SPRINGS

[fiat218]

WOULD !!! there be any reason why some one would change the springs in the fiat as in stiffer springs?
the 80 i have rides like a lumber wagon. i got new shock to but on and hope that this take care of the problem. buy my mechanic said it look like it the springs that was changed, he is not sure yet?

[maytag]

there are many "performance" springs on the aftermarket for this car. That almost ALWAYS means STIFFER.
And they are quite popular. Especially the ones that also claim to lower your car.

[fiat218]

that sucks, this 1980 i have rides stiff as hell. i am hoping the shocks are stiff , but unlike that would be the problems, this car sat for 9 years

[Weelan]

Ya after sitting 9 years, I would bet shocks also. Shocks don't do necessarily well sitting for really long, they tend to stiffen and sometimes seize completely.

[maytag]

The shocks I just pulled form mine were like truck shocks.
start there. see what you get.

[fiat218]

good i hope so. i have 2 on, getting the other too put on today, so i hope this is the problem
thanks

[fiat218]

how in the name of hell would some one trash this 1980 fiat. it so abused for a sports car
i picked it up and sitting for 9 years
shocks are shot, one was missing
hanger bearing is shot
trailer arm is bent, how in the hell would u bend that
brakes was not to bad. but replaced
the whole front suspension needs replacing,


so in doing the rear shocks!! u need to drop the rear end down to get them replaced?
as we read it

[RRoller123]

The trailing arms can get bent by someone trying to jack the car up on them.

[opus10583]

The trailing arms can get bent by someone trying to jack the car up on them.

...So can the Panhard rod.

FIAT218: Don't assume everyone's 'lowering springs' will, ask me how I know.

Ciao,
Mark

[opus10583]

how in the name of hell would some one trash this 1980 fiat. it so abused for a sports car
i picked it up and sitting for 9 years
shocks are shot, one was missing
hanger bearing is shot
trailer arm is bent, how in the hell would u bend that
brakes was not to bad. but replaced
the whole front suspension needs replacing,

so in doing the rear shocks!! u need to drop the rear end down to get them replaced?
as we read it

To be fair: It was sitting for 9 years, it wasn't coddled for any one of them before. The missing shock should be a good story.

There's nothing unusual about the remediations your car needs, old FIAT or not, and if you can do the work yourself it will be SO rewarding and not at all expensive nor difficult.

...People here will help you.

Ciao,
Mark

[fiat218]

oh it will all be great when i am done
thanks

[maytag]

so in doing the rear shocks!! u need to drop the rear end down to get them replaced?
as we read it

support the car with jackstands and the rear end with the jack. The new shocks should be compress-able by hand, so you don't have to get it all perfect.

[courtenay]

Not sure I understand...should the wheels hang loose? In other words, should the jack stands be placed on the jacking points with the wheels hanging, or should they be placed under the axle with the springs and shocks compressed?

[maytag]

put the jack-stands under the car at the jack-points, which would leave the axle hanging, but then support it with the jack. this way you can raise/lower the axles to your hearts content. Because depending on which shocks you've got, and which springs (and how much has been cut out of them!), you may need those springs to be compressed a bit to get the shocks in.

[RRoller123]

Yes, that procedure works great, just did the same thing to install a new trailing arm. Need to be able to safely move the axle independent of the chassis. Good idea to securely chock the front wheels too, since the whole system could potentially roll, with disasterous results.