General Rusty Front Shock Absorber Screw Threads

[Sam500]

I have noticed that the screw threads on the top of both front shock absorbers on our Fiat 500 are very rusty. The cause of the problem appears to be that the cup shaped upper mounting plate is holding water when it rains or when the car is washed. Our Seicento had a rubber cover fitted but according to the Parts Department at the local dealer, there is no such cover listed for the Fiat 500. Can anyone please tell me if this is a known problem?

Photo:

 

[rkt2003]

I have noticed that the screw threads on the top of both front shock absorbers on our Fiat 500 are very rusty. The cause of the problem appears to be that the cup shaped upper mounting plate is holding water when it rains or when the car is washed. Our Seicento had a rubber cover fitted but according to the Parts Department at the local dealer, there is no such cover listed for the Fiat 500. Can anyone please tell me if this is a known problem?

Photo:

If there is`nt one ,cover them in vaseline or a good grease ask your local motor factor

 

[brimbling]

I have this on my car, only picked it up Friday but it has been sitting at the dealers for a while. Maybe if the car is in regular use the water doesn't collect, anyone else noticed this?

Either way a quick clean up and a coat of grease will sort it.

 

[Sam500]

Thanks for the replies. The car is going to the dealer for a flashing mileage problem to be rectified so I will ask then to look at the shock absorbers while they have the car. In my opinion, it’s a minor design oversight. You never know the dealer may report it to Fiat who could in future start greasing the threads when the cars are built (or is that expecting too much). In the meantime, I’ll give the threads a clean and cover in grease as suggested and I may even see if the covers from a Seicento fit for added protection.

 

[grimwau]

Mentioned this here 3 months ago.

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/149955-water-trap.html

 

[csabaszalma]

Mentioned this here 3 months ago.

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/149955-water-trap.html

grimwau! Have you tried the doblo covers? Does it fit well?

 

[One in 500]

When I first noticed the problem, I was amazed that FIAT had allowed an obvious design fault to remain unmodified into production. Until I find a suitable cap, I have fixed it on a temporary basis by filling the "cup" with melted candle wax. This is working well so far.

 

[306maxi]

When I first noticed the problem, I was amazed that FIAT had allowed an obvious design fault to remain unmodified into production. Until I find a suitable cap, I have fixed it on a temporary basis by filling the "cup" with melted candle wax. This is working well so far.

I still don't quite see the problem. Sure it's not nice aesthetically BUT you really have to look to see it and if it does come to remove the shock the shock and the nut will be going in the bin anyway.

 

[Zakt]

I have noticed that the screw threads on the top of both front shock absorbers on our Fiat 500 are very rusty. The cause of the problem appears to be that the cup shaped upper mounting plate is holding water when it rains or when the car is washed. Our Seicento had a rubber cover fitted but according to the Parts Department at the local dealer, there is no such cover listed for the Fiat 500. Can anyone please tell me if this is a known problem?

Photo:

Mine had the same, but I put the above-mentioned blobs of grease on after taking delivery, and all's been well since. The stuts were recently removed without any problems too. Don't stress yourself over this, it's a 30 second fix

 

[emmaelmopants]

I have the exact same issue with my 500! Just seems to be a design flaw.

 

[frupi]

I have the exact same issue with my 500! Just seems to be a design flaw.

This subject has been raised many many times and Fiat produced a fix for this a long time ago in the form of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500-...M&hash=item19eb3ea632&clk_rvr_id=631723374180

I believe all new 500's come with these fitted as standard these days. If the rust bothers you, just wire brush the tops, coat them in vaseline or multi-purpose grease and close the bonnet, or buy the caps designed for the job.

 

[emmaelmopants]

Aw thank you! I'll take a peak now

 

[T14086]

I have had some real trouble getting these nuts off to change springs on vehicles 1+ year old, loads of heat is the only way and in some cases a new shock absorber.

The ones in the picture don't look to bad and can be saved.

 

[jrkitching]

I have had some real trouble getting these nuts off to change springs on vehicles 1+ year old, loads of heat is the only way and in some cases a new shock absorber.

The ones in the picture don't look to bad and can be saved.

I removed, greased & replaced these nuts when my car was a couple of weeks old and fashioned some makeshift covers out of the end of a used squash bottle.

Some were a little scathing at the time and dismissed the issue, but it's done the trick - these photos show how well it's worked after 4+ years.

Crude but effective - and best of all, it didn't cost me a penny.

Anyone who needs to replace their springs and then also has to pay the extra parts & labour to get these off & replace the shocks won't perhaps be so dismissive.

Thread revival I know, but it just may save someone a few £££ in the future - and it does give me a legitimate opportunity to post a picture of my nuts on a public forum .

 

[T14086]

Why should you have to make up covers though, a one year old car needing a spring and subsequently a new strut is ludicrous!

 

[BigKev]

This subject has been raised many many times and Fiat produced a fix for this a long time ago in the form of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-500-...M&hash=item19eb3ea632&clk_rvr_id=631723374180

I believe all new 500's come with these fitted as standard these days. If the rust bothers you, just wire brush the tops, coat them in vaseline or multi-purpose grease and close the bonnet, or buy the caps designed for the job.

Just need to say that I fitted some of these FIAT caps to wifey's 500C and they are a waste of time and money. The water still gets in and worse still, it can't evaporate out again - so situation is exacerbated.
Just grease 'em up. Or do what jrkitching did with some bottle-ends.

 

[frupi]

Just need to say that I fitted some of these FIAT caps to wifey's 500C and they are a waste of time and money. The water still gets in and worse still, it can't evaporate out again - so situation is exacerbated.
Just grease 'em up. Or do what jrkitching did with some bottle-ends.

Interesting. I'm not doubting or disbelieving your experience, but I have been outside this afternoon checking tyre pressures, oil, water, usual weekly stuff on the wife's TA. Whilst doing so and as a direct result of this thread being raised again the other day, I took off said mount covers and there was absolutely no evidence of water ingress under the caps. When we bought the car last November, I took off the caps and sprayed the mount threads with grease. The last couple of days we've had umpteen heavy showers where I live and still there has been no water ingress under the caps.

So I don't think it is particularly fair to state the caps are a waste of time and money. Your experience isn't necessarily going to be same with other owners.

If you really want to try something else, Fiat Cinquecento rubber mount caps fit over the top mounts because that is what I used on our old POP, even better than cut off fizzy bottle ends!

 

[Moonraker25]

I use the rubber boots off the back of the headlights from an MG sports car - not sure what model but it had 2 round head lights each side. I also know that the equivalent rubber boots used on some Vauxhalls - Zafira? - will also fit, Valeo no. 88204115 or 89390143. Obviously the ones without a great big hole in the middle! All fit really well.
£1 each from a local Dorset scrappy
Ok Ok I know they are not Fiat bits (or even Italian) but they work!

 

[malcscer]

I need to replace one on the mounting plate since it got very rusty. Is it an easy job to replace? I.e Just need to unscrew the nut, remove and replace?

 

[John202020]

I need to replace one on the mounting plate since it got very rusty. Is it an easy job to replace? I.e Just need to unscrew the nut, remove and replace?

It's an easy job when the parts are new, but when rusty as can be you'll struggle to remove them if at all.
This is a recent thread on the subject https://www.fiatforum.com/500/481988-500-top-mounts-suspension-4.html?p=4550671