My turn on the suspension rebuild.. SUCCESS!..Sorta...

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby njoconnor » Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:55 pm

It's impressive how an hour here and there can really advance work on projects like these. A couple of evening hours this past week, and quick jaunts to the rear shed "spraybooth" and the front garage got quite a bit done. 3 day weekend was ,mostly dedicated to yard work and other delayed chores (with a pretty big re-decking project coming up soon as the 36 ea 18 ft red cedar deck planks arrive...).

Managed to get the nasty 3/5 nut cut off (Dremel rocks!), all of the various parts and pieces cleaned up, primed and painted.

In no particular order:

Degreased and wiped down hubs and bearings. The "red" and "green" zip ties keep left and right sets identified:

Image

Yes, those are the old seals still attached; I placed everything in the order of installation, then tied them up. New seals are safely in a box awaiting installation.

Front end parts staged (driver's side). Control arms and inner sway bar brackets from A/R, other parts original, cleaned, primed, and painted:

Image

Hey, Alan! Look whatcha did!! (Alan was the inspiration for taking the whole rear end out and making it look nicer...and replacing a pinion seal, while I was in the neighborhood....)

Image

Rear arms and panhard rod. The inner two (lower arms) are from A/R; the short arms and the rod all ahve new bushings as well as paint.

Image

Spent some time at the local hardware getting new stainless fasteners for the front end. Can't think of any other prep work to do, so I guess it's time to start bolting things back on the car.

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....

KandJinmaine
Posts: 49
Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:30 am
Your car is a: 1980 spider 2000

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby KandJinmaine » Mon Jun 08, 2015 10:06 pm

Bolt it up! There is a lot of work in what you have done, it will be worth it. I'm on round two of doing many of the tasks you are doing and it's even better the second time around. It's easier to clean things up and make em' look pretty again. And knowing that everything underneath is good to go lets you throw it a little harder into the corners.
1980 2000FI
1959 Chevrolet Apache 4WD
1962 Chevy Nova
2015 Chevy Silverado Z71
2013 Grand Cherokee Overland

User avatar
SoFlaFiat
Posts: 1480
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 71 1608 77 1800 81 2000
Location: South West Florida

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby SoFlaFiat » Tue Jun 09, 2015 6:14 am

Looking great Neil!!!
I know you are glad you did it!
1971 124BS1 with 1608, since October 2014
1977 124CS1 with 1800, since June 1993
1981 124CS0 with built 2 liter under construction since April 2013...
Here is the link to my build blog:
http://www.miscuglio777881.com

User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby njoconnor » Mon Jun 15, 2015 9:59 pm

I get gladder as the parts go on, Alan!

Tonight's update: Right and Left Control arms and springs are On The Car!!:

Right side
Image

Left side:
Image

No, I did not order custom colored springs from Csaba and Ramzi:

Image

Looks good with the car's paint, though. Can't wait for Jim (Fiat218) to see the nice yellow Koni's inside.... :)

Thoughts, etc: Took an hour for the first side, less than 30 min for the second, half of which for each side was wrestling with those internal spring compressors. Also, if you're putting the A/R springs on an early (thin bumper) Spider, you will need both spring compressor and a floor jack under the lower A-Arm to get the upper arm in place and bolted. Before I put them in, I noticed the new springs were barely shorter, if at all, than the old springs. YMMV, and all that. Much easier than it sounds in the descriptions!

See my other post for tonight's vexation. Always something, as Ms. Roseannadanna used to say.....

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....

vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby vandor » Tue Jun 16, 2015 12:42 am

> if you're putting the A/R springs on an early (thin bumper) Spider, you will need both spring compressor and a floor jack under the lower A-Arm to get the upper arm in place and bolted.

I did not have to use a spring compressor, just a jack under the lower a-arm.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town

User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby njoconnor » Tue Jun 16, 2015 6:50 am

I seriously considered just using the jack, Csaba, but after the ball joint incident, decided to use the compressor as well. Yeah, t'was a pain, but I felt more in control.

Love the parts, BTW! Everything lines up, looks good, seems to work well. Can't wait to get the rest o them on! Thanks to you and Ramzi!

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....

User avatar
SoFlaFiat
Posts: 1480
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 71 1608 77 1800 81 2000
Location: South West Florida

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild...In Progress

Postby SoFlaFiat » Tue Jun 16, 2015 8:53 pm

Why can't I find the "custom color springs" on the AR website?
Couldn't be better Neil!!
Keep up the great work!
1971 124BS1 with 1608, since October 2014
1977 124CS1 with 1800, since June 1993
1981 124CS0 with built 2 liter under construction since April 2013...
Here is the link to my build blog:
http://www.miscuglio777881.com

User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby njoconnor » Sun Jun 21, 2015 6:21 pm

Busy time in the garage since last night. Got both front shocks installed, and staged all the parts for today's rear axle project.

Left front:

Image

I had fewer issues (and used less time) working the left front than I'd anticipated. I highly recommend getting a stubby ratcheting wrench for this part of the job (works great on the right side as well). Just needed a short tweak with the torque wrench once snugged down.

Staged the rear axle, and set up the shocks last night as well:

Image

Had all the trailing arms, fasteners, and springs lined up and ready for when my youngest came over. Took us about 2 hours, moving carefully, but we got the axle back onto the car, along with the new shocks, springs, lower trailing arms, and refurbished uppers and panhard rod. Came out looking pretty good, I think:

Image

Image

Image

The diff sure looks cleaner.... :)

We decided to use two rolling floor jacks, one person on the jacks, the other monitoring spring seating and shock stud locations. Went very smoothly, no issues, just see-sawing up until we could snug the shock top nuts down. Trailing arms went on pretty quickly, panhard rod was a bear until we got smart and used the jack to move the axle in small increments to line things up. Pretty neat Father's Day present!

