Hello Everyone,
I did a search on strut replacements and found some good info. I have a few other questions I was hoping someone could answer. I am looking at GABRIEL struts with lifetime warranty for $53 each at Autozone for my 89 formula 350. Here are my questions:

1) My Torque wrench only goes to 150 ft lbs and the book says I need to torque the (2) lower strut mounting bolts to 190. Should i buy another torque wrench or do you think it would be ok to keep applying pressure after the "click" at 150? I dont know if when you are at 150 ft/lbs if there is a huge difference at that point but I could be wrong.

2) How do I know if the upper strut mounting plate bearing is bad? I noticed that you could but this part as well. I know the struts are bad because the front end "bounces" a bit. The springs are good since the stance of the car is good and not sagging. I am unsure how to test the bearing plate though ( this is the part in the engine compartment with the 3 bolts)

3) If I remove the strut from the top by just removing the large top bolt (and not touching the strut bearing plate with 3 bolts) do i still need to get the car aligned when completed? I figured if i outline the lower strut portion (with the 2 bolts) with white out and not touch the upper bearing I may be ok but I may be off in that thinking.

4) the rear shocks were replaced somewhere along the line since the car is very tight in the rear (that sounds bad I know )

Any advice you can give me on the above I would greatly appreciate.

Thank you

 

(0) DON'T buy Gabriel!!! If all you want is stock replacement, get Monroe. The price difference is WORTH IT. If you want something a little better but not really too high $$$$, look at KYB from Summit or some such place.

(1) Get a long breaker bar and an impact socket.

(2) You'll know when you see it.... won't be hard to figure out.... trust me on that.

(3) Yes. It'll be close, but an alignment is CHEEEEP compared to wasting a set of tires. Duh. Don't use the stock specs; have them set it up to about +3° of caster and -0.5 camber on the left, and about +3.5° and -1° on the right, and about .05" - .1" of toe-IN (not out).

(4) Change the rears out too. Very cheap, HUGE bang for the buck. Change the rear springs while you're at it, because they'll fall out anyway while doing the rear shocks if you're not careful. Also super cheeep and a GIANT difference. Use Moog CC635 springs.

 

Sofakingdom thank you for the reply. Ok...I guess I shouldn't get Gabriel. The local Carquest sells KYB but I never heard of them (I just don't do alot with shocks, etc.) but if you think they are better, I will go after them. Thanks for the reply on the other items. I agree about the cheap alignment cost and will get one when done.

Thanks again for the advice....

 

Check Rockauto.com pretty good prices - I just pulled up your car & Pasted below. I am not sure how the formatting is gonna come out
Corky
1989 PONTIAC FIREBIRD FORMULA 5.7L 350cid V8 MFI (8) : Suspension : Strut Assembly ItemPriceCoreTotalMONROE Part # 801728 {MONRO-MATIC PLUS STRUT}
FRONT; A spring compressor is NOT needed to change struts on this vehicle.; May Require AK41 Kit If Damaged (Lower Mounting Bolts & Nuts)
$36.79$0.00$36.79
MONROE Part # 71728 {SENSA-TRAC STRUT}
FRONT; A spring compressor is NOT needed to change struts on this vehicle.; May Require AK41 Kit If Damaged (Lower Mounting Bolts & Nuts)
$45.79$0.00$45.79
ACDELCO Part # 503340 {#88945820}
STRUT,FRT SUSP PREMIUM GAS CHARGED; LEFT HAND; ALL (INC. TRANS AM)
STRUT,FRT SUSP PREMIUM GAS CHARGED; RIGHT HAND; ALL (INC. TRANS AM)$50.79$0.00$50.79
KYB Part # 236001
GR-2; Twin Tube; Front Left
GR-2; Twin Tube; Front Right
$50.79$0.00$50.79

 

just put shocks struts on my 87 formula 350...went with KYB GR2 up front and gas-a-just in the rear.... with sportlines and made a huge diff and didnt break my budget from summit for like 180$ monroe and gabriel are crap tho

 

Since you're halfway there anyway, I'd suggest you consider swapping the springs, front and rear--hey, they're creeping up on the 20-year-old stage.

JamesC

 

All I can say is Wow....

Put new KYB struts on the front and what a difference! THe car handles so much better and rides great (much better than before). Thanks to everyone who recommended the KYB struts....

 

Why?

I put Gabriel struts and Monroe shocks on my car when I did all my suspension upgrades and the car handles like it's on rails.
The only problem I have had is that pesky shock bushing squeak.

 

Those are good shocks and struts (Monroes, Gabriels, KYB) but if you are going after handling, you should get either Bilstein or KONIs. They'll rock your socks comparted to other brands.

 

Heh - I can't wait for the next week or two then... I just received the rear set of Koni yellows I bought from Summit to match the fronts that arrived a few weeks ago. I'll be installing the rears probably tomorrow, but I have to wait on the fronts until I can make it to my buddy's shop, so that I can install new front lowering springs at the same time...

 

I think you'll enjoy them. The front's aren't as hard as some people say. I think struts and mounts took me about 2-3 hours, and some of that was trying to get the heater working. It's alot easier than the KONIs on my friend's Integra.
Are you doing new strut mounts at the same time?

 

I'm sure I will, the fronts I have now appear to be leaking, so I wouldn't be too surprised to find a noticeable difference.

Well, I hadn't planned on it - my car isn't in "mint" condition, but it is very good. From the carfax I got, it appears that I'm the third owner, it appears to have been garaged all it's life, & it's just now turned over 80,000 miles. I keep it in the garage also, & only drive it on nice summer days, so there's not a whole lot of wear on the car...

(Sorry, I didn't mean to jack the thread, if any other questions arise, it might be more appropriate to send PMs...)

 

nice. When i replace mine i'm going to go with bilstiens or koni reds. But i'm going to get some cheapos until then probably gr-2s or whatever so i don't bottom out all the time.

 

I had to run some Monroes until I could afford my KONIs. Big difference, especially because I already had the Pro-Kit on which killed the Monroes in a few months.
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