes are lined up?
WD-40 so the pin slides easier? I assume the return spring is disconnected, so you can move the pin freely.

Be sure to install the retainer clip once the pin is in.

[spidernut]

It is a very tight fit under there and visibility it tough if you wear glasses like me. I disconnected mine when I removed the entire pedal assembly. It also went right together with no problem.

See if he can take a picture of what it looks like and post it here. There might be something else going on.

[onemorespyder]

I finally got the pin installed and now it's just time for the spring. At the same time as I'm replacing the booster, I just replaced a new gear drive starter ( also a ridiculously difficult operation ) and it makes you wonder about the idiots that designed the way these things go together. I've never had this much difficulty with simple repairs on my Alfa Spider. Makes me happy we're selling these cars and moving to Central America. I've rebuilt my entire Alfa from a series of boxes and buckets and have never had this much disdain for the sheer stupidity of the engineering found in the Fiat. Great little car, but what were they thinking?

Nearing the end in more ways than one, Darrell

P.S. Thanks for all the advice and help, it's been very helpful.

[Weelan]

I have to say, the gear reduction starter was easy for them because they would have put it in before the engine was in or before the intake manifold was on. With the manifold off, it should be pretty easy. I haven't done the pin in the brake fork, but I'd imagine it was assembled before some portion of the dashboard was in. Just because an alfa was easy to put together doesn't mean it's better. And if you built it from boxes, you probably got to put things together in order. Unlike putting this pin in in a fully assembled car, or replacing the starter that's placed between a lot of other items.

Just sayin...