Fiat Bravo Quiz
Front Axle

Strut Disassembly / Shock Absorber / Coil Spring Removal and Installation

In this manual: Front Axle
Dear Reader — 1Engine — 35Engine lubrication — 3Engine cooling — 10Ignition/spark plugs — 14Fuel system — 10Petrol fuel injection — 13Diesel injection system — 13Exhaust system — 7Clutch — 7Transmission / Gearshift / Automatic Transmission — 5Front Axle — 11Rear axle — 4Steering — 9Wheel alignment — 1Brake system — 22Wheels and tyres — 10Body — 34Heating — 6Electrical system — 39Lighting system — 14Instruments — 7Windscreen wiper system — 8Vehicle care / tools — 6Jump Starting / Towing the Vehicle — 3Jacking up the vehicle — 1Fiat Bravo / Brava Maintenance Schedule — 1Maintenance — 38Wiring diagrams — 5
9steps
~54min
2/5difficulty
030609012015010074N·mlb·ft
Tightening torque found on this page
Done 0 of 9
Strut Components
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  1. Shock absorber

  2. Coil spring

  3. Cover cap

  4. Fastening nut, 100 N·m

  5. Strut mount

  6. Spacer

  7. Rubber bump stop

  8. Dust boot and bump stop

  9. Bolt and nut for lower mounting, 70 N·m

Removal

  • Remove the strut assembly, see page 140.

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  • To remove the shock absorber, the coil spring must be compressed. Compress the coil spring with a suitable, commercially available spring compressor.

    To protect the spring surface, use a plastic pad.

    Warning: never loosen the shock absorber if the spring is not compressed.

Warning: Position the spring compressor in the coil spring so that the spring coils are held securely and the spring compressor cannot slip off. The coil spring is under high preload, so use only stable tools. Never tie the spring together with wire. Risk of accident!
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  • Press off the dust boot with a screwdriver.

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  • Unscrew the fastening nut for the strut mount. Hold the piston rod with a 6 mm hex key (wrench size 6).

  • Remove the spring washer and spacer from the piston rod.

  • Remove the strut mount and upper spring seat.

  • Remove the shock absorber from the coil spring.

  • If the spring is to be replaced, slowly release and remove the spring. If only the shock absorber is to be replaced, leave the spring compressed and remove the shock absorber from the spring.

  • If fitted, remove the dust boot.

  • Pull the rubber bump stop off the piston rod.

Installation

  • Before installation, check the shock absorber, see page 142.

  • If necessary, compress the new coil spring. Warning: when buying a replacement spring, note that different spring rates are fitted depending on the model.

    Coil springs are divided into 2 classes, which can be identified by a yellow or green paint mark on the main spring coil. Use only coil springs of the same classification.

  • Slide the bump stop over the piston rod.

  • If fitted, install the dust boot.

  • Push the shock absorber through the spring. Make sure the coil spring sits correctly against the recess in the lower spring seat.

  • Position the upper spring seat so that the end of the spring sits correctly in the recess of the spring seat.

  • Slide on the strut mount. Install the spacer sleeve and washer. Screw on the nut finger-tight, holding the piston rod with a hex key.

    Warning: before tightening the nut, check that the mount is correctly seated on the piston rod.
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  • Tighten the flange nut for the upper shock absorber mounting to 100 N·m. Hold the piston rod with a 6 mm hex key.

  • Slowly release the coil spring. Make sure the spring ends and the mounts sit correctly in the moulded parts of the spring seats.

  • Install the strut assembly, see page 140.

Test yourself

A quick Fiat Bravo quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.