Technical Coil over kits
- Thread starter CarlosT
- Start date
Currently reading:
Technical Coil over kits
First a few questions.
1. What are you trying to achieve?
2. Could any issues be sorted by replacing stock components?
3. Are you talking front, or rear, or both?
Now, my thoughts.
The suspension on 500s can be a little harsh, but that is part of what makes them handle well. A Pop, on steel wheels is more comfortable.
The front suspension, having a strut, is effectively 'coil over' anyway.
If you put coilovers on the rear, you are putting suspension forces, every bump, through the damper mounts, not the original spring mounts. Fiat has not engineered the shell to take those forces there. Failure could be soon, and catastrphic.
If the coilover merely repositions the damper inside the spring, in its original position, I can't see a benefit. Downsides would be a shorter damper travel, meaning less likely to damp effectively, or for as long a life as the original, and more difficult to replace.
Fiat, like all manufacturers, spend a lot of time and money designing their suspension to give the best compromise between roadholding, handling and comfort. Any aftermarket outfit will have spent almost nothing in comparison, while 'designing' their alternative.
Only benefit I can see is 'bragging rights'.
And remember, any such modification must be advised to your insurance company, who may not appreciate the mod. Failure to inform them could render any claim void, leading to large bills for any damage caused to others, horrendous injury claims, as well as procescution for being uninsured.
1. What are you trying to achieve?
2. Could any issues be sorted by replacing stock components?
3. Are you talking front, or rear, or both?
Now, my thoughts.
The suspension on 500s can be a little harsh, but that is part of what makes them handle well. A Pop, on steel wheels is more comfortable.
The front suspension, having a strut, is effectively 'coil over' anyway.
If you put coilovers on the rear, you are putting suspension forces, every bump, through the damper mounts, not the original spring mounts. Fiat has not engineered the shell to take those forces there. Failure could be soon, and catastrphic.
If the coilover merely repositions the damper inside the spring, in its original position, I can't see a benefit. Downsides would be a shorter damper travel, meaning less likely to damp effectively, or for as long a life as the original, and more difficult to replace.
Fiat, like all manufacturers, spend a lot of time and money designing their suspension to give the best compromise between roadholding, handling and comfort. Any aftermarket outfit will have spent almost nothing in comparison, while 'designing' their alternative.
Only benefit I can see is 'bragging rights'.
And remember, any such modification must be advised to your insurance company, who may not appreciate the mod. Failure to inform them could render any claim void, leading to large bills for any damage caused to others, horrendous injury claims, as well as procescution for being uninsured.
I know the front springs need replacing because of corrosion and the front suspension is wallows all over the place. I saw the kit on flyaway and thought "mmm, that is cheaper than buying the springs and struts". Most important for me though is that the car stays on the road and is comfortable to drive.
I'm not sure the kit is cheaper. And I'd be doubtful of its benefit, and without seeing what you're looking at, I don't know its quality.
Look here: https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=...pts=1100&term=Fiat_500_1.2_8v_Shock_Absorbers
These people are specialists, and well respected on here. If you donate to the forum, it opens up access to a discount from them too. I've selected 1.2, so ensure you look at the correct parts for your car.
You will also see listed some bolts and other fittings. If yours need replacing, you need to use the correct ones, as they are stronger than 'normal' bolts. Bolts are graded, standard are 8.8, but some stuff availabloe from hardware stores are lower than this. Suspension bolts are 10.9. Even using 8.8 is a risk.
The 500 front suspension is good, but does wear. Wallowing does suggest the dampers are past their best, but everything needs to be checked.
The links between the suspension and the anti-roll bar fail regularly, usually causing a clonk, and often wear can only be seen after the part is removed. They are simple and cheap. https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Product&ProdID=2266
The lower suspension arm bushes, especially the rear ones, do perish, and get soft. The rear bushes can be replaced, but this requires a press, and they need to be aligned properly. Complete arms are easier, and renew both bushes, and the ball joint. Always replace as a pair, both sides.
The top mounts also get soft. https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=...=1100&term=Fiat_500_1.2_8v_Bushes_/_Mountings Make sure they are fitted the correct way around.
Coilovers are likely to be harder than original, to try to show some difference, and would be sold as a 'benefit'. That makes the ride harsher, and transmits more forces to the car body.
Have a very good look at all the front suspension. And replace all that is needed with standard equivalents. Keep it stock, but good, the manufacturer knows best.
Look here: https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=...pts=1100&term=Fiat_500_1.2_8v_Shock_Absorbers
These people are specialists, and well respected on here. If you donate to the forum, it opens up access to a discount from them too. I've selected 1.2, so ensure you look at the correct parts for your car.
You will also see listed some bolts and other fittings. If yours need replacing, you need to use the correct ones, as they are stronger than 'normal' bolts. Bolts are graded, standard are 8.8, but some stuff availabloe from hardware stores are lower than this. Suspension bolts are 10.9. Even using 8.8 is a risk.
The 500 front suspension is good, but does wear. Wallowing does suggest the dampers are past their best, but everything needs to be checked.
The links between the suspension and the anti-roll bar fail regularly, usually causing a clonk, and often wear can only be seen after the part is removed. They are simple and cheap. https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Product&ProdID=2266
The lower suspension arm bushes, especially the rear ones, do perish, and get soft. The rear bushes can be replaced, but this requires a press, and they need to be aligned properly. Complete arms are easier, and renew both bushes, and the ball joint. Always replace as a pair, both sides.
The top mounts also get soft. https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=...=1100&term=Fiat_500_1.2_8v_Bushes_/_Mountings Make sure they are fitted the correct way around.
Coilovers are likely to be harder than original, to try to show some difference, and would be sold as a 'benefit'. That makes the ride harsher, and transmits more forces to the car body.
Have a very good look at all the front suspension. And replace all that is needed with standard equivalents. Keep it stock, but good, the manufacturer knows best.
To check for wear in the droplinks, you have to unload the antiroll bar. You can't do this with the weight of the car on its wheels, and you can't do it with the car jacked up and the suspension hanging free either.
The trick is to put that side of the car onto an axle stand, then carefully jack under the strut to compress it until there's no tension in the anti rollbar. At this point, you'll be able to feel if there's any free play in the droplink.
It also makes it much easier to put new droplinks into position if the suspension is in this configuration.
But at £7.50 each, you'd probably do better just to change them anyway. You've got to undo them to get the strut off, and if they've been on there for more than a year or two, it's much easier to just cut them off than wrestle with corroded securing nuts..
Yep, that's usually my philosophy...I've got no plans selling either.
Hi.
If you have any issues with insurance at all for a change of suspension then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.
If you have any issues with insurance at all for a change of suspension then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.
