Hello guys, I'm new and confused! I have a 58 plate petrol Panda 4 x 4 which I took to the local garage today, and the mechanic said that the joint (I think he said it was a joint!) on the prop shaft that makes it a 4x 4 is worn out, and replacements are not available to buy anymore. The last person here who needed one eventually tracked one down in Spain apparently!
He said that the only real option is to make it into a 2 wheel drive. It's done 27,500 miles, I've had it from new, and don't go off-road in it. I have it, because I live on a mountainous island in the middle of nowhere, off the west coast of Scotland.
Now, bearing in mind that I'm a 65 year old female with little mechanical knowledge, can anyone confirm that this is right? I do know the mechanic well, but apart from one of two threads on here from some time ago which do mention the prop shaft, can't see this particular problem mentioned anywhere else online.
Any information/advice will be very gratefully received. Thank you.

Granny C said:

Hello guys, I'm new and confused! I have a 58 plate petrol Panda 4 x 4 which I took to the local garage today, and the mechanic said that the joint (I think he said it was a joint!) on the prop shaft that makes it a 4x 4 is worn out, and replacements are not available to buy anymore. The last person here who needed one eventually tracked one down in Spain apparently!
He said that the only real option is to make it into a 2 wheel drive. It's done 27,500 miles, I've had it from new, and don't go off-road in it. I have it, because I live on a mountainous island in the middle of nowhere, off the west coast of Scotland.
Now, bearing in mind that I'm a 65 year old female with little mechanical knowledge, can anyone confirm that this is right? I do know the mechanic well, but apart from one of two threads on here from some time ago which do mention the prop shaft, can't see this particular problem mentioned anywhere else online.
Any information/advice will be very gratefully received. Thank you.

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Sounds unlikely at that age/miles. the ones that have 100k miles sometimes have an issue.


Pray what made you go to ask him in the first place? Are you hearing noises from the transmission?

Hi AB100, thanks for your response.
When the car was MOT'd last October, the mechanic mentioned something at the back - sorry, I don't remember what - that was making an occasional clank, but said it would need attention at some point, but was OK then.
The noise has got more frequent and louder, though isn't there all the time, so I took it in to get checked over today. It does need something at the back done, and also needs a wishbone at the front replaced too, in addition to the joint.
Our roads here are terrible, full of potholes, and I live down a farm track which isn't smooth either. Most problems folk have with cars here are to do with steering, suspension, springs etc., and as it's an island, we have a lot of salt in the wind all the time, not to mention in the grit on the roads in the winter, so I don't know if that might contribute to whatever has caused the problem.
The garage is usually reliable, I know them all well having lived here over 40 years, so it seems unlikely that they're saying something that's not right, but like I say, I've not heard of this being a problem before. I really don't want to have to make the car 2 wheel drive instead - is this, or would this, be the normal choice in these circumstances given it's age and the apparent lack of availability of spares?

Is it even possible to covert 4x4 to 2 wheel? The prop shaft centre mount on my 41k panda is starting to split, so I don't think it is a done deal that panda shafts will last for 100k miles or more.

Spare are available but rare and expensive for sure. We have heard it on here.


Clunks from the rear usually end up being the top bush in the shock absorbers. My car had done 20000 miles and they were gone, though mine has firmer suspension.


As for 2WD - there is one for sale on ebay. A Panda 4x4 converted to 2WD. First I've seen.


I'd suggest you ask him specifically what the part is an report back - the experts on here can then ponder the issue and give better guidance.




Some light reading here:


https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/352032-propshaft-vibration.html

Hi Guys,


OK, I will ask Colin specifically what is wrong with the car - should have paid more attention! - and will report back tomorrow.


Thank you both for your comments and help to date.

Please do report back as I'm intrigued as to the cause of your problem.

If I'd got a car less than 10 years old (oh I do), I'd have serious questions if no OEM service option available on anything that failed in 10 years.

I'd be checking out the legality on the manufactuer's service commitment

I'm not saying Fiat have a legal commitment to make everything on my car serviceable at a reasnoable level within the aftermarket, but i'd be researching what if any legal commitment they are bound by.

If this happened to me, I'd be thinking about having the existing propshaft reconditioned - there are a number of specialist propshaft/driveshaft reconditioning companies out there.

If the 4x4 panda prop shaft is liable to failure at 27000 miles and no replacement is available the car is a very risky punt.

