New struts & coilovers question

TurboGT · Post by **TurboGT** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:29 pm

I am planing on redoing my suspension and had some questions for you guys.

I want to get some nice struts but dont have the $$$$'s for the Koni's. I went on summit and found some KYB's for $60 each for the rears and $30 for the fronts. What do you guys think about these shocks??

I also wanted to do the coilovers while I was in there and was reading this

phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1730&highlight=struts

And in his writeup he suggested to use these 7" coil over sleeves.
http://www.colemanracing.com/catalog/in ... ath=49_427

The problem is there are 2 sizes, 2.04 & 2.08 id. I dont want to order the smaller one and have to force it onto my new struts. Does anyone know the size I need??

I am also planing on getting the QA1 350lb - 12" tall springs for $35 each.
I currently dont have a rear sway bar but plan on adding one in the future. I am also gong to make me some UHMW bushings for the car while I am in there. Thanks for you help :cheers:

derangedsheep · Post by **derangedsheep** » Wed Dec 28, 2005 2:42 pm

I dont know anything about the coilovers. There is a coilover thread somewhere on here though. I believe Jeff started it but it would be under his old username of 'stimpy'.

I have heard that KYBs are junk. I remember on OE someone had asked about them and Will said he wouldnt even use one for a doorstop. I would just get Monroe SensaTracs. I think theyre about $50 a piece for the struts and ~$30 per shock.

EDIT: Here is Jeff's thread, phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=921

TurboGT · Post by **TurboGT** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 3:28 pm

Thanks for the link. I went and found some monroe's today and measured them. They are 1.98" so I will be ording the 2.04's form coleman's. The only problem withe the struts is there is a small cap that is welded on top of it where the piston comes out that I will have to remove allong with the spring perch.

Post by **eHoward** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 6:50 pm

I have the KYBs and while they're a whole lot better then blown OEM dampers, they're not great.

TurboGT · Post by **TurboGT** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:08 pm

I bought the sensatrac's so I hope that they are ok untill I get out of school.

crzyone · Post by **crzyone** » Thu Dec 29, 2005 11:11 pm

I also just bought sensatracks. They should be night and day over stock shocks and struts.

z.MacK · Post by **z.MacK** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 11:01 pm

That would make 3 of us. I have the sensatracks up front too.
They seem to respond pretty well. Probably quite a bit better then what the fiero came with from the factory when it was new.

To be honest any new front shock is probably good enough. The shocks are the least of problums on the fieros front end. Better off spending more time/cash elsewhere.

Fast88Fiero · Post by **Fast88Fiero** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:26 am

If I remember right the 2.08's are the correct ones because they slide over everything on the strut. I'm not 100% sure.

MNFatz · Post by **MNFatz** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:45 pm

I've been told using a 350LB spring on a Monroe sensa-trac won't work out well.

Monroe's aren't built to handle the rebounding of a 350LB spring; the spring over powers them.

That being said, Here's a few pics of one of my newly made coil overs. Using a 350lb spring and you guessed it, a Monroe sensa trac.

The coil over sleeves on mine are 2 1/8, 12 inch springs. They fit over with just a little bit of weld left from the spring perch. These pics show the ground-off cap someone was talking about having to remove.

edit: Nice close ups, eh? I should shoot some porn!

Shaun41178(2) · Post by **Shaun41178(2)** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:45 pm

I have kybs but haven't put them on yet. so can't comment. Like so many otehr parts I have they are just sitting.

TurboGT · Post by **TurboGT** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:49 pm

Well all of the stuff arrived today.
My question is how is the coilover assembled? On one end of the threded tube on the inside it is larger, is this where the round clip goes? Where dose the other clip go?

Here is a pic of the stuff

And here is a pic of how I think it goes

MNFatz · Post by **MNFatz** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:53 pm

TurboGT wrote:Well all of the stuff arrived today.
My question is how is the coilover assembled?

And here is a pic of how I think it goes

This is right, except the collar that screws onto the sleeve is upside down.

Series8217 · Post by **Series8217** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 5:37 pm

Don't use the cone thing at the top.
Use a domed washer on the strut rod that will fit inside the spring's inner diameter, and allow the spring to rest against the upper mount plate at the top (NOT AGAINST THE WASHER). As for a bump stop, just ream out a short black rubber shock bushing until it fits the strut shaft.

Be very very careful when you cut the factory spring perch off. Ideally you will cut off most of it with a grinder but take the last bit off on a lathe so you dont cut into the strut tube at all. You should also avoid heating up the tube because it does contain gas.
The threaded tube will not fit unless you grind the factory perch all the way down until there is barely a nub left..

The larger end of the threaded tube goes toward the shaft end of the strut. You insert the round ring there to keep the tube from vibrating or rocking on the strut shaft.
Discard the cone and clip.

Looks like you're gonna have to grind at the end of the strut too if you want to be able to get the tube on there at all, since it is wider there..
The KYBs are tapered a bit at the end so the ring fits perfectly and no trimming is required.

MNFatz · Post by **MNFatz** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 6:16 pm

While we're on the coil over subject,

Where can I get the cheapest price on a set of 4 Konis? I need 84-87 fronts and 88 rears (if there's a diff)

That, and what about 325lb springs for the Front? I'm not talking coil-overs, just 325 lb springs that are cut for about a 1.5 inch drop.

Actually--there's room for opinion on the front springs--I've got 350s on the back, what do you think should go on the front? 85 front suspension, 88 rear.

TurboGT · Post by **TurboGT** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:34 pm

I was going to ask the same question.

I do know that you want to keep your suspension as soft as possible so you keep the wheels on the ground over bumpy roads. With no motor in the front I was thinking 250's or so. I could be wrong and would like to see what everyone else thinks.

Series8217 · Post by **Series8217** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 8:45 pm

88 rear is 150lb/in from the factory.
Keep in mind the spring to wheel motion ratio is NOT the same front and rear.
The 84-88 struts are the same except for the 88 struts being clearanced a bit where the top of the knuckle is. You can buy the 84-87 ones and just grind them a bit there (or grind the knuckle) if you can't get enough camber.

Series8217 · Post by **Series8217** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:47 pm

http://www.fiero.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/069821.html
The KYBs are apparently stiffer then the Monroes. MikeW put them on a shock "dyno".

Kohburn · Post by **Kohburn** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:29 am

Series8217 wrote:http://www.fiero.com/forum/Forum2/HTML/069821.html
The KYBs are apparently stiffer then the Monroes. MikeW put them on a shock "dyno".

is that a supprise? monroes and gabriels are bottom of the line, bargain bin parts - i use them on the daily drivers that i don't expect to handle like space mountain but wouldn't run them on a performance application

i've got a full set of kyb's ready to install