Alfa Romeo Forum banner

Door check strap saga solved.

14K views 55 replies 21 participants last post by  bradpit999 
#1 · (Edited)
Due to the non-availability of new check straps and the extortionate prices being charged by breakers for second hand straps ..
I decided to do a bit of research..
After a couple of hours looking at pics on the internet, I came to the conclusion that a Fiat Punto check strap was pretty much the same..

So I took a gamble and bought one from a Fiat main dealer for 28 quid.
Fiat say that they are still on the shelf.. and no problem with supply..

Anyway the good news is that the mechanism, the bit that breaks, is identical in every way.
However the "arm" is different..
So I had to swap the old GTV arm into the new Punto Mechanism.

This requires intelligence and finesse..
I have neither .. so I used a vice and a big pair of Stillsons to relieve the pressure on the sprung roller to get the arm out.. 2 minute job.

Anyway it is now fitted and works a treat.. My car's a phase one .. Don't think it makes any difference because you'll be changing the arm anyway.

The part is...

Model....Fiat Punto DS (3 Door NOT 5 Door)
Part......TIE ROD
Part Number 46740089
Price.. £28.44

Sorted :)


These pics are of the Fiat Punto DS checkstrap
 

Attachments

See less See more
1
#32 · (Edited)
I agree
it looks good from the pic.. for phase 2.. for 13 quid I'd give it a shot..


Also .. and I only half believe it myself..

if the plastic bush on your phase two is knackered.. and it is "keracking"

wait for it ...

wrap a few turns of dental floss around the pin adjacent to the bush..

I'd have to see it to believe it ..


On P2's the root cause of the problem seems to be the plastic bush failing.. causing too much play and then eventually destroying the mechanism.
If I had a P2.. I would drill out the the fixed pivot pin.. replace the bush with brass and fit a roll pin..
Also the mechanism/ door securing bolts can work loose causing even more play.. I've stuck a couple of spring washers under mine..

Well I'm going to have to give up with this obsession now
at least we now know that there are straps from other models that fit or can be made to fit ..:)
 
#39 ·
Hi folks
I ordered the Doblo strap a couple of weeks ago and finally got around to having a go at fitting it today. I decided to take the door card off as access is fairly limited. Anyway after a bit of messing around I finally got the old one out (the bracket that holds it to the door had sheared off). After a fair bit more messing around (including release part of the window guide) I discovered that the strap is too long and the existing bolts can't screw into it. I'm guessing that some longer bolts and washers will fix the problem
Has anybody else decided to try the Doblo strap?
 
#43 ·
Ok I'm a bit late to this thread. I have just swapped my new QV Snav for a phase 1 GTV as I wanted a challenge ...my list of challenges is huge and growing but this would be one of them.
So the question is which solution is best for the phase 1 - the Punto Strap, the Doblo or the 156. does the arm need to be swapped on the Punto solution?
If it's not completely broken but just noisey will replacing the pin do
 
#44 · (Edited)
Hi All, Thank you for all your advise. I purchased yesterday two 46740089 Fiat Punto door check and used my original GTV arm. All fixed now.
I am now looking for the door check seal gasket. Its not on the GTV/Spider Eper. Can someone please provide the reference or where to find it ?
Thanks
 
#49 ·
You don't take the pin out,the arm can be manipulated out of the mechanism .I only found this out by accident,thought i'd broken it whilst trying to change just the pin on the other end of the arm . I cant remember the procedure at all sorry,but it is hard to get back in as you are working against the spring
 
#48 ·
Another thing in this post someone suggested using the Pundo arm and i agree it looks possible however the PH1 car i have has a Smaller hole for the Pin to slot into (connecting it to the door hinge area) The Punto arm has a huge hole for the pin to slot through, If i use the Pin and the Punto arm there will be movement on the arm from having the punto hole much biger, Alfa on Bottom Punto on top
 

Attachments

#50 ·
really

Well it looks like that pin goes through the mechanism and that wheel / baring is all locked in place with the pin ??? ok let me see if i can do as you say then and remove it without removing that pic .................................... original poster did leave me to believe it was removal of the pin rather than some trickery your explaining
 
#53 ·
What I am doing next is get all my parts zinc plated so they don't rust. In my previous post you can see the phase 2 arm strap was cleaned with acid to remove the old zinc plating and cadmium dichromate color.
It almost looks like new compared to the phase one below.
 
#54 ·
JUst to confirm........................... the arm does indeed come away and can be removes i just used a large extension from a socket set and levered the mechanism so that the arm was free, Obviously this had to be in a vice, Puting a new one in was simple, However when i now have a silent roller and wheel end, I find that the "crack" is subdued now and is coming from the door hinge end, Upon working the door and looking from drivers seat you can see movement from the Split pin bracket that holds the bracket, Just put some plus gas on it and will get some new ones once i have extracted the old ones, That should then be the end of it,
 
#56 ·
Yes i would recommend that...................... to be honest i never imagined after reading this thread there were any to be found so never went looking, I have now completed the swap and its fully working, i paid £25 for the Punto check strap so small saving, However the Punto check strap just delivers the part that fixes to the door and NOT the part that is fixed to the A Pillar, Having wear to both sides i wish now i would have had this kit and then i would have had both parts brand new

My split pin and where it fits to on the A Pillar there is still a slight movement and therefore a slight subdued click, massively better than it was and slightly helped by some rubber washers i have put behind the mounting bracket, There also seems to be a small difference on hole diameters between the arm and the bracket ( on the A Pillar) this is wear and of course 19 yrs old moving part bound to be movement but as stated if i was doing this over again i would have the EB spares one and the whole unit is brand new
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top