| Author |
Message |
Philip Airey (Pma1010)
Member
Username: Pma1010
Post Number: 306
Registered: 7-2002
| | Posted on Monday, June 30, 2003 - 8:56 pm: | |
Terry
I too have a 77 gtb (21819). I have also replaced both front and rear shocks. The good news _ it makes a huge difference to the feel of the car once done. I don't know if my post is timely enough for you, but, here goes from memory:
- removal, wheel, fender liner
- remove caliper bolts, hang caliper from a convenient part with bent coat hanger/tie wraps or similar. No need to disconnect the brake line
- remove rotor
- remove upper control arm (I was doing the a-arm bushings), I think you might need to do this for clearance, but I don't recall
- remove the upper and lower shock bolts (mine were nasty to get out - actually the only tough bolts, I was lucky, others have had a battle with stubborn bolts)
- remove shock.
HTH |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 900
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 9:32 pm: | |
Hmm,
Kind of like MS Windoz. At the first sign of trouble "Reinstall Everything"... |
David Feinberg (Fastradio2)
Junior Member
Username: Fastradio2
Post Number: 228
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, June 29, 2003 - 6:40 am: | |
Terry,
Personally, I find working on a (any) Ferrari refreshing and that your obervation is true!..complete disassembly to remove just about anything is required! What could be more simple or straight forward than that? No room for ambiguity here, that's for sure, eh?
Frustrating? My daily ride (Audi S4) redefines the term PIA to work on...That's the car I drive to my dentist!
Best of luck Terry...
David |
Dave Shears (Daveshears)
Junior Member
Username: Daveshears
Post Number: 70
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 10:10 pm: | |
What brand of shock are these? What spring rates did they set you up with? |
Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member
Username: Verell
Post Number: 893
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 8:46 pm: | |
Terry,
Prop something between the seat and the break pedal to depress the pedal about 1/2 way. This will close off the passageway from the reservoir from the master cylinder, thus minimizing the amount of brake fluid lost. Usually when only one line is opened almost no fluid will flow out as there's no way for air or other fluid to get into the system.
I'm not sure I totally agree with you. Replacing shocks is a pretty infrequent service so I don't expect it to be made easy. However, these cars do seem to have more than the usual set of inconveniences. |
Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member
Username: Tspringer
Post Number: 648
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 7:47 pm: | |
Thats what I figured. Basic Ferrari 308 maintenance.... step 1: Disassemble car.
The shop manual is downright funny when it comes to this operation. The only reference to this task at all is as part of the instructions for adjusting the shocks. It simply says "remove the shock and spring unit". Thats it. No instructions as to how at all. Clearly the engineers (I use the term very loosely) gave this a lot of thought.
Im going to tackle it tomorrow. Here is the procedure I will use:
- remove brake caliper, provide for fluid drainout
- remove half shaft
- loosen hub from top A-arms
- pivot hub outward and attempt to remove shock/spring unit.
I see problems. I give it a 50% chance of rotating out enough to remove the unit. If it wont, I will have to fully remove the lower A-arms and the hub assembly. I also project lots of grease and brake fluid going everywhere....
I know I complain about this kind of stuff too much, but I just cant get over the incredibly poor basic engineering in this car. To have it be so difficult to just remove the spring/shock unit when with just some basic engineering forethought would have made it a snap is pathetic. I sure understand Ed Gault better having done so much work to this car. |
Mitchell Le (Yelcab1)
Member
Username: Yelcab1
Post Number: 569
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 7:07 pm: | |
I have a GT4, and when I did mine, the engine was out, the halfshaft was out, so it is not the same situation as yours.
What I remember is that the control arms have to come loose, the entire hub was dangling, before I could get the shock/spring assembly to fit in. |
Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member
Username: Tspringer
Post Number: 646
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 28, 2003 - 4:56 pm: | |
Trying to install the new rear springs and shocks from Italian Design on mt '77 308 GTB.
I got the passenger side done no problem. The drivers side however is a •••••. The factory shock/spring unit appears to require disassembly of the dang car to remove. I will almost come out a couple of ways.... but not quite. I have loosened the oil cooler, but still the frame prevents it from getting the angle to come out the top. There is no way to free it to come out the bottom. At this point, the only way I see to get it out is to remove the half shaft and then remove the entire rear suspension.
Am I missing something? Or did Ferrari really do this poor an engineering job? I tell ya, the 308 is a great car to drive and look at but working on it is an excercise in frustration. I would rather get dental work done. |