Tomorrow is a day off, and I'm planning to put the front hubs and all the brakes back on (and bleed 'em if there's time). Hoping to have the car to the alignment shop after next weekend, and ready for the Delavan WI car show on the 11th-12th of July. If you're in the area, hope to see you at Lake Lawn! (my entry ticket is # 0124......).

Thanks to everyone who's posted on suspensions for all the inspiration and encouragement!

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....

AriK
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1148
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:58 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat Spider
Location: Montreal Canada

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby AriK » Sun Jun 21, 2015 7:07 pm

Congratulations on the completion and Happy Father's Day. You'll now have that awesome satisfaction feeling of starting your driving season. You have come a long way since those early photos when you first got your car. Your car ROCKS!

User avatar
SoFlaFiat
Posts: 1480
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:06 pm
Your car is a: 71 1608 77 1800 81 2000
Location: South West Florida

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby SoFlaFiat » Sun Jun 21, 2015 9:06 pm

I'll say it again Neil, great work!!! So glad you went for the full boat! I know you are too!!
I look forward to seeing it in person, and of course, meeting you and Pat, one day!!
1971 124BS1 with 1608, since October 2014
1977 124CS1 with 1800, since June 1993
1981 124CS0 with built 2 liter under construction since April 2013...
Here is the link to my build blog:
http://www.miscuglio777881.com

User avatar
seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1612
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby seabeelt » Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:52 pm

I am so envious :D
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current

User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby njoconnor » Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:43 am

Ari, Alan, Mike: Thanks! Your comments mean a lot, given how much I appreciate your cars!

As for envy, Mike, wellll...... yesterday I was inexpertly re-installing the front sway bar and managed to snap one of the studs on the left lower c-arm. I disobeyed one of the rules: if the fastener is too tight, don't go get a bigger ratchet. :oops: New part inbound, due Thursday. Not looking forward to another reassembly of the left front, but I seem to get faster with each repetition.

But...I managed to get the tranny drained and refilled (with NAPA GL-1), the discs/calipers reinstalled on the rear axle, and the front hubs cleaned and repacked. To say nothing of clearing more floor space as parts went on the car!

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....

User avatar
seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1612
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby seabeelt » Tue Jun 23, 2015 1:19 pm

Neil , I have done other things to Vesper. New interior, new top, new dash, new carpet, heated seats, alt upgrade, starter upgrade, dual 40 idfs, head job via BEEK, computronics ignition, New gas tank, headlight relays, master cylinder and a couple of rubber brake hoses, timing belt, tensioner, new front engine gaskets, oil sending unit, doors trunk and engine bay gaskets......... Now it's time for some of the other things. I have in a box, new trailing arms, long and short. Control arm bushings, ball joints, tie rod ends and center link, pinion seal, axel seals, more rubber brake hoses, steel brake lines, and a plethora of other odds and ends. Didn't have any time since last fall to work on her. Started right up after hibernation, but now have an electrical problem to sort out. Alt light is on dimly but alt tests fine as does the new battery. Then all gauges and stop lights stopped working. Could be a ground wire, could be a part of the ignition switch. Part of my envy is the time you have to spend on the car. I foolishly thought that once I retired from Naval Reserves and got more time that I would have more time for my favorite hobby. HA! She still needs rot repair ( been afraid to take the rockers off) :shock: and a good paint job. But hey it's a hobby right....

Love the new Hemi, even though it's a monster. Getting 22-24 hwy and around 14-16 city with an average of 18-19 mpg. Can't imagine what the diesel is like. Hated giving up the Dakota but it was starting to have way more rust than the fiat. If I get 10 years out of this one, I will be one very happy camper. (Just found yesterday a drip in the garage..... Yup pinion seal). Guess I know what I'm doing this weekend after all the other chores :cry:


Sorry for the long rant. Keep up the good work, it's an inspiration!
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current

User avatar
njoconnor
Posts: 614
Joined: Thu Jul 05, 2012 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1972 124 Spider

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby njoconnor » Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:43 pm

Mike, I frankly wonder that I got anything done on anything prior to retiring from the USAR in 2012! That "extra" weekend flat disappears. I've had time on the car lately, because we're due at a car show at Pat's favorite WI resort on 10 July; Fiat got moved up on the "need to do" list, but remains tied with yard work and two deck projects (front and rear). What I have found is that a little time (an hour to 90 minutes) spent here and there gets a lot of progress accomplished. I will also note :oops: that the second time I do things goes much faster! F'r instance, I had the entire left front suspension off the car (using spring compressor, too!) in 25 minutes this morning. Took an hour last time I messed with it.

Your accomplished list has several things I'd like: dual 40's, heated seats, a BEEK'ed engine.... :D. Nice thing about the list is the inspiration we give each other. Once past that electrical bug, I suspect you'll be breaking boxes open and wrenching away!

Glad you like the new truck; Dodge/Ram has got this truck thing down, I'd say. But a pinion seal on that diff.....well, at least with mine I won't need jack stands (raise air suspension to max and just crawl in!).

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....

User avatar
seabeelt
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 1612
Joined: Tue Feb 19, 2008 4:22 pm
Your car is a: Fiat Spider - 1971 BS1
Location: Tiverton, RI

Re: My turn on the suspension rebuild..Update 20150621

Postby seabeelt » Wed Jun 24, 2015 8:40 am

Neil, mine looks almost flat, but perhaps a slight downward angle from the center toward the wheelImages


Image
Michael and Deborah Williamson
1971 Spider -Tropie’ - w screaming IDFs
1971 Spider - Vesper -scrapped
1979 Spider - Seraphina - our son's car now sold
1972 Spider - Tortellini- our son's current


Return to “Suspension Related”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 20 guests