Just had my Brava MOTd, and it turns out my rear left shock absorber i sleaking fluid so I need a new one. Does anyone know how much I should be looking to pay to get a garage to do that for me? Can't afford some cowboy taking my hard earned cash on this one!

Cheers,

Mark

Had mine done a couple of years back at a main dealer. Think it only cost £60

rear shock around the £20 mark very easy to fit just done mine for mot

You "should" fit two new ones to maintain balanced handling.

The decision.... is yours.

fit 2, not 1.

I got a pair delivered off the net for about £35, very easy job to do, if you do not fancy it a garage would do it in an hour.

jack car up, wheel off, 15mm socket at the top to get the both out, i think a 17mm at the bottom, shocker comes out, new one in, tighten up, wheel on and onto the other side.

Sounds easy in theory, but what if you have rusty nuts!!!!!!!!!!!

wd40'd mine then used a extension bar on ratchet wasnt a problem

Cynic-Al,

I know monsieur Tom will endorse KYB (which I understand are the biggest producer of shocks worldwide).

Do any of the other brands offer any advantages?

Does anyone know if a list/site exists of the who's who of part manufactures for the Fiat Bravo?

kyb good value for money other brands equal in quality but personally think you pay more for name / brand with other makes

common problem with the bravo/a
takes about 15 mins to fit each, the hardest thing is not losing the bolt in the chassis rail. have a look yourself the bolts dont normally seize as they are self locking nuts, just make sure you get new nuts as they are fine thread and most motor factors dont stock.
belive me it is easy, you will only need a jack and a socket set and spanner. paid about £50 a pair because i needed them quick. you must replace both.

Agree, KYB's are very well priced, just making enquiries to see if there is another alternative to the genuine part that offers slightly better town- ride comfort.

many depends on how deep wallet is . but would suggest all 4 changed if going for uprated shox . if not then kyb replacements are gas filled which is next step up from standard oil filled .

All 4 do need changing.

I need to get some spring compressors to do the front two.

Anything else required?

never done fronts sorry

No worries.

you'll probably find that the fronts will go next mot anyway. they are more difficult than the back because of the top nut to get the spring off. loosen this first and if you lucky you wont need an air gun just to catch it before the damper spins with the nut. better still buy an aftermarket upgrade and get the supplier or a garage to put the springs on for you.

my rears are KYB, my fronts are Monroe, no reason for different brands, just what i got hold of. Rears about £35 delivered, fronts arounts £60 from a motor factors.

Fronts are a lot more involved. You take the wheel off, then two bolts out the bottom, which on mine were very rusty, i sprayed them every night for a week with WD-40, then gave them a good scrub with a wire brush to get the rust off the thread. Then 3 bolts out the top and the whole unit comes out. Then spring compressors on, you have to get them opposite each other and one as near the top of the spring as possible, the other as near the bottom. (got mine from cromwell tools, £15) Take the tension of the spring, now the hard part, the top nut was an absolute pain! you have to put an allen key in to hold the shocker whilst you turn the nut, my first allen key i turned into something which wouldn't look out of place on a rought iron gate, with the second i managed to split open th end of the shocker. Went to a friend with a pneumatic impact wrench and forced in apart like that. Then the reverse to put it back together. You must use a new top nut, but one should come with the new shocker.

Whilst it's apart check the condition of the bearings and bushes at the top. Once it's back together check for any play on the wheel which shouldn't be there.

Jobs done.

Personally for the fronts i'd call quickfit and get a price, might not be worth all that hassle and buying a set of spring compressors

Cheers people.

Can anyone tell me the best websites where i could purchase a pair of these rear shocks?

Cheers,

Mark

http://www.shop4parts.co.uk/

ah some1 has beat me to it while I was searching for the link, I like this site bought some stuff at the beginnig of the year for a mini service. Stuff came quick.