I've been having a squeak from the front sway bar end bushings
for awhile,so yesterday, decided to replace the four
bushings...upon a visual inspection they didn't look all that
bad,however upon removal the reason for the squeak was quite
evident,i.e. all 4 bushings were a little stiff and the holes
were elongated and oversized resulting in a very loose fit,after
replacement all is quiet and the ride is noticeably
improved....just thought some newbies (to Fiat land) would like
to know what a small...part replacement can do!...i did this on
my spider a few years ago,but forgot how much it improved things.
 

Jack Ivemeyer
Web Page http://community-1.webtv.net/jack124/CentralCoastFiats/
Pismo Beach,Ca.
1972 124 coupe 
 
 

They'll cause that problem, replacement fixes it for a while. 
Drove my Coupe like that for three years. Way to go Steve! I no 
longer replace them every few months.


JACK IVEMEYER wrote:
: I've been having a squeak from the front sway bar end bushings
: for awhile,so yesterday, decided to replace the four
: bushings...upon a visual inspection they didn't look all that
: bad,however upon removal the reason for the squeak was quite
: evident,i.e. all 4 bushings were a little stiff and the holes
: were elongated and oversized resulting in a very loose 
fit,after
: replacement all is quiet and the ride is noticeably
: improved....just thought some newbies (to Fiat land) would like
: to know what a small...part replacement can do!...i did this on
: my spider a few years ago,but forgot how much it improved 
things.
:  
: Jack Ivemeyer
: Web Page http://community-
1.webtv.net/jack124/CentralCoastFiats/
: Pismo Beach,Ca.
: 1972 124 coupe 
:  
:  
'72 124 Coupe-they don't come any lower than this!
'82 BMW 320is What Can I say?
'79 320i (Woman's Car) The worlds most expensive 320i, and she 
still has the nerve to complain! Nice Car Though.
Other Fiats- I quit counting.

Jack,

Thanks for keeping us newbies in mind.  These are the types of 
things we newbies need to know.  Having purchased my first fiat 
only 2 months ago, a 124 spider, I consider myself a newbie.  
I'm trying to learn as much as I can, as fast as I can, so 
please feel free to post these tips whenever you can.

By the way, the steering on my 124 feels awkward and 
unresponsive.  I have already tightened the steering box to 
eliminate slop, but something still doesn't seem right with the 
steering.  The car seems to want to wander more than I think it 
should.  Could new sway bar bushings help to improve the 
steering?  I'm willing to try new ones.  Where should I buy new 
bushings and what should I pay?

Anyway, from a newbie to a fiat veteran, thanks again.

Joe Margio
Winter Park, FL

1982 Fiat 124 Spider

JACK IVEMEYER wrote:
: I've been having a squeak from the front sway bar end bushings
: for awhile,so yesterday, decided to replace the four
: bushings...upon a visual inspection they didn't look all that
: bad,however upon removal the reason for the squeak was quite
: evident,i.e. all 4 bushings were a little stiff and the holes
: were elongated and oversized resulting in a very loose 
fit,after
: replacement all is quiet and the ride is noticeably
: improved....just thought some newbies (to Fiat land) would like
: to know what a small...part replacement can do!...i did this on
: my spider a few years ago,but forgot how much it improved 
things.

Well the ones on the front of my Spider were not really that bad 
and never did squeek but after I installed a 1" front swaybar 
and polyurathane bushings the front end now squeeks like a 
mouse!  



James Seabolt  
Tennessee, United States
ICQ #: 7344463
http://users.intermediatn.net/jseabolt/
                          
1980 FIAT 2000 TURBO Spider, 
1981 FIAT X 1/9 
1994 JEEP Wrangler 
1968 Ford Fairlane 500

Joe wrote:
   :The steering on my 124 feels awkward and unresponsive.  I 
have already tightened the steering box to eliminate slop, but 
something still doesn't seem right with the steering.  The car 
seems to want to wander more than I think it should.
 
Joe,
     First, I hope you followed a maintenance manual carefully 
when adjusting the steering box?  Overtightening can be 
dangerous, and may cause severe wear to the output shaft and the 
worm gear.

     Before replacing any bushings, an overall assessment of 
your suspension is recommended.  You need to check all ball 
joints and tie rod ends, the idler arm assembly, and the sway 
bar bushings on the front suspension.  On the rear, you have 
four control arms and a panhard rod that locate the 
differential.  Wear in any (usually all) of these components 
will change the geometry of your steering.  Also, an improper 
allignment may be contributing to your loose steering.  Good 
luck, and e-mail for help if needed. 

Jim Scurria
1972 124 Spider(s)
Norfolk, VA

A good way to identify what is loose on a front end is to have a 
helper twist on the steering wheel while you look at the tie 
rods, and such to see where the play is.  This won't get all of 
them but it can show many wear points.

Scott O'Brien
Flower Mound, Texas, USA
82 Spider 2000FI (Anita) His
85 Volvo 244GL  Hers
Home Page:  http://www.mirafiori.com/~sobrien

: Well the ones on the front of my Spider were not really that 
bad 
: and never did squeek but after I installed a 1" front swaybar 
: and polyurathane bushings the front end now squeeks like a 
: mouse!  
: 

Saw a letter in Road and Track where some guy said he solved 
this squeaking (on a non-Fiat) by wrapping Teflon tape around 
the swaybar where it contacts the bushings.  Don't know if it 
really works, but maybe worth a try.

Hiram McDaniel
Atlanta, GA

79 Spider 2L (named Sophie by PO)
93 Passat GLX (named Otto, wife's car)
89 Bronco II (named Buford,parts hauler)