new suspension from AR

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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4uall
Posts: 4145
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by 4uall »

I notice lots of people making mention of putting on extension bars :? I never did (may have been an error) yet, I was still able to remove the springs without any additional cables, twine, chain etc. Just my 2 cents which in US funds equals nothing currently :cry:

Did use long ratchet though :wink:

Image

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and a jack underneath

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Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
lanciahf

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by lanciahf »

Error? Nah you probably found a sweet spot, next time I'll try it without the pipe extension. I got so used to using it.
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4uall
Posts: 4145
Joined: Mon Sep 26, 2011 12:09 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by 4uall »

The rears are even easier (watch your brake lines) just lift one side and remove the opposite :idea:

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Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
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bradartigue
Posts: 2183
Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:35 pm
Your car is a: 1970 Sport Spider
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by bradartigue »

DieselSpider wrote:
mpollock wrote:They'd probably spend all day trying to find the ECU.

Really, then actually made cars that ran without ECU's?????
The early cars had engine control units its just that they were spread out and were not computerized. A throttle cable along with a few dash pots here, a thermal switch there and a few switches elsewhere to tell when your foot was off the throttle and you had engine control.
I have two fuel injected cars without an ECU or any electronics. One has a mechanical brain, SPICA, which is not as mysterious as Alfa wanted people to think, and the other is Bosch K-Jetronic, which mechanically measures air against a calibrated flap. Both work quite well, though the SPICA has a couple of entirely too fragile parts (thermostatic actuator is one). K-Jetronic is solid until it leaks, then you have a 78psi fuel leak.
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by kevsem65 »

Ok I'm stuck on the sway bar how do I get the center link brackets apart? The new bar came with end brackets but only center bushings are they pressed together? If so how do I separate them?
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
fiatfactory
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:22 pm
Your car is a: 1970 128

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by fiatfactory »

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Last edited by fiatfactory on Tue Jul 02, 2019 6:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
nothing to see here... move along.
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by kevsem65 »

if anyone has put on one of the one inch sway bars from any of the vendors I could use some help. it comes with four bushings but only two brackets are they center or end? they don't really look like they fit either way. is the correct way to break apart the center brackets and clamp them together and then muscle it all up?? plus then just crank the end links on?
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by njoconnor »

Be careful on the muscle; I snapped off a control arm stud that way.

I bought new 2 piece center brackets from AR. I also struggled with the re-install of the sway bar. Best advice was to raise/lower the lower control arm as needed with a floor jack until the brackets and studs lined up, with center brackets on loosely (nuts just turned 1-2 turns). A lot of prying, pushing, and some interesting words, and suddenly it was on (stock bar).

Dont over tighten; 14 ftlbs, IIRC.....

Neil
Neil O'Connor
Madison, WI
72 FIAT 124 Spider
12 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
14 Ram 1500 Laramie Longhorn Eco-Diesel
ex-71 FIAT 124 Coupe
and a host of Audi's, Saabs, VW's, MOPAR's, Fords, and a Bimmer....
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by kevsem65 »

I've already taken the stock bar off then reinstalled it after I realized the 1" bar was not going to be an easy bolt in job. Is the advantage worth the hassle? Any tricks or tips ? It really seems like I'm trying to make something work that isn't really designed to.
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
fiatfactory
Posts: 506
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 11:22 pm
Your car is a: 1970 128

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by fiatfactory »

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Last edited by fiatfactory on Tue Jul 02, 2019 5:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
nothing to see here... move along.
So Cal Mark

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by So Cal Mark »

rebushing the bar with denser bushings will effectly stiffen it, but it's not the same as a larger bar with stiff bushings. The Addco bars come with center brackets, not the end brackets
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by kevsem65 »

Ok thx mark, do the new center brackets bolt flat to the frame or are they extended down like the original. The one I have are flat and it looks like it makes the sway too high.
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
buckspet

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by buckspet »

hey kid did you do the springs yet? I bought a spring compressor, you can borrow it...give me a call. As far as difficulty, it's actually easy, especially if you work on muscle cars or medium/full size American cars. these fiats are tiny in comparison..i'm constantly laughing to myself by the small dimensions I DID THE WHOLE FRONT END AND REAR{MINUS} REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONNECTING ARMS IN LESS THE 2 DAYS. I've ALREADY TALKED WITH YOU ABOUT THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENT IN HANDELING. {INCLUDING} ALL 4 DISCS,BRAKES AND LINES KYB SHOCKS ON ALL 4 CORNERS. HAVE FUN THATS WHATS COOL ABOUT DOING IT YOURSELF...VERY REWARDING AND SELF SATISFING.
kevsem65
Posts: 39
Joined: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:08 pm
Your car is a: 1978 fiat 124 sport spider
Location: Reading Pennsylvania

Re: new suspension from AR

Post by kevsem65 »

Lol! Thx dad! I'll take the compressor whenever you are working near my job.
1978 spider
one more time around might make it
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