Hi guys,

i just replaced the rear struts on my 88 fiero gt. I used the Monroe 71814 Sensa-Trac Struts.

The installation went fine. But when i put the tires back on. The tires were sitting differently. The top of the tire seems like its sticking out more than the bottom.

Did something go wrong when i installed the struts. I used the old mounts and the old springs.

Here the are the pics: http://imgur.com/a/9zMem

Please any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[This message has been edited by jon2009 (edited 09-18-2015).]

The alignment of the 2 large bolts at the base of the strut adjust the camber of the wheel. they should be special cam washers or bolts to allow easy incremental adjustment.

If you do a search for Fiero camber bolts you will see what I am talking about.

Since you replaced the struts It now needs an alignment, you can read up on ways of doing it yourself or take it to an alignment shop.

Not sure about the Monroe struts, but I did have a clearance problem with KYB struts and they wouldn't align until I ground some clearance. On some cars there's enough tolerance that it's not needed, but not all.

Look where the two large bolts attach at the bottom of the strut. That's where the camber is adjusted. There's a clearance issue behind the suspension knucle hitting the strut body preventing the wheel from being able to shift into alignment. It's more pronounced on the passenger side. If you loosen the camber bolts, you'll find the drivers side wheel moves freely through it's full range of camber adjustment, but the passenger side won't.

Grind down the knuckle there for a permanent fix, or like I did grind slightly on the strut body. It doesn't take much. It's because 88 struts were originally a different part number but all you'll find today is a single part number for all years. The clearance issue only affects some 88's depending on how the tolerances stack up.

Edit to add: The Camber Bolts mentioned above will not fix the problem. They are a good idea and make adjustment much easier and you're likely to get a better alignment but you have to address the clearance problem first. I highly recommend the camber bolts for any Fiero.

[This message has been edited by Formula88 (edited 09-18-2015).]

As Formula88 suggested; here is where I had to grind some clearance on my knuckle and Sensa-Trac strut. To dial in the camber.

That's it. I didn't have a clear picture. Thanks for posting that.
On my car it only affected the passenger side.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: Edit to add: The Camber Bolts mentioned above will not fix the problem. They are a good idea and make adjustment much easier and you're likely to get a better alignment but you have to address the clearance problem first. I highly recommend the camber bolts for any Fiero.

You want this type.




Where they go

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quote Originally posted by fierosound: You want this type.

For sure. The other style is next to useless.

Thanks for the input guys.So the bolts that i have in the pics are no good in terms of adjusting the camber. Those bolts were bought new from Brafasco for like $50. So there's no choice but me to buy new fiero camber bolts? Is there anyway to use the bolts i have installed now. The oem bolts are not camber though. Sorry for the confusion guys.

quote Originally posted by jon2009: Those bolts were bought new from Brafasco for like $50.

Sorry, but I've got to ask... why?

What was wrong with the original ones?

quote Originally posted by jon2009: Is there anyway to use the bolts i have installed now. The oem bolts are not camber though.

They'll hold the struts on just fine, but that's all they'll do. They're useless for adjusting the camber.

Let's make it clear that camber adjustment bolts are not absolutely required to set the camber, but they make the job a helluva lot easier.

The old bolts were damaged because i hammered the bolts out. Not a smart move on my part. I should of had a nut on them. My mistake. So the question is should i purchase camber bolts. Or just get the camber aligned with the ones from Brafasco. What should i do, as i am newbie.

Thanks

Just make sure you don't get the style with the cam on the shaft of the bolt. They don't give nearly as much adjustment.

quote Originally posted by Formula88: That's it. I didn't have a clear picture. Thanks for posting that. On my car it only affected the passenger side.

Yup, mine was on the passengers side only also.

quote Originally posted by Patrick: Let's make it clear that camber adjustment bolts are not absolutely required to set the camber, but they make the job a helluva lot easier.

When I told my alignment guy that I had installed camber bolts, he was very appreciative.
Not enough to get me a discount, but appreciative, nonetheless.

Edit - I installed Sensa-Tracs on my 88, and didn't have to "clearance" anything.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 09-20-2015).]

Any alignment shop that has any clue as to what they are doing will have no problems doing the job with what you already have installed. I used to do them all the time. The special bolts handy, yes. Needed, no.

Kevin

quote Originally posted by Raydar: I installed Sensa-Tracs on my 88, and didn't have to "clearance" anything.

Same here.