been looking around and stumbled apon these http://www.madmotors.co.uk/suspensi...500-312-including-abarth-1-2-1-4-1-3d-07.html

with them not being a major brand like bilstein or eibach would people be less likely to recommend them/ use them.

Yes.

with them being "TUV approved" would that mean they're just as good but as they basically say "george range/tesco own brand" then people dont buy them?

TUV approved means they shouldn't fall apart and kill you. Doesn't mean they're good.

Doesn't mean that they are bad either just means that you would be buying not having the re-assurance you get when buying a known quantity. Is that worth the extra money? ....... only you will be able to answer that.

Having said that I believe it is quite expensive to get TUV approval (I heard £9000 per item but I am willing to be be told otherwise) so it would be silly for the manufacturers to spend that sort of money if they weren't sure that they would be up to the job, IMHO.

As a way of adding a different perspective to the postings before me my 'take' on adjustable coilovers is that it is more for track guys and they're expensive but since you're considering them let's increase the budget...

One of the 'good things' about an A500 is that because the standard 500 is essentially no different to its Abarth 'brother' you can use the same upgrades. I would be partial to the Konis FSD and here's a set for £545. The review on them indicates that they are best suited to fast road use and for me would be better than 'fiddling' with the settings.

On the Abarth section there's a thread on the limitations of what you can do with the 500 but a point raised by Maxi is that because your model is a '09 it has no anti-roll bar (it would be better if it had). A particular brand shock is mentioned in that thread and I have attached a 'robbed' picture with an Eibach spring (Pro). Maxi has mentioned Bilsteins - an excellent shock but it often comes down to personal preference. The FSDs above will work with standard A500 springs and can be picked up cheaply.

I have also attached a picture from the US Fiat web site of the rear suspension showing that the suspension travel mentioned by grimwau is only 25mm. Some with coil overs have removed the bump stops but IMHO that's a bit risky. Some have 'cut' them leaving a 'stub' and others have replaced the stock ones with Fiat coupe/Alfa 156 bump stops which are half the size (again robbed from a different forum).

On the exhaust modification the Sports cat that I posted will be of no benefit unless you change the manifold - so now we are into a full exhaust system since there is only one silcencer on the 1.2. Powerflow got a mention since your based in the UK (acknowledgement to Trackdayqueen) and if you check the Supersprint site it shows the same exhaust for the 1.2 as it does for the 1.4 . If you go for the backbox there would appear to be a preference for the sound of a Raga over a Magneti Marelli so you would need to hear both before you spend your money. Flames as mentioned by RUI wouldn't come out the back exhaust like the 20V Turbos.

On the wheels and going up a size to 17s personally for me the weight of them is important - I didn't like the heaviness of the 17 inch 10 spokes on the A500 - here's some indication of weight differences.

I would suggest that you set a budget on mods on the car and stick to it.

The thing you forget Michael is that he wants to lower his car and the Koni's are meant for standard springs so lowering would adversely affect them.

306maxi said:

The thing you forget Michael is that he wants to lower his car and the Koni's are meant for standard springs so lowering would adversely affect them.

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Actually the Konis are designed to work with the esseesse springs which are lower than the standard versions.

Unless you meant std essesse springs and that they wouldn't work properly with aftermarket springs that lower it even more.

That's what I mean He wants it even lower by the sound of it.

Cheers for the clarification.

306maxi said:

That's what I mean He wants it even lower by the sound of it.

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Maxi has raised a good point.
Shocks and springs need to match up and when I orginallly looked at the Koni FSD (I was impressed with the technology since it offered comfort and handling in 'one' package') I was curious to know if they would work with 'standard' A500 springs - discussion thread is here.

olopboy said:

The SS + Koni kit does indeed cost more, £620 is the official difference iirc, I have standard springs and Koni's atm but I am buying some SS springs soon, having driven a car with both fitted its a better set up than the shocks alone. But the improvement with only shocks is impressive. I would recommend the full monty as that is where I will end up.

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A concern that I would have for the OP on the wheels that he intends to use and the fact that his 500 is only in a 1.2 (870kg ?) which is much lighter that an A500 (1035kg). I would recommend from past experience on a M tech suspension in a lowly 318is is not too good 'mad' with the 'drop' and error on the safe side with standard A500 springs or something of similar drop. If he drops to esseesse levels at least the Koni FSD will still perform admirably and can be transferred to an A500 (or sell them) if he wishes to take them out when it comes to re-sale time.

My gut instinct would be to use a pair Eibach Pro springs and a decent set of shocks (possibly the AVOs which he should get for around £180). If budget got tight then a secondhand set of A500 springs should do the job. If he still wants to go a bit mad then the Eibach Sport springs. But it would be important to get a decent set of matching shocks to go with this so that you are 'not overspringed and underdamped' which has been a criticism of the 500 or namely the A500.

