[Argonought]

Originally Posted by alpinepg where as............ http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...854&rd=1&rd=1: Ive been out in it today for a reasonable run and it feels good....as I said not too hard but firmer than it was. It looks good too.....35mm is by no means low. It looks like it was meant to be that low.

Alpine, any chance you've still got the number on the side of the box?

Couldn't resist that price so picked up a set myself

Just wanted to make they're the same as yours

[alpinepg]

I still have the box, I will have a look tomorrow when I'm up at the garage. The make is PI....I emailed the bloke and asked him before I bought them, just to check they were a proper brand and not something someone had cooked up in a hut in China using a goat and parts of an old bicycle!!

[Cris]

Re: Eibachs

I would strongely recommend their fitting (perhaps other brands too). The stock set-up is nice and soft for Mr and Mrs Average but if you push it it looses body control and ties the car in knots.

Now it doesn't!

NB I had a gander under the arches and noticed that the Mechano Mod is fouling the new springs. Some persuasion moved the mechano out of the way.

Might be worth checking that yours aren't clouting the mechano under compression.

[alpinepg]

Argo.....I have checked the box and there is nothing other than PI on it. No notes or anything. The ones I got have certainly improved the handling and I see no reason why they would send you the wrong ones. As youve already seen, the price is a big incentive, but form the ad. I get the impression he is off loading old stock that he cant sell, hence why its so cheap.

Cric, what is the Meccano that people keep mentioning????

[Argonought]

Originally Posted by alpinepg Argo.....I have checked the box and there is nothing other than PI on it. No notes or anything. The ones I got have certainly improved the handling and I see no reason why they would send you the wrong ones. As youve already seen, the price is a big incentive, but form the ad. I get the impression he is off loading old stock that he cant sell, hence why its so cheap. Cric, what is the Meccano that people keep mentioning????

As you say. I'm sure they're be OK.

I compared them against the originals and as you you'd expect they're a bit shorter but what surprised me is that the fronts have been made from a thicker spring and are quite a bit stiffer compared to the originals. The rears look much the same as the originals and don't seem that much stiffer (just a bit shorter).

I expect they look quite smart once fitted being in that nice red finish

The Meccano bodge is simply the mod that Fiat fit to the strut (you don't need that now)

[alpinepg]

What bodge? I didnt notice anything when I changed my springs over at all....looked like an ordinary strut.

[ChrisMClark]

It's a plate that's clamped on below the spring. It's got a round base with the edges bent upwards, the idea being that it will retain the spring in the event of a snap, thus preventing the broken end penetrating the tyre wall. It was Fiat's answer to the spring snap problem...rather than address the dodgy springs, they come up with a nice and cheap way to prevent further damage....doesn't help stop the spring snapping in the first place though.

There's a thread on the whole recall/mechano thing here.

[alpinepg]

I definitely havent got it fitted. Strange because it went in for its spring recall with the previous owner (he has the book stamped to show it)

[ChrisMClark]

Doesn't really matter though as you've fitted the Pi's. Although it's stange they stamped the book and didn't fit it. Unless they fell off

[Argonought]

My PI spring set is marked 25149 which I notice exactly matches the number from the PI website

Interestingly, they supply 4 sets in total for the Stilo just as Eibach do.

Seems bizarre that Koni offer just one set for the whole engine range

[PNL]

Originally Posted by Argonought My PI spring set is marked 25149 which I notice exactly matches the number from the PI website Interestingly, they supply 4 sets in total for the Stilo just as Eibach do. Seems bizarre that Koni offer just one set for the whole engine range

you have lowered your car Argo sly old dog

[Argonought]

Had the PIs fitted this morning by Italian Car Spares (POOLE) who did a cracking job. They only charged £92.24 and that included re-tubing my Overboost Valve.

It's quite a bit lower than I expected (so a little disappointed as only really changed because of spring issue).

These are the figures:

Average clearance before: Front = 167.5mm Rear = 195mm
Average clearance after: Front = 135mm Rear = 147mm

So that's an average drop of 32.5mm on the front and quite a massive 48mm on the rear. Fortunately its levelled the car slightly so critical loss of ground clearance is only 32.5mm. At least that's for the moment and I'm hoping it wont drop any further.

As reported by others the ride quality is still very good (you can barely notice the difference) and remains better than many other cars. It goes without saying that handling is improved but hope I don't get thrown off a fast corner when the underside makes contact with something unexpected

I'm going to see how it goes but if it drops much further I may be forced to put standard springs on again (I certainly wont be putting the ones I took off back on and that's another story completely )

[minimad99]

Argo,
it will get a bit lower due to settling but only mm i would have thought, my Eibachs did.
Pics, pics !!!

[PNL]

Originally Posted by Argonought Had the PIs fitted this morning by Italian Car Spares (POOLE) who did a cracking job. They only charged £92.24 and that included re-tubing my Overboost Valve. It's quite a bit lower than I expected (so a little disappointed as only really changed because of spring issue). These are the figures: Average clearance before: Front = 167.5mm Rear = 195mm Average clearance after: Front = 135mm Rear = 147mm So that's an average drop of 32.5mm on the front and quite a massive 48mm on the rear. Fortunately its levelled the car slightly so critical loss of ground clearance is only 32.5mm. At least that's for the moment and I'm hoping it wont drop any further. As reported by others the ride quality is still very good (you can barely notice the difference) and remains better than many other cars. It goes without saying that handling is improved but hope I don't get thrown off a fast corner when the underside makes contact with something unexpected I'm going to see how it goes but if it drops much further I may be forced to put standard springs on again (I certainly wont be putting the ones I took off back on and that's another story completely )

Argo you chav lowering springs today ..body kit next month ..remap by the end of the year and I caught you good and proper the other day didnt I

[Argonought]

Originally Posted by PNL Argo you chav lowering springs today ..body kit next month ..remap by the end of the year and I caught you good and proper the other day didnt I

Hey! Do I get to wear a Chav badge now

minimad99 - will get the camera out after the polish!