Hi
I'm getting quite a bit of knocking from the passenger side front suspension on our Panda, ita 2009 1.1 with 45,000 miles on the clock.

I was reading in another thread that it might be the top mountion of the strut, does this sound likely?

I've had a look with the car on the floor & on lock , the anti-roll bar etc all looks good & tight.

Any ideas?

Cheers Gareth

More likely to be the antiroll bar drop link (long rod connected between the bar end and the strut). If you can twist this at all when the car has all wheels on the ground (so the ball joint at either end moves), likely to be worn. Fairly easy to fix -- do both sides. Links from my local motor factor were £11 each, I think

Thans for that, i'll give it a try before I condem the top bushes.

TBH I'm a bit miffed at this on a car thats not had its first MOT yet, but i suppose 45K miles is a long way!!

Gareth. I've had the top strut mounts replaced on my 500 under warranty at Slaters.

I might sound them out but its in its third year & its been indipendantly serviced so they might be funny about it, worth a try though.

I've priced them up at £9 each so they won't break the bank & I can do them when I take it for service next, won't be long as I want to do it before i start a 7 week training course in October.


I can't make it make the noise by bouncing the car , when I've had anti-roll bar links go on my other cars they go 'clunk-clunk' when you rock the car.
i'll check it over better & if I find nothing I'll order the top mounts.

Servicing shouldn't matter when it comes to suspension warranty

True, but you know my natural suspicion of dealers!! :devil:

My mrs. is bringing the car up to my work tomorrow, so i'll see if i can squeeze it over pit & check it all over, jack it up etc.

Just had it over the pit.

Its the anti-roll bar drop arm ball joints, bottom joint both sides.

I've found some on E-bay for £12.70 + Free P&P, they sound too cheep to me!

Any idea how much genuine ones are, would it be worth the extra?

gareth111278 said:

Just had it over the pit.

Its the anti-roll bar drop arm ball joints, bottom joint both sides.

I've found some on E-bay for £12.70 + Free P&P, they sound too cheep to me!

Any idea how much genuine ones are, would it be worth the extra?

Click to expand...

They're a very cheap item. I seem to remember genuine ones being 15 quid or so? But being that the genuine ones failed so quickly then why bother having them again?

Fair point, I'll get the cheep ones!

It'd cost me £12.70+ in fuel to take it to Slaters!! They look so easy, even hexes in the centers to hold them whilst you un-do the nut

gareth111278 said:

Just had it over the pit.

Its the anti-roll bar drop arm ball joints...

Click to expand...

What did I tell you...? Seem to recall I paid about £11 each for "QH" ones from a motor factor. Easy job, made easier still with a quick squirt of penetrating oil on the threads - quick cup of tea while that soaks in, and then both sides done in about 40 minutes. Handy hint: jack side of car and remove wheel. Prop car on axle stand - then you can use the trolley jack under the wishbone to gently raise or lower it so that the bolt threads pass through easily. I replaced these at 89,000 miles (second time, first time at 33,000 miles) -- now at 103,000 and still OK, so the non-Fiat ones seem to hold up OK.

I didn't disbelive you but I like to know whats gone before I order parts!

Good advice re using jack to raise the hub. I'm lucky i can use the pit jack & then use the trolly jack on the hub!

All that willcome to an end in 5 weeks though, changing jobs !