Has anyone put the standard Abarth springs on a 1.2? if so how much does it drop it by?

roger there is some sound advice here, in reality i love my TA as it is and its not going to be modified given my other toy has ventured down the slippery slope, in reality my experiences in this aren't fiat related but principles are the same

as a sense check before you venture on the slippery slope you need to notify your insurer of mods and not all companies cover modifications so your insurer choice will be limited, also worth declaring as many in one go to avoid the admin fees every time you change something

if i was starting on a project suspension would be my starting point, in reality there are way to many stories out there of buy cheap buy twice, its a major element of the car and i'd stick to the well known brands (as posted in this thread) and you won't go far wrong, lowering springs are a good start but always a compromise with the stock dampers and will probably firm the ride up, if money is no object i'd take coilovers, in reality i do see adjustable damping and rebound as a waste of money unless you are a hardened tracker, in reality most people have these set once and never change (but like the bragging rights in their sig), my experience on my car having had some coilies on (and a drop of 50mm) that whilst the ride is firmer (i have some KW v1s with damping and rebound from the factory set to more track use) the damping is significantly better so the car is less crashy all be it i can feel every bit of tarmac (which is what i like), if you go cheap you'll notice these will be more prone to rust etc

as for abarth springs on a 1.2, something i'd not do even if its oem, simple fact is the spring rates are designed for specific axel weights, having looked at the difference in wights in this thread my assessment is the car won't drop as far as the abarth and the ride will be former (this is based on KW sending me the wrong springs on my set up which was too stiff and car didn't sit properly)

ride is subjective and i find the 16s on the TA fine, it feels sporty and car has great turn in, i'm a massive fan of light weight wheels

in terms of intakes etc, i rate ITG highly and they are doing a cracking job for Mr Vettel and Red Bull

modifications are very personal and as said have a budget and a ultimate came plan

the biggest difference i have noticed out of all modifications i have done was going coilovers and then doing a track day, after the first session of scalps i was being asked what i'd done

after two weeks of driving a 500 its a cracking little chassis and a proper little go kart and fun and a honest little car

RUI said:

Has anyone put the standard Abarth springs on a 1.2? if so how much does it drop it by?

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RUI - I was hoping someone would answer this for you but nobody has - so I'm going to have a 'stab' at it.

On the Eibach spring range the Pro-kit drops the car 30mm front and back whilst the Sportline drops 45-50mm on the front and 30 on the rear. The Sport are ONLY available on the 500 and not on the A500.
The A500 guys when they change from the standard springs to Eibach they drop a further 10mm so it appears its 20mm
The GP reckon that the Abart springs drop between 10-20mm from standard so it would appear to be 20mm.

Wigit raised the issue about axle weight.
The Abarth compared with the 1.4 is 105kg heavier which is 16.5 stone. This weight appears to have been added to beefing up the suspension. Since the 1.2 is another 60kg lighter than the 1.4 that adds up to 165kg.
The wheels you have added the Petals are 17.2 kgs heavier than the standard 16s Abarths (should be the same as the bydiesel). This weight is actually quite important because it is sprung weight i.e the wheel 'hanging' off the shock and the spring.

Maxi mentioned somewhere about sitting in the car to get his 500 properly setup but I could see where that would be important for track. You car is designed for 1-4 people & luggage ? so it's a compromise.

On the 1.4 this supposedly has a sports suspension - this means slightly shorter shocks and according to Alfatastic the 1.4 shock is about an inch shorter than 1.2 shock. This would loosely equate to 20mm. Visually the 1.4 is dropped more than the 1.2. I reckon it has a weaker spring because of the 'lower' weight.

wigit said:

as for abarth springs on a 1.2, something i'd not do even if its oem, simple fact is the spring rates are designed for specific axel weights, having looked at the difference in wights in this thread my assessment is the car won't drop as far as the abarth and the ride will be former

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wigit has real experience with modding a car - something I haven't got but given that you are using the heavier Abarth wheels I would chance the Abarth springs. I would probably source a set of Abarth shocks from someone who has upgraded to Koni FSD or similiar.

Re warranty - the only shocks that don't impact Abarths are the Konis FSD since they have had extensive testing which also includes their esseesse springs. I get the impression that droplinks, bushes and one guy said gearbox are not covered with mods. In relation to your 1.2 upgrading to a 1.4 suspension would see OK and a standard Abarth could seem plausible but I would ideally get better shocks.

On the coil-over debate it is possible to get 'cheaper' sets but there's something about compression and rebound and if you crank the 'dial' it's not changed in 'sync' - so you have to buy the dearer set. So in summary the Koni FSD is the way to go for the 'normal' driver.

So in summary to answer your question I reckon with the lighter weight of the 1.2 about 15mm.

I think I am going to buy a set of springs then 15mm it is not worth it. 30mm all round is a good compromise.
As for warranty...don't get me started.

RUI said:

I think I am going to buy a set of springs then 15mm it is not worth it. 30mm all round is a good compromise.
As for warranty...don't get me started.

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dave said:

we now have a forum trader selling these so no getting messed around with gazella anymore https://www.fiatforum.com/tmc-motorsport/264681-new-products-available-special-forum-discounts.html

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TMC were doing some good prices on the eibach springs. Pro seem the ones for go for whilst the other guy who is looking for the mega drop will probably opt for the Sport line.

Wheels, tyres and hubs are 'unsprung' weight, not 'sprung'. You want that to be as low as possible for good suspension responses.

bgunn said:

Wheels, tyres and hubs are 'unsprung' weight, not 'sprung'. You want that to be as low as possible for good suspension responses.

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Thanks for the correction. I got an email back today from Pulce - they sell the AVO shocks. Seems they have specific ones for either the standard springs or esseesse springs. Whilst the Koni FSDs with work with both. A concern that I would have for the OP & + is that lowering their cars will shorten the 'life' of their existing shocks. They should really be looking at shocks to match the 'new' springs. I wonder which ones would be recommended for a Eibach pro spring with a drop of 30mm ?

The Eibach Sportlines are too low, I can supply them but I know people who have taken them off as the ride was just too harsh, Pro Kit is best and more comfortable. I have them in stock. I can also supply Bilstein B14, H & R, KW, Koni etc. Whatever you need in fact

Hey, does anyone know where to get a exhaust pipe for a fiat stilo 1.8 2004 model. One which replaces the cat. I cant find one on the internet.