Hi All,

My top mounts need replacing and I have been quoted 182 quid using non genuine parts.

I have found a really good write up from a forum member, I am just wondering if this is something I can do? I regularly service my car, change brake discs and pads etc.

What tools will I need, anyone know the sizes?

Lastly, when buying new top mounts do they include the rubber bush for the underside of the car as the damper cover is banging against the top of strut assembly and it's driving me mad!

Thanks

Cameron1590 said:

Hi All,

My top mounts need replacing and I have been quoted 182 quid using non genuine parts.

I have found a really good write up from a forum member, I am just wondering if this is something I can do? I regularly service my car, change brake discs and pads etc.

What tools will I need, anyone know the sizes?

Lastly, when buying new top mounts do they include the rubber bush for the underside of the car as the damper cover is banging against the top of strut assembly and it's driving me mad!

Thanks

Click to expand...

Hi,
it's not OVERLY complex, my GUIDE shows most of it,

you'll need spring compressors..!! @£15

the modern way - with a impact gun - is MUCH easier than my spanner method for removing the TOP NUT ( under bonnet).
SB1500 did the job recently..so will remember better.

Charlie

varesecrazy said:

Hi,

it's not OVERLY complex, my GUIDE shows most of it,



you'll need spring compressors..!! @£15



the modern way - with a impact gun - is MUCH easier than my spanner method for removing the TOP NUT ( under bonnet).


SB1500 did the job recently..so will remember better.



Charlie

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info, do you have a link to the guide?

top of panda section - GUIDES

or
GUIDES - Panda

simples..

Hello, you can certainly replace the entire thing for much less than that!

The site Shop4Parts is a very good UK based supplier of Fiat/Italian parts. They sell the parts you're after for much less than that. Check them out, www.shop4parts.co.uk. You get a discount code for it if you donate to this forum too.

I have a thread where I asked many questions - the same as you might have! Here's the link:

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda/436405-finding-strut-bearing-2.html

Take a read through it, look at the pictures and you'll get a good look at the parts. I will look and see if I have any more I can post here for you.

@varescrazy 's guide was very helpful to me, as well as this video on YouTube showing it for the Panda!






Hope this helps

You can certainly DIY if you have some basic tools, and lots of us have used those Top Line and Original Birth parts from the site I mentioned and haven't had trouble

Good luck

Thanks for the info, only part I don't like is compressing the springs have heard to many horror stories!

Might call a few garages and see what they would charge just to compress the spring and change the top mounts for me?

Cameron1590 said:

Thanks for the info, only part I don't like is compressing the springs have heard to many horror stories!

Might call a few garages and see what they would charge just to compress the spring and change the top mounts for me?

Click to expand...

I was exactly the same. Terrified of how two little metal pieces could hold down such an aggressively compressed Spring but when you do it it's much less scary.

You just need do COMPRESS BEFORE TAKING APART THE STRUT ASSEMBLY, or then it could fly off.

Taking it out of the car is fine as it all comes off in one piece - strut, Spring and all.

Just look it up, stay focuses and don't forget the procedure and you'll be fine.

If the garage charges more than a set of Spring compressors on eBay then get the compressors? Heck, get two sets if makes you feel like they're safer

Screw fix sells some too, if you don't want to wait for or trust eBay suppliers

Yes it can be easy but things can go wrong.

Have replaced the panda front shocks a few years ago no probs.

Forgot to replace the top bush so did one early this year when the bearing seized. could see the spring bounsing around when going lock to lock.

More recentley I got a knocking noise from the other side so went to change the top mount after replacing the drop links...

1 bolt would not come out (Strut to hub carrier) no matter what. So put everything back and got a new bolt from fiat as one threaded the whole length is no good as the threads will compress under suspension load then make a knocking noise with the extra play. was planning to cut the head off the bolt and knock it the other way out.

while having a good look around I found I could recreate the noise by raising and dipping the front end... and the metal on metal sound is... the strut cover hitting the top - same as you.

so popped a bit or rag above it - no more noise...

Didn't bother changing the top mount as it's OK... O/S takes less stick as most pot holes are N/S

Thanks for the replies, really appreciate the help! The knocking noise is annoying but I have been told that the top mounts are very worn and need changing.

Anyone know what sockets they use in the video that enables them to put a spanner on the end?

Do I need to worry that my top mounts are very worn?

It's very much one of those jobs that if you can afford the parts, go ahead and get it done now with the others since you can get it all done at once and not have to worry about it for longer.

Plus when it's all done it should handle from the front like new, smooth as butter (or at least as smooth as these awesome Italian cars come!) and you can feel the investment more.

But if you're not too bothered, fix what 'needs' to be done at least

I'm with SB1500, Shop4Parts is highly recommended. As for the spring compressors, just be careful and tighten both sides evenly. Just replacing the top bearing means you don't have to let the tension off and recompress bare springs, this is much safer. The lug on the bearing should face rearward.

Having just replaced my shocks and top mounts, a couple of things. Firstly and it maybe just me, I had to cut down the spring clamps to fit in the wheel arch. Also make sure the spring retainer is pointing outwards.

You could of removed the whole strut complete and used the spring compressors with the strut in a vice or on the floor. It's a lot easier than struggling inside the wheel arch.

neilwill said:

Having just replaced my shocks and top mounts, a couple of things. Firstly and it maybe just me, I had to cut down the spring clamps to fit in the wheel arch. Also make sure the spring retainer is pointing outwards.

Click to expand...

little FIRE .. or on a 100HP..??

dozer said:

You could of removed the whole strut complete and used the spring compressors with the strut in a vice or on the floor. It's a lot easier than struggling inside the wheel arch.

Click to expand...

Yes of course we did that! However we needed to compress everything to get the damper bolt to marry into the hub carrier. So it was back out and chop on the garage floor, oh the joy! All better now.