Hi,

Just wondering if any other owners have had problems with their suspension? My girlfriend took delivery of her 1.2 Sport early October, mid december she started complaining about the car making noises when going over bumps.

I took the car out a run and sure enough it was making a horrible grinding noise (on the rebound). Straight into the dealer and it was diagnosed as worn drop links... on a car less than 3 months old!!! The new drop links were fitted yesterday under warranty and the problem is gone.

Has anyone else had similar problems?


Oh, and I noticed last night that the side stripes have started to peel on the lip of the passengers door, dunno how that's gonna be sortable.

Side strips are only held on with double sided body tape, so very simple for your dealer to heat them up a bit, peel em off and stick new tape on

I get a similar noise from my suspension over speed bumps, like you say its on the rebound... cant honestly say Im that concerned, Ill mention it at the cars first service if it continues.

AndySX said:

Oh, and I noticed last night that the side stripes have started to peel on the lip of the passengers door, dunno how that's gonna be sortable.

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nuovapanda said:

Side strips are only held on with double sided body tape, so very simple for your dealer to heat them up a bit, peel em off and stick new tape on

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NP, I have just PM'd Andy as I took his post to refer to the S/A stripes that run front to rear as opposed to the side mouldings.

Ahhhh, good point Tony

Yeah its the side italian stripes running front to back. Its a water based solvent they use, I think I'll have to take it back in, the stripes were fitted at the dealer as my girlfriend couldn't wait for a factory car with her specification. I imagine the stripe will need to be completely removed and replaced.

re the drop links, my girlfriend drives a 10 mile B road to and from her work every day and I suspect the poor condition of the road may have been a factor in the fault but her Micra survived on that road without a single problem for 6 years before a truck changed that. So I just hope this isn't a sign of things to come

AndySX said:

Hi,

Just wondering if any other owners have had problems with their suspension? My girlfriend took delivery of her 1.2 Sport early October, mid december she started complaining about the car making noises when going over bumps.

I took the car out a run and sure enough it was making a horrible grinding noise (on the rebound). Straight into the dealer and it was diagnosed as worn drop links... on a car less than 3 months old!!! The new drop links were fitted yesterday under warranty and the problem is gone.

Has anyone else had similar problems?

.

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never had a 'grinding noise' with worn suspension, creaking yes but not grinding

the drop links that attach the arb to the wishbones yes?

I'd describe it as a grinding but I suppose its subjective, sounded like metal on metal to me.
My girlfriend described it as 'a noise'.

The service woman definately said drop-links, I assume the drop link has a bush on each end? Are they gel filled bushes? Maybe they burst?

me and my partner bought a 500 lounge td in cha cha blue two month ago, love the car to bits, had it two month and its been back 3 times soon to be 4
*first- new anti roll bar
*second- drop links
*third- front suspension bearings
*fourth- going back on friday for... drop links again

it started with a knocking clunking over bumps and speed bumps, we dont drive the car iraticly and keep it spotless, fiat in derby have been very helpfull and helpfull with it but it is getting a tad anoying

initialg said:

me and my partner bought a 500 lounge td in cha cha blue two month ago, love the car to bits, had it two month and its been back 3 times soon to be 4
*first- new anti roll bar
*second- drop links
*third- front suspension bearings
*fourth- going back on friday for... drop links again

it started with a knocking clunking over bumps and speed bumps, we dont drive the car iraticly and keep it spotless, fiat in derby have been very helpfull and helpfull with it but it is getting a tad anoying

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I'm starting to see a pattern emerging here.... there has to be something wrong with all these people reporting knocking from the suspension!

Interesting information here. Will keep an eye on this when I get my 500. Sadly my little 500's suspension will no doubt get a hammering with the state of some of the roads near me, not fogetting the countless number of speed bumps.

Would also be interested to know if those of you who have lowered their cars are also suffering such noises and how Fiat are responding to the concerns?

no we'd never barry the 500 up, (i leave that to my track car bmw) the suspensions stock, i mean im sure with it being a new car there will be teething problems as when there tested there not driven for 5000 minles on u.k roads, and fiat (sunwin) derby are being very good about it, im sure in time fiat will recognise there spending alot on replacement components, and will modify the componentry.

its only a faint knocking clunking when going over speed bumps donw country lanes and rough road ect but still im picky and spending 11k on it i want it right.

chrome500 said:

I'm starting to see a pattern emerging here.... there has to be something wrong with all these people reporting knocking from the suspension!

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I'm starting to think there is!

Ours still knocks, and didn't when when first had it a year ago! I hate to say this but its a little alfa 156 ish! are the components (bushes etc failing a little prematurly on our rough British roads?

It's now on the front and WILL be looked at on the 12mth service!

It makes me wonder if there's too much side to side flex in the front subframe where the wish bones are bolted on - The cause of the much criticised body roll.- and probably wearing out the suspension components prematurely with too much side loading on the bushes.
I have 10k miles on mine now - but i have the front lower strut brace fitted - its driven fairly hard so i would have expected a problem by now if it were the norm. however the suspension is knock free and as taught as ever.

it does make you wonder.:chin:

mine is lowered approx 60mm on SPAX RSX kit and there are no knocks or issues at all

now approaching 10k miles, kit was fitted a 8500 miles and no knocks or wear on that either

has been ragged to death on all sorts of roads and 3 trackdays

initialg said:

I'm sure in time fiat will recognise there spending alot on replacement components, and will modify the componentry.

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Sitting in the dentists' this morning and reading the latest Top Gear mag and there was a mention that next year there are going to be revisions to the 500 suspension.

are the suspension arms and drop links any different to the Panda?

im sure theyre the same as puntos (new shape) not sure on the panda, sunwin said theyd had a few puntos with the same probs

initialg said:

im sure theyre the same as puntos (new shape) not sure on the panda, sunwin said theyd had a few puntos with the same probs

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unlikely as Grande Punto shares platform with Corsa

500 shares platform with Panda, hence why I asked

anyone with a ePer fancy checking?

Yes - this is odd thing, the Panda chassis is well tried and tested so why the problems with 500. It does'nt make sense. Anyone think maybe the deveopment of the 500 was rushed through?

Murano16v said:

Yes - this is odd thing, the Panda chassis is well tried and tested so why the problems with 500. It does'nt make sense. Anyone think maybe the deveopment of the 500 was rushed through?

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it was done fasttrack for sure using computer simulation for the best part of it