Shock absorbers

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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Broadsword
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Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Shock absorbers

Post by Broadsword »

OK, so I have removed both rear shocks & now one front.
If I compress the front one it returns to full length without assistance.
However the two rear do not, yet forcing travel in both directions takes considerable effort.
Is this standard, or are the rear ones in need of refurbishment or replacement?
Not sure from memory what brand the front one is, but I was surprised to see it was made in Mexico.
redcars
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Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Collinsville, IL

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by redcars »

Gas shocks will extend on their own while none gas shocks do not. You need to know what you have to know if extending on their own means they are bad or not. Most likely you have gas shocks on the front and non gas shocks on the rear. Why did you take them off? Was the car handling badly, or just wanted something to do.
1987 Lotus Super 7 clone
1981 Fiat Spider 2000 AT
1982 Fiat Spider 2000 5sd
1970 Fiat Coupe
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Broadsword
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Broadsword »

I have stripped the front and rear brakes, hubs etc all towards cleaning up surface rust and repainting.
The ball joints at the front were all shot, and some of the rubber bushes have perished, so I am taking care of that as well.
The shockers are actually in pretty good condition, but I doubt they are all original, particularly as one of the rear ones is blue whilst the other is black.
I will have a look at the rear ones again to see what model they are to see if I can determine whether they are gas or not.
Thanks for the information.
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4uall
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Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by 4uall »

When in doubt I would replace (always in pairs).

Beats keeping the originals :shock:

Image
Jay

Fiona
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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: Shock absorbers

Post by 4uall »

This might help when doing the rears :wink:

http://fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php ... ear+shocks
Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
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Broadsword
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Broadsword »

I did look at that thread quite a few times before removing the rears, but in the end it went well and without any injuries!I hope putting them back in is as simple.
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Broadsword
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Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Broadsword »

Just looked at a photo of the rear shocks.
They are Gabriel 17252:

Image

And after a couple of coats of POR15:

Image
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4uall
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Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Pininfarina Spider 2000 F.I.
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Re: Shock absorbers

Post by 4uall »

They look great 8)

+10 for POR
Jay

Fiona
1980 FI 2000 Spider
ITZEBTZE

https://goo.gl/photos/eNKaX7hrXhBu9fmp6

FINN (FN-2187)
2014 Jeep Wrangler Sport
MYTHERPY
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Broadsword
Posts: 111
Joined: Fri Apr 18, 2014 8:17 am
Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Broadsword »

I am very happy with the way everything has come up.
POR15 really is an amazing product.
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Broadsword
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Your car is a: 1970 124 Spider
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Shock absorbers

Post by Broadsword »

I was just wondering whether anyone recognized the Gabriel 17252 code on the rear shocks to confirm whether they are the gas / self return type shock?
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