Just noticed this and limped home. Can someone point me in the direction of parts needed?

Cheers

Hi,
That's pretty bad. You will need a new rear suspension beam or frame (cross rail on classic Panda) as Fiat call it. would need the cars VIN number to make sure of the part number, but probably 51856918 not cheap, older ePer says about €600 from a dealer

Robert G8RPI.

Price including taxes: 664.91 GB



http://pekidi.com/navi?SBMK=F&COUNT...ANGUAGE&SEARCH_TYPE=codpart&PART_COD=51856918



Just an idea, but can it be cleaned up and welded?

Thanks for the quick reply. The second link isn't working for me.

It looks that eroded, im not sure if it'll be safe welding it up. I may however attempt that before throwing money at the screen.

Is this common, as in should I look into one at a breakers or is it just get the new replacement?

Thanks again.

Part number shown above appears to be correct for 100hp. Different from normal models, so finding one at a breakers could be a challenge.

Welding it is probably not a good idea. You need good strong metal, so would need to fabricate some replacement part, of equal strength, and be sure that the welded joint will cope with the suspension stresses. If lucky, you might find a bent car to donate one, try the breakers request forms via Google.

You're not the first to suffer this and I am certain you won't be the last.

Water and dirt get trapped in and around the spring pans (the part that's snapped) and cause it to rust away.

It's fairly common to peak under and see ream beams that are really scabby, I managed to catch my sister '04 before it got too bad, I ground it back, treated it with rust stop and waxoiled it, two years later and it still looks like new.

You really want a new one as with a used one, you could end up with something that's nearly as bad and may soon fail again. Like I wrote, it very common to see rusty ones.

You'll not weld it up either as you can't weld rust, by the time you get back to good steel, they'll be feck all left of it!

You'll no doubt need new shocks, they look about to rust through as well and to finish the job, new springs, as soon as the powder coating flakes they start to rust and MOT testers love to spot them.

Give Shop4parts a ring, I'm sure they'll be able to help you with everything.
Also there's a dealer that specializes in parts with some discounts, SG Petch.

One on eBay now for £199.99

Twopandas said:

One on eBay now for £199.99

Click to expand...

Mccofred

Twopandas said:

One on eBay now for £199.99

Click to expand...

You got a link, I can't seem to locate it.

So, wife calls me....loud clunk and big spring lying on road!
Sound familiar???

Anyone had a full price for getting it all fixed?

New frame from Fiat is around the £700 mark I think, 4 hours labour should sort it at whatever garage you use, they may have to replace some solid brake lines if they don't come undone, and might possibly be worth a rear suspension overhaul if budget allows. I've replaced two in the last three months at work, the last one on Friday just gone, not a bad job, just bulky and awkward

So nearly half the value of the car to repair it!!!:bang:

I feel like crying.

Does this also happen to other models or is it particular to the 100HP due to the stiff suspension?

Cheers.

I've seen it on a 12,000 2004 1.1 dynamic, but the underside looked like it'd parked in the sea most of its life. They are a water trap, and a bit of a poor design, but it's simple and manufacturers these days don't build cars to last like they used to, 8 years and they want you to buy another. Shop around, scour eBay, not the next week I'm measuring up a 500 rear beam to see if it's any different, so will keep you posted as it may be a more affordable source of parts.

I'd expect the 500 to be wider, as the car has a wider track, unless they fit big spacers. We await your measuring with hope.

I can say with certainty they don't fit spacers to the 500...

It is surprising what can be fabricated if you have access to some good welding gear. I've seen worse than that 'made new'.

Looking at that badly rusted cup, I would certainly take the beam off the car, grind down to bare metal, and fabricate a new cup. A lot depends on your skill. If you have oxy gear instead of mig, it would be easier - but either way, I would certainly give it a go.

I'm lucky in that one of my best friends is a great mechanic and he just suggested the same. Will let you know of progress as fiat quoted £688+VAT!!!
Nice wee modification got it home tonight, not sure if it will pass it's MOT though. Oddly, ride comfort wasn't that much different

A+ for effort, B for execution. Could have been higher with the use of a cable tie haha

Update,

I whinged (politely and constructively) to fiat UK last night.
Basically calling this a catastrophic failure of a critical component which should not be expected to fail in the way it has and it was lucky it did so in a car park and not a motorway.
Also pointed out the ridiculously high price of a replacement part.
To my surprise I got a call this morning saying that are going to look into it.
They have the cars reg so want to check back it's fiat history. Not much at main dealers but it's certainly never been crash repaired so we will see what they say.....wonder how long this will take????

Keep at them to get a reply, they might 'forget' or blissfully wait for you to chase them to get a lower price off them?