Alfa Romeo Owners Club of Australia Forum

Technical => 105/115 Series (105 Coupe/Spider/Berlina) => Topic started by: sportscar on September 14, 2007, 09:09:07 PM

Title: Front end rebuild
Post by: sportscar on September 14, 2007, 09:09:07 PM
Hi all , recently i installed some Koni shockers to my Alfa 1750.
Now i'm looking at doing up the whole front end.It looks like it's never been touched.
Had a few problems recently getting parts for it.
Any idea who stocks front end parts for a series 1 ,105 coupe
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: Simon Bidese on September 14, 2007, 09:18:18 PM
Hi Sportscar, try the sponsors page from the website, Alfa Repairs / Monza Motors (Bayswater) should have what you require.

Simon
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: sportscar on September 16, 2007, 08:38:30 AM
hi thanks i know the guys at monza motors ,they're very friendly
I was planning on doing the work myself ,just want to know if anyone has done there front end in one of these cars recently,there seems to be alot of play in the steering too.
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: Colin Byrne on September 17, 2007, 07:57:07 AM
Turin Imports is another good one for new parts like that, and they give a discount if you're a club member.  Parts that may require replacing are the 6 steering tie rod ends ($50 each), be sure to order the correct one as there are two with left hand and two with right hand threads.  The lower control arm ball joint ($100 each) and the top camber arm (not sure how much) and if you are going to replace the camber arm you can always make it adjustable (vin sharp as these).  The top caster arm ball joints are hard to find but you can get new inserts for the caster arm bush (something I need to get for my car). 
The steering tie rods are easy to replace if you have a suitable ball joint remover.  The hard parts is re-aligning the steering as to do it properly to get the correct Ackerman values requires you to string line the car, and follow the lengthy procedure in the manual, and you can guarantee if you take it to a wheel alignment shop they wont do it properly.
Changing the top camber arm is reasonable easy, jack the car up, take the wheel off and then lower the bottom control arm onto a jack stand, which should raise the top arm of the droop stop, then you can undo the inboard bolt from the engine bay and remove the ball joint.  Not sure if you can do the bottom ball joint in the same manner as you may need to remove the spring, which to do safely requires the special tool.
If there's play in the steering it's almost defiantly coming from the steering box, first thing to do is ensure all the bolts that hold the top cover of the steering box are tight, they do come loose, if you've done that and there's still some slack try removing the two bolts of the little top cover, under that there should be a stack of shims, try removing one and put it back together and check it.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on September 17, 2007, 05:06:11 PM
Hey Colin, can you build a 90 for your next Targa car please?
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: Colin Byrne on September 19, 2007, 07:30:13 AM
Having an extra couple of cylinders to play with is tempting, maybe a 105 / 90 hybrid?, maybe then I wouldn't have to struggle so much to get around you on the straight!
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: Sheldon McIntosh on September 19, 2007, 04:50:04 PM
Yeah I was surprised how long it took for you to get past, I was expecting you to tuck in behind for a tow!

That baby's got more Back than J Lo,Shakira and Beyonce in a threesome.  Even Scott managed to draft me down the straight in his 12hp Blue Thunder.
Title: Re: Front end rebuild
Post by: Scott Farquharson on September 19, 2007, 05:26:18 PM
Yeah baby, that thing punches a big hole in the air