The Twins said:

Yep, wheels are I sprung weight.
In the final analysis I think it's a weight issue even tho when I load it with 90kg it doesn't seem to drop much.
Take a look at these pic...

Under arch of SS / 595 model
View attachment 122503

Under arch if mine (look at the coils)
View attachment 122504

I just don't get why loading mine to the correct weight did not give a similar drop.

Don't know where to go from here : (

Thanks for your input guys, as my wife tells me - I'm never unsure but I'm not always right.

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Also, just putting weight on it won't cause the suspension to settle properly. The friction of the tyres whilst the car is still will resist going down to its proper ride height as such.

When you jack a car up and then put it down, it doesn't settle to its proper ride height till you drive off.

Like I said (twice), the springs will flop down. If they're Eibach springs, then in my experience, they're **** in the quality stakes.

This is the process of my reasoning when I bought the B14 kit. I like Koni dampers, but I couldn't source a set of decent/matched springs without getting them made up, and I couldn't be bothered with the R&D work to do it. And then the knocking issue on the rear dampers, etc etc.

The ride on the B14 kit is very firm, but at least the ride height is spot on and delivers exactly what Bilstein said it would.

I won't say I told you so, etc etc

Sweex said:

It can seriously only be the weight. Nothing else would be making this happen! Have you given it chance for the springs to settle?
And whoever mentioned the wheels having an effect on the weight on the suspension, you're wrong!

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Springs wound to the wrong static loading will do it also. And these cheap aftermarket springs are wound to one setting for the heaviest diesel engined car with ALL of the options, plus having wide tolerances, plus poor quality = a car that rides in the sky or on the floor.

UFI said:

I think your "Twinair" spec TA has the Abarth spoiler? Mine does.

The engine weights are actually similar owing to TA's having S/S. The intercoolers weigh around 20kgs though and they sit right at the front of the nose. Fiat claim the TA as being 15kg lighter than the 1.2, but I presume that doesn't even account for the turbo and intercooler. There's also a lot of weight in the brakes which of course don't act on the suspension.

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20Kg intercooler? Is yours made of lead? It's an aluminium radiator (albeit a bit fatter) with plastic end caps. I think you'll find it weighs little more than 5Kg including the inlet and outlet pipework.

It's worth pointing out that the fact the rear is very much lower than before changes the weight distribution of the car also. If you've ever read about corner weighting a car, you'll understand that you can 'prop up' the rear corner of a car and the diagonal opposite corner will appear to sink.

Basically, it's the effect you get when one leg is shorter than the others on a table. You can't treat each corner (or end) of the car in isolation, it's part of a whole system.

bgunn said:

It's worth pointing out that the fact the rear is very much lower than before changes the weight distribution of the car also. If you've ever read about corner weighting a car, you'll understand that you can 'prop up' the rear corner of a car and the diagonal opposite corner will appear to sink.

Basically, it's the effect you get when one leg is shorter than the others on a table. You can't treat each corner (or end) of the car in isolation, it's part of a whole system.

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So you're saying he should have gotten B14's?

306maxi said:

So you're saying he should have gotten B14's?

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Not because you can corner weight the car. Its a complete waste of time for a road car and will actually made it more nervous on the road. And pointless unless you drive it one up always (or corner weight the car two up and ballast the car).

Thanks for all your comments guys. It's a weight issue for sure : /
Yep, maybe should have gone for B14
Spoke to Chris @ Centre Gravity again. They said it's no prob, they can measure the rating/progressive nature of the spring and make two custom wound ones with the same rating but will be slightly shorter to achieve the correct height.
They also told me to (slightly) loosen off front bushes, drive it a short distance and then re tighten them. I did this in the rears when I fitted them (tightened with suspension loaded like you told me bgunn)
Feel better about it now. Just have to take it to bits again, although it will be easier the second time.

Well then you're sorted... Hope you get the car riding properly. Remember that by loosening the bottom arms off (which needs the bumper off to get to the front bolts), you'll need to reset the front toe.

bgunn said:

Well then you're sorted... Hope you get the car riding properly. Remember that by loosening the bottom arms off (which needs the bumper off to get to the front bolts), you'll need to reset the front toe.

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Doh! : /

bgunn said:

20Kg intercooler? Is yours made of lead? It's an aluminium radiator (albeit a bit fatter) with plastic end caps. I think you'll find it weighs little more than 5Kg including the inlet and outlet pipework.

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Was refering to the Abarth twin intercooler setup and associated piping, but it's actually ~20lbs, not kg.

Sorted ride height problem...
Had a long chat with Eibach and decided that the Sportline spring kit was the way to go instead of getting two front custom springs. This way I can sell the SS springs as a set. A big thanks to all you his input and also to Ben at Eibach and Chris at Centre Gravity.
Fitted them tonight. Actually fitted the left strut twice as I forgot the shock boot the first time : /
Feels even more planted, less body roll and ride just as comfortable as the SS springs.
Here us a quick pic...

Glad you got it sorted - looks good!

Lower than mine now, you did fit shortened bumpstops didn't you?

bgunn said:

Lower than mine now, you did fit shortened bumpstops didn't you?

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Yes, Fiat Coupe bump stops.

Looks amazing now mate!

bgunn said:

Lower than mine now, you did fit shortened bumpstops didn't you?

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Would love to see a better pic of your 500 with B14's bgunn
The quick pic you posted couple of weeks ago was quite hard to see detail around the arches/wheels.

What I find strange about my experience with the SS springs and weight issue is how I managed to get this drop with the Eibach Sportlines because they list this kit for all the 500's inc the 1.3 multi jet which is a fair bit heavier! Imagine how low it would look in a heavier variant. They don't list the kit for the Abarth as for some reason it was not TUV / homologated in Germany.

Eibach also told me that they make all the springs for Bilstein kits and that the Abarth SS springs are H&R.

The Twins said:

Eibach also told me that they make all the springs for Bilstein kits

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http://www.kraemer-und-freund.de/en/

(owned by Bilstein)

I suspect Eibach are talking about the non adjustable kits where the springs are 'bundled' up with the dampers. i.e. the 'pro kit'. The B14 upwards definitely doesn't have Eibach springing.

bgunn said:

http://www.kraemer-und-freund.de/en/

(owned by Bilstein)

I suspect Eibach are talking about the non adjustable kits where the springs are 'bundled' up with the dampers. i.e. the 'pro kit'. The B14 upwards definitely doesn't have Eibach springing.

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Yes, that's prob what they meant then.