(T) Weird handling

Right where to start!
Had salight mishap before christmas, going round a left bend and cing understeered causing me to hit a mud bank hard and snap the steering rack.
Have replaced rack and slightly bent alloy had the tracking done and everything else looks ok.
Have driven it for a few days and the cinq seems weird it just seems like the back wants to step out on any bend and it does not have the grip it had before.
Any ideas or do I need to take it to fiat for a check over. Dont want to loose my cinq it has been great

sounds to me like its crabbing. this happens when the chassis is bent so the rear wheels are out of line to the front ones. quite common on old minis. get someone to follow you and have a look.

dont rule it out,but its not really likely to be crabbing,could be a number of things,snapped suspension spring,brake sticking,etc you'll have to get down and dirty and investigate before you end up in another mud bank

In all probability the lbottom arm on the side you hit got bent sslightly. They're not big money, but it will need to be tracked up properly after replacement

Go somewhere that measures the suspension geometry properly, full laser measurement cost me about £40 a go but should give you a good idea what's wrong so you can fix it.

Id agree with that.

Id also agree with the idea of a bent wishbone if youve taken a bash on it. The chassis mounting points are only quite weak, although theyre adequate for the normal operation, They may get slightly deformed if you impact the wheels into things...

Thanks for the help folks, any Ideas who would be able to do a laser measure in the sussex,surrey area.
Fiat have no idea!

Suspension is designed to bend to protect the chassis up to a point.

Using string, chalk and a ramp you can do measurements the old fashioned way.

Until you can get it properly looked at, measure the gaps on the affected corner from tyre to arch i.e. 3 and 9 oclock and compare them to the unaffected side.

Liam

I agree with the damaged suspension comments.

Unless of course you hit the bank REALLY hard.

Wishbones are circa £15 a piece from most motor factors, check the shock mounds under the bonnet for any distortion, and the anti roll bar if it's a sporting model.

Thanks for the help folks, it turns out to be a bent wishbone so not to bad.
I thought I would take the Opportunity to install a suspension kit now I am stripping off the front anyway.
I have tried to get a Apex kit but have been told they are on three week back order, Gmax I have been told by three suppliers have stopped making a kit for the cinq sporting.
Any Ideas what other kit I could fit, are any listed below any good.
I have got about £250 to play with
Cobra
AVO
Weitec
Bilstein Streetline Suspension Kit

Or does any one know where I can get a Apex or Gmax off the shelf.
Ta

hi,

try www.fastfiat.com they sell springs for £67 delivered i think,full shock and spring kit for £215 i think

Don't get G-max, sorry G-max owners but they are substandard nasty.

Seicento Sporting shocks are the same so you can check stock for both, my Cinq ran Sei Spax kit.

Liam