Could anyone offer any advice on suspension upgrades?

Not looking to burst the bank but at the same time looking to lower my 500 slightly....not looking at a big drop or air-ride but a sensible set of coil-overs or lowering springs.

Anyone had any experience?


Help would be much appreciated! Looking to lower it slightly then maybe buy a christmas present in the form of a new pair of shoes for the car for 2015!

Bilstein B14's

Yep Bilstein B14 are the best.
Eibach proline springs with some decent shocks would give a mild drop too. The sportlines are quite a big drop.., I have them with Koni FSD's and steed humps are a pain.

Bigpowerjam said:

Could anyone offer any advice on suspension upgrades?

Not looking to burst the bank but at the same time looking to lower my 500 slightly....not looking at a big drop or air-ride but a sensible set of coil-overs or lowering springs.

Anyone had any experience?


Help would be much appreciated! Looking to lower it slightly then maybe buy a christmas present in the form of a new pair of shoes for the car for 2015!

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Don't be tempted to use Abarth springs unless you have a 1.4. The reduced weight of the 1.2 and TA at the front end will give you a suspension height rise if you use Abarth springs. Believe me, I know because I made that mistake before I got the Eibachs

Bigpowerjam said:

........ looking to lower my 500 slightly....

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Dunno about anyone else, but the 500 is low enough in my opinion.

Ours scratches the underbody farings quite often. We've had a variety of cars over the years, but a 500 is the lowest. Maybe it's ok if you drive in city environments all the time? Round here, we have rural roads and lanes with bumps and undulations.

The other day, I jacked the front up to look at the discs and had difficulty fitting my small trolley jack underneath. The jack is very small and low, and been used extensively with the numerous (classic) Minis we've owned over the years. It'll go under a Mini bottom ball-joints easily from the side or from the front, but I had problems getting it to the 500 front subframe as it was almost fouling the sill near the front wheel. There was no way I could get it under from the front!

Good luck
Mick.

Mick, your car bottoms out because of the poor dampers Fiat fit from the factory.

Thanks for that Maxi.
Very interesting.

What do you suggest?
What is the price for an upgrade, plus what is the downside?

There's bound to be a downside apart from the cost, because Fiat fitted the standard ones for a reason. I've never ever owned a car when the standard dampers weren't good enough.

Mind you, this is our first Fiat.

Best wishes,
Mick.

Mick F said:

...because Fiat fitted the standard ones for a reason.

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It's because they are very, very cheap.

306maxi said:

Mick, your car bottoms out because of the poor dampers Fiat fit from the factory.

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You are right... But Mick is also right, the 500 is low although you wouldn't know it looking at the wheel arch gap on the standard car.

My son has a Fiesta Zetec S. It looks low due to close wheel arch gap but the 'underneath' clearance is much more than the 500.

Very very cheap dampers?

What does this tell us about the rest of a Fiat 500?


Mick.

Christ almighty, do you have to stick your nose in and tell people they're wrong in every thread Mick?

306maxi said:

Christ almighty, do you have to stick your nose in and tell people they're wrong in every thread Mick?

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Have I missed something maxi? It's good to be back lol

Someone came in and asked a fairly reasonable question and then Mick says the 500 is low enough without ever having driven a 500 with decent suspension.

I think I've missed something too.
Who's saying anyone is wrong?
I certainly am not.

I'm asking why someone want to lower their 500 when I think ours is too low to start with.

It seems to me, that you are reading too much into my post. (or posts, considering your attitude to me)

Regards to you Maxi, and have a good Christmas.
Mick

PS.
I didn't say Fiat 500s are low enough, I said they is low enough in my opinion because it bottoms out on our rural roads.

Please read what I wrote.
Mick

The 500's suspension is terrible, that's why it bottoms out, as long as you get rid of the god awful dampers especially at the rear it'll be an improvement.

Mick F said:

PS.
I didn't say Fiat 500s are low enough, I said they is low enough in my opinion because it bottoms out on our rural roads.

Please read what I wrote.
Mick

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And read what I wrote....

Further to my comments above ...........
We can go at a snail's pace, and still ground the plastic farings. We could stop dead and still ground as we crawl off. Good job there's not two rugby players sitting on the back seat!

Although I can agree that stiffer dampers would help, it wouldn't stop the symptoms we experience.

I would go so far to say, that our Fiat 500 is the lowest car I have ever owned, and that includes a souped up Mini I had with cut-down suspension trumpets ............. self evident by having difficulty getting a small/low trolley-jack under it that fitted easily under the Mini.

TTFN
Mick.

306maxi said:

And read what I wrote....

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I did.

306maxi said:

Someone came in and asked a fairly reasonable question and then Mick says the 500 is low enough without ever having driven a 500 with decent suspension.

Click to expand...

You suggest that better dampers will raise the vehicle?

Somehow I doubt it.
Mick.

No, but better dampers will help stop it from grounding out due to better body control. That's what dampers are for....