Important!

This replacement procedure can be used for:
FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.2 16V 80 (188.233, .235, .253, .255, .333, .353, .639,..., FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.3 JTD 16V, FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.4, FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.2 Natural Power, FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.2 Bifuel, FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.4 (188AXM1A, 188BXM1A), FIAT PUNTO (188) 1.2 Bipower (188BXA1A) … View more

The steps may slightly vary depending on the car design.

How to change a front shock strut on FIAT PUNTO 2 (188) [TUTORIAL AUTODOC]

All the parts you need to replace – Shock Absorber for PUNTO (188) and other FIAT models

Alternative products

Shock absorber

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. Tools you might need:

                      Wire brush
                    
                      WD-40 spray
                    
                      Brake cleaner 
                    
                      Copper grease 
                    
                      Combination spanner #17
                    
                      Combination spanner #27
                    
                      HEX bit no.H6.
                    
                      Drive socket # 12 
                    
                      Drive socket # 15 
                    
                      Drive socket # 17 
                    
                      Drive socket # 19 
                    
                      Wheel impact socket #19
                    
                      Ratchet wrench
                    
                      Torque wrench
                    
                      Tap wrench
                    
                      Crow bar
                    
                      Hydraulic strut spring compressor
                    
                      Hydraulic transmission jack
                    
                      Fender cover
                    
                      Wheel chock

Buy tools

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. AUTODOC recommends:

Both shock struts of the front suspension should be replaced simultaneously.
The replacement procedure is identical for the left and right shock struts of the front suspension.
Please note: all work on the car – Fiat Punto 188 – should be done with the engine switched off.

Carry out replacement in the following order:

Step 1

Open the bonnet.
Step 2

Use a fender protection cover to prevent damaging paintwork and plastic parts of the car.
Step 3

Clean the fasteners of the shock strut upper mount. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 4

Loosen the upper fastener of the shock strut mount. Use HEX No.H6. Use a drive socket #19. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 5

Secure the wheels with chocks.
Step 6

Loosen the wheel mounting bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 7

Raise the front of the car and secure on supports.
Step 8

Unscrew the wheel bolts.

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. Tip:
To avoid injury, hold up the wheel when unscrewing the bolts.
Step 9

Remove the wheel.
Step 10

Clean the fasteners connecting the brake hose to the shock strut. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 11

Disconnect the brake hose holder from the shock absorber strut. Use a drive socket #12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 12

Detach the brake hose from the shock strut.
Step 13

Clean the fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 14

Unscrew the lower fastener connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #17. Use a tap wrench.
Step 15

Prop up the steering knuckle. Use a hydraulic transmission jack.
Step 16

Remove the fastening bolts. Use a crowbar.
Step 17

Disconnect the steering knuckle from the shock absorber strut. Use a crowbar.
Step 18

Unscrew the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Use a drive socket #19.

AUTODOC recommends:
Fiat Punto 188 – To avoid injury, hold the suspension strut while unscrewing the fastening bolts.
Step 19

Remove the suspension strut.
Step 20

Set the shock absorber strut on the spring compressor tool.

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. AUTODOC experts recommend:
Note that when using a spring compressor, spring coils need to be securely gripped, compressing the spring on the opposite sides.Ensure the correct position of the spring in the retainer.Make sure that the spring coils tightly entered the lock handles.
Step 21

Compress the spring.
Step 22

Remove the strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a combination spanner #27. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 23

Remove the top strut mount.
Step 24

Release the coil spring.
Step 25

Remove the spring.
Step 26

Remove the shock absorber dust cap and the bump stop.

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. Tip from AUTODOC:
Τhoroughly examine the shock absorber mount, dust boot, bump stop. Replace them if necessary.
Step 27

Remove the old shock absorber from the hydraulic coil spring compressor.

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. Professionals recommend:
Before installing a new shock absorber you should pump it manually 3-5 times.
Step 28

Install the new shock absorber on the hydraulic coil spring compressor.
Step 29

Install the spring on the shock absorber.
Step 30

Compress the spring.
Step 31

Install the dust sleeve and the bump stop on the new shock absorber.
Step 32

Install the upper strut mount and the strut mount bearing.
Step 33

Tighten the shock strut piston rod nut. Use HEX No.H6. Use a combination spanner #27. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 59 Nm torque.

Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. AUTODOC recommends:
Check to make sure the spring is positioned correctly. Avoid its misalignment.
Step 34

Decompress the spring.
Step 35

Remove the assembled shock strut.
Step 36

Install the shock strut into the wheel arch.
Step 37

Screw the top fastening of the shock strut mount. Do not tighten it.

AUTODOC recommends:
Important! Hold the suspension strut while screwing in the fastening bolts. Fiat Punto 188
Step 38

Treat the shock strut mounting seat on the steering knuckle. Use a wire brush. Use WD-40 spray.
Step 39

Fix the shock absorber strut on the steering knuckle.
Step 40

Install the fastening bolts.
Step 41

Remove the support from under the steering knuckle.

AUTODOC recommends:
Fiat Punto 188 – Do not lower the transmission jack sharply to avoid damaging components and mechanisms of the car.
Step 42

Screw in the fastener that connects the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a combination spanner #17.
Step 43

Tighten the lower fasteners connecting the shock strut to the steering knuckle. Use a drive socket #15. Use a combination spanner #17. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 75 Nm torque.
Step 44

Fasten the brake hose on the strut.
Step 45

Tighten the brake hose fastener. Use a drive socket #12. Use a ratchet wrench.
Step 46

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 47

Treat the surface where the brake disc contacts the wheel rim. Use copper grease.
Step 48

Clean the brake disk surface. Use a brake cleaner. Replacement: suspension strut – Fiat Punto 188. AUTODOC experts recommend: After applying the spray, wait a few minutes.
Step 49

Install the wheel.

AUTODOC recommends:
Warning! To avoid injury, hold the wheel while screwing in the fastening bolts on the car. Fiat Punto 188
Step 50

Screw in the wheel bolts. Use wheel impact socket #19.
Step 51

Lower the car and working in a cross order, tighten the wheel bolts. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 86 Nm torque.
Step 52

Tighten the upper fastener of the shock absorber strut mount. Use a drive socket #19. Use HEX No.H6. Use a torque wrench. Tighten it to 59 nm torque.
Step 53

Treat the shock strut fasteners. Use copper grease.
Step 54

Remove the jacks and chocks.
Step 55

Remove the fender protection cover.
Step 56

Close the hood.

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