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ak8635 · Alfasud Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 38 Location: London, UK

Hi,

got my alfa 33 1.7ie about 1 week. A friend of mine who checked it told that the following probably need replaced:

-gear linkage bushes
-steering rack boots
-front suspension bearings
-gaitors

For anyone living in the uk, can you estimate how much it would cost me to fix it in a garage?
thanks,
Ak
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A112

Admin · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 5:04 pm Post subject:

Hi

Cannot help that much, but

Gear linkage bush should be fairly easy and cheap to do
Steering rack boots are a nightmare. Need to remove the rack (not easy on the 33 with power steering), and then take the rack to pieces (normally means the rack then leaks). Being honest probably best to get a recon rack and put that in
Front suspension bearings are fairly easy. PArts are not that expensive either
Gaitors should be reasonable easy, IF the CV joint will come off the driveshaft OK

All the best

Keith

ak8635 · Alfasud Joined: 16 Apr 2003 Posts: 38 Location: London, UK

thanks keith.

Judging by the previous work, would it be easy to replace the suspension as well? (the car feels like a boat when i am accelerating in corners)
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A112

Gary UK · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 7:51 pm Post subject:

does it rock if u stop it with the handbrake??

Admin · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 10:07 pm Post subject:

Hi

Front springs will be easy to do at the same time as the strut pan bearings. Front shocks more difficult. Rear springs and shocks not too bad

All the best

Keith

Guest · Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 7:43 am Post subject:

Gary,
No, just whenever i accelerating at a corner i could feel that the outside
side of the car is reaching the road (i am overstating a bit) and i feel
that the car is oscillating between front and rear..

I used to have a 33 (series 2) with yellow koni and i never had that feeling.

(have not done any handbreaks yet. if i pull any handbreak i do not have any chance of controlling this car)

Gary UK · Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 1:37 pm Post subject:

No if the car rocks when u stop it on the handbrake it indicates the condition of the rear bushings.

Where are u in the UK as I know a scappy local to me with a 331.7ie in with a good rack (on a seperate note is it the ZF unit as I am convinced it is the same rack as was fitted to Cavaliers circa H reg.).

Firstly how are the shocks (front and back) performing push down on the car and get it rocking up and down then release it should settle immediately if it doesn't then the shocks r f-ed. Rear shocks about £45 each (and as Keith say's easy to replace) the front shock is the whole strut unit and are £120+ each Sachs or Boge? (but you can put koni inserts in) and they are a harder job as you need to split the steering ball joints and reset tracking once back together.

If shocks are OK I'd jack up the car (and support with proper axle stands) and look for play in the front suspension members and examine the bushes for wear. Apart for replacing roll bar bushes I have never had to replace the main front bushes (so I guess the must be petty robust but would I'magine it's a fair chew on to do and may well require a hydraulic press or at least special Alfa tools).

I would Imagine the problem lies at the front as I have driven a 1.5ti with no oil in the rear shocks at all and rear tie rods a tad loose and without passengers it handled well enough the only time you really noticed it was with passengers or at speed on the motorway when the arse end would feel vauge and drift about.

My advice to anyone with a 33 is to fix it yourself unless someone can recomend a 33 specialist in your area (normally next to the rocking horse shit retail outlet). Even the ALfa main dealers are no good for the 33's because the franchises ware re-awarded about 8 years back so all the former(from 33 times) Alfa Main Dealers no longer service Alfa's and the current lot Reg Vardy etc know zero about them. One of Reg Vardys mechanics proudly informed me that my bonnet catch was knackered till I lifted the bonnet from the back, I politely declined the offer of them sorting the tracking at £55 per hour!!

Obviously for some basic mechanical stuff garages will be able to help but for any job requiring an Alfa tool u will be f-ed and alot will just simply not touch them.

As always I recomend justsuds.com for chep genuine Alfa, 33 spares

ak · Guest

Thanks Gary.
i checked the front shocks and did not see major oscillating.
Do you know any good garage in North london?

i wish i had a garage or tools to fix it but under circumstances it is difficult.

Gary UK · Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 3:25 pm Post subject:

Apparently you may be lucky as Clovertech is in London (Lloyd??) is supposedly the man for 33's. No personl experience but have heard good reports on this forum. I'm up North where there be dragons and not many sud's/33's they all got TWOC'ed to death before the type of people who nick cars got into chasing the dragons!! So I'm lucky in one respect in that me car doesn't get nicked anymore, now it's the contents of my house!!

btw TWOC = taken without owners consent.

btw2 I can't get my head round work today.

ak · Guest

i ll try to see if i can get any info on where Clovertech is.
thanks gary.

it is pretty strange how most people do not know about 33's any more.
Someone from greece was mentioning that having a 33 sounds weird there, so imagine what's the reaction here in the uk.
anyway its pretty cool having a car that noone would like to nick it.
ak

Gary UK · Posted: Thu May 01, 2003 4:35 pm Post subject: website

http://www.clovertechuk.com/index2.htm

It's in my old District Line neck of the woods - east ham area so u could drop it off and tube it. Don't know if it's still there but one of my meories as a kid was seeing a bridge just b4 you pulled into east ham with 'Manor Park Boot Boys' written in huge letters on it (nice place I take it Wink

).

Matt Stolton

You have stolen my line, its my job to recomend Lloyd!! Lloyd sorted my 1.5ti, and eventually made it a 1.7ti. Then the P4 came along....

If you go down there, ask him if my 33 ( The white P4 behind the door) is ready yet. (An ongoing joke with Lloyd, don't worry)

If you go there, you may like to have a look at the P4 project and the stuff so far. Opinion on the wheels and wing mirror 'mods' would be welcome.

Regarding your problems, Lloyd will be able to help, and fit whatever to suit your needs. He can obviously fit original alfa parts, or you may like powerflex bushes as an upgrade, as he is a powerflex dealer. It mostly comes down to budget, and how you want the end product to perform. He is able to transform handling, if you want a racer, or repair it back to full original spec. Its up to you, your needs and budget.
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Regards

Matt

Ex Alfa 33 'GTA' (P4 with Knobs On)
Now cruising in a 166 3.2 Ti!!