Hi folks,


Spoke to Colin this morning, and it's the wishbone at the front, an anti roll bar drop link, and the centre bearing on the prop shaft that all need replaced.


I would have thought that it would have been mentioned by someone else on here if Fiat had some sort of liability to do something about providing replacement parts, as there's quite a few of the cars about. Not very helpful that there are no parts available and I guess something to bear in mind if I ever considered replacing it at some point with a newer version of the same - assuming that the problem still exists that is.


Obviously, I had no idea there was a problem or a potential problem like this with the car when I bought it and there are quite a few on the island, as they're well suited to the terrain (and lousy roads!) here, but apparently quite a few of the owners have experienced similar problems. No, they're not all going to the same garage either, before you think that it's the garage that's the problem!


Any further thoughts gratefully received. Maybe the reconditioned propshaft would be the way to go, but how long could I expect that to last?

As I said, the car is a very risky punt given this prop shaft issue. I think this issue represents a far bigger concern to owners of the 4x4 than the frequently reported suspension problems. Will you consider the 2 wheel drive conversion?

Granny C said:

Hi folks,


Spoke to Colin this morning, and it's the wishbone at the front, an anti roll bar drop link, and the centre bearing on the prop shaft that all need replaced.


I would have thought that it would have been mentioned by someone else on here if Fiat had some sort of liability to do something about providing replacement parts, as there's quite a few of the cars about. Not very helpful that there are no parts available and I guess something to bear in mind if I ever considered replacing it at some point with a newer version of the same - assuming that the problem still exists that is.


Obviously, I had no idea there was a problem or a potential problem like this with the car when I bought it and there are quite a few on the island, as they're well suited to the terrain (and lousy roads!) here, but apparently quite a few of the owners have experienced similar problems. No, they're not all going to the same garage either, before you think that it's the garage that's the problem!


Any further thoughts gratefully received. Maybe the reconditioned propshaft would be the way to go, but how long could I expect that to last?

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It's very low miles for that to have worn. The drop-links are typical plus the wishbone bushes. I guess most 4x4s don't quite have the hard life yours has had.


Looking through the threads you'll see links to propshaft restorers - maybe worth getting a quote. Not sure if the newer 4x4 has the same propshaft - most of the drivetrain is the same. The Panda Trekking is 2WD with the 4WD ground clearance and some anti-wheelspin trickery. Simpler.


One thing's for certain, a newer car will cost more than the propshaft refurb - painful though the work needed may seem.


I'd get some prices and then ponder.

Could be that a few of us will be converting our 4x4s to trekkings by necessity!

Some thoughts.........both cheaper than a new car:


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Pand...Domain_3&fits=Model:Panda&hash=item2a4d2e0854


Ebay says "last one".........
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PAND...756?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a4d1f004c

Hi folks,


Thanks for all your ideas and comments. I will have to go down the route of the 2 wheel drive conversion for now, as I'm heading off island (very rare!) in a couple of weeks to go on a course, and need it to be safe and working. Colin says that doesn't mean it couldn't be put back to 4 wheel drive if the components could be found, or if as you've suggested, I got the propshaft reconditioned.
I'll need to see who could do that nearby on the mainland, the costs involved, and also the time factor, as I'll be carless in the meantime, and I live 1/2 a mile up a hill (on a mostly tarmacked road) away from the bus route, so it will be difficult managing without a car for any length of time.
The Trekking sounds as if it might be a good alternative if I do buy another Fiat in future. I really haven't had any problems with mine to speak of up till now, just the normal wear and tear, and it suits my needs, and seemed to suit the environment here too, as it's a hilly island with crap roads! I guess maybe it's got fed up with the state of the roads along with the rest of us!
Thanks for all your help, I'll look into the reconditioned propshaft idea.

Hi AB100,
Sorry, thought I'd checked all the links you gave but obviously hadn't, and looked at the ebay ones and the single bearing seems to be exactly what I need - I checked with the garage first - so I've bought it.
Thank you for that, it wouldn't have occurred to me to look there. That's a relief!

Glad you found your centre bearing and mount, but does the key issue remain of getting the thing fitted? Has your mechanic stated that he can fit it?

Hope you get it sorted - please let us know how you get on.

I've screen grabbed the ebay listing incase others come looking in the future



I still think there should be an OEM part from FIAT - it looks like an obvious service part.

But is it possible to fit the centre bearing?