 
     |
| 92 Chrysler Lebaron (Page 1/1) |
|
FieroJam
|
OCT 12, 02:28 PM
|
|
So apparently the struts are pretty much dead on my wife's car my question is how hard is it to change these out on this car? i have never replaced struts on anything so this should be an interesting learning curve.
Thanks.
|
|
|
|
Capt Fiero
|
OCT 12, 07:18 PM
|
|
My advice and I say this with the utmost respect, Get rid of the car. We had a 92 Lebaron 3.0 Convertible, http://captfiero.com/lebaron ended up selling it to a Movie Company to use it in Final Destination 5 for 800 bucks. We spent thousands maintaing the car and in the end got almost nothing for it. If you don't want to get rid of the car, drive it till it drops and then send it to to the wrecker. 1st major issue was the trans, then the rear trailing suspension, then the front suspension then the electrical went to hell, then the drivers side window mechanism (window kept falling down) Once the new tranny was in, it was a great highway car, set it on a straight line with the cruise on and it would float er sail on down the road at 80mph and even got decent gas mileage. So long as you didn't try to roll down the window or expect the speedo to always work. As far as I know the car was repainted red and used in a close up of a bridge scene collapse.
------------------
857GT Part 85GT Part 87GT Part Caddy, 93 Eldorado 4.9, 5spd Dual O2 Custom Chip, Custom Exhaust. MSD Everything Now with Nitrous. Capt Fiero --- My Over View Cadero Pics Yellow 88GT 5spd Full Poly Suspension, Lowered 1/2" in front, Corner Carver.
|
|
|
|
FieroJam
|
OCT 15, 08:33 AM
|
|
|
If we could afford to I would just get a newer car but right now that is not really possible.
|
|
|
|
RWDPLZ
|
OCT 15, 10:51 AM
|
|
Looking at pictures of struts for that car, they look fairly conventional. The lower bolt hole appears to be slotted, like on the back of Fieros, so removing the struts would mean you'll need to get an alignment afterwards since the camber will be off. If you've never done struts before, I'd recommend taking the whole strut assembly off the car and to a machine shop, where they can safely compress the springs and transfer them over to the new struts. Otherwise, parts stores like Advance Auto loan out strut spring compressors with a deposit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEaevAxA8Gc[This message has been edited by RWDPLZ (edited 10-15-2012).]
|
|
|
|
FieroJam
|
OCT 15, 02:42 PM
|
|
I figured the springs would be the real problem thing to deal with.
Thanks,
|
|
|
|
jaskispyder
|
OCT 15, 02:54 PM
|
|
|
Yeah, I used a spring compressor on the Fiero struts, no big deal, worked fine. All around and see what a shop wants to replace them. You may need a new top plate (bearing).
|
|
|
|
turboguy327
|
OCT 15, 06:52 PM
|
|
|
Check the price of quick struts.... It will be an entirely new assembly.
|
|
|
|
MulletproofMonk
|
DEC 25, 02:17 AM
|
|
I did them on my 92 Lebaron 3.0L convertible and it wasn't that bad changing the actual strut. It was a PITA to get to the point of changing the spring. Rusted bolts, no air compressor/impacts, lug nut cap that stripped the shell and had to be cut off... You may not run into these issues in FL. It really wasn't much different then changing any other car strut from what I remember. I rented some spring compressors and went to town with a socket set (suck).
That said, Cap is right, there are a couple issues with the Lebaron 3.0L convertible. I will list the issues I always saw.
1. My oil pressure sender went bad pretty often on my 94. It is right below the oil filter and every 6 months I would have to replace it (2-3 oil changes for me because of how much I loved driving that cheap convertible). The oil dripping on it was bad news. I could tell it was bad because my oil pressure would go from being perfect to low all the time. After replacing them a few times I learned to place a rag up there instead of letting the oil pour out on it.
2. I hear the 88-92 Lebaron transmission had some issue where the seals went bad. All the failures and no recall or lawsuit. Amazing. I heard that the issue was fixed in the 93-95 transmission. The transmission in my 90 died and I had the transmission in my 92 rebuilt. The 94 never gave me an issue.
3. Quarter window motors. They just die and no idea why.
4. Convertible top always tears right above the quarter windows at the hinge. You can get a replacement on eBay cheap, install it yourself and save lots of money. It is a HUGE PITA though...
5. Convertible top motor stops working or is intermittent. The replacement pump/motor alone was $600 when I had my issue. I pulled the pump and took it to an electric motor shop and they rebuilt it next day for $40 cash. Negative is don't manually put the top down with the pump out, you end up with a trunk full of transmission fluid. lol.
I owned a 90, 92 and 94 LeBaron 3.0L Convertibles. I got the 92 with 72,000 miles and put 94,000 miles on it in just over 4 years. Yes, I know how many miles that is a year, I had to keep a travel log for taxes. It was actually my most reliable car for the price and the miles I put on the car. Paid $4,800 for it, $1,500 for the trans, $150 for struts, $100 brakes, $150 convertible top, $40 convertible motor rebuild, $200 fuel pump and $400 for new tires. Why do I remember this? My buddy Matt still gives me a hard time about all the rusted nuts we encountered...
Again, just my experience.------------------
-Brian
My 87 GT Poly Suspension Upgrade (all pics) thread
Removing the roof panel
My HUD install thread
|
|
|
|
MulletproofMonk
|
DEC 25, 02:21 AM
|
|
| quote | Originally posted by Capt Fiero:
We had a 92 Lebaron 3.0 Convertible, http://captfiero.com/lebaron ended up selling it to a Movie Company to use it in Final Destination 5 for 800 bucks. |
|
Wow, I would have given $1,000 for that in a heart beat! Just my love of Lebaron convertibles I guess.
|
|
|
|