Hi FiatForum,

This is my first post so I apologise if I offend anybody through not following etiquette... am an active member on the VX220 forum... hopefully you are all as helpful and forgiving as they are

Basically, could do with your help... I have a 500 lounge 1.2 30k miles and 2.5 years old... get a creak from the front end, mainly when going over big speedhumps... but can happen over other uneven surfaces... more prominant on the N/S. Fiat just changed the top mounts and dampers under warranty and the problem persists, if anything it is slightly worse since they did the work last week. They are happy to have it back and presumably, just continue changing parts under warranty until I confirm the noise has gone

What do you think it could be? Bushes/balljoints/droplinks?

Thanks in advance

Both drop links and ball joints are know weak points, sadly. I think drop links tend to go first.

UFI said:

Both drop links and ball joints are know weak points, sadly. I think drop links tend to go first.

Click to expand...

Many thanks for the feedback

Just to feedback on this issue for others that may have a similar problem. After a number of visits to Fiat, and a number of test drives etc., they were finally able to hear, readily reproduce and ultimately diagnose the problem.

It was/is the bushes in the front lower control arm/wishbone.

Fiat changed the O/S under warranty. Reading between the lines I suspect this is because they damaged the assembly when dismantling to inspect it. They advise that it is not fautly, and that the noise is a "character" of the car/part, and that they couldn't change the other side under warranty as that would be classed as "betterment"... so they sprayed the other side with silicone, which fixed it, for around 4 minutes. I will get the other side done at some point.

Do all Fiats make crappy unpleasant noises that aren't faults as part of their "character"?

Hope this helps someone.

Just had both lower suspension arms replaced because they were noisy, it's like a different car now.
The wifes is making similar noises, only done 10k, poor quality.

An engineer friend suggested just strong solution of washing up liquid and water for creaking. It has worked for me on control arm bushes on a number of cars. It might allow you to do one at a time until you find the offender(s)

sharpandroid said:

Just had both lower suspension arms replaced because they were noisy, it's like a different car now.
The wifes is making similar noises, only done 10k, poor quality.

Click to expand...

How old is the car, rather than mileage, I replaced ALL of the front suspension and yes everything is much improved and no noises over speed humps, though it will now need new top mounts.

Wifes car on a 66 reg so still under warranty.
Mine on a 15 reg, manufacturer warranty ended day after work was done.

Ormes said:

Just to feedback on this issue for others that may have a similar problem. After a number of visits to Fiat, and a number of test drives etc., they were finally able to hear, readily reproduce and ultimately diagnose the problem.

It was/is the bushes in the front lower control arm/wishbone.

Fiat changed the O/S under warranty. Reading between the lines I suspect this is because they damaged the assembly when dismantling to inspect it. They advise that it is not fautly, and that the noise is a "character" of the car/part, and that they couldn't change the other side under warranty as that would be classed as "betterment"... so they sprayed the other side with silicone, which fixed it, for around 4 minutes. I will get the other side done at some point.

Click to expand...

They wouldn´t have disassembled/removed the lower control arm to replace the dampers and top mounts.

Failure is too much movement in the ball joint or worn bushes etc
They don´t need to change both control arms at the same time, as unlike dampers as they don´t need to be a matching pair.

Basically I have a Dec 2013 TwinAir sport. I had Fiat top mounts, Monroe Dampers and new drop links fitted in Sep 2016 (20K miles) - also rear Dampers (again Monroe) - as Fiat didn´t feel that the components were badly worn. BUT I couldn´t stand the clonking from the front end and the rear end hopping about!
This cost 700 pounds.
Having done this, the car drove better than new... It had never been that quiet or solid on the road.

By May 2017 the front end was groaning as one drop link had failed prematurely - the dust cover was not keeping the water out and the component was dry of grease. I replaced with a spare.

Now at 35K miles there is a slight creaking over speed humps (but no clonking LOL) and the car still drives well.

We also have a similar aged 1.2 convertible with 25K miles now on the clock. We bought this second hand at 8.5K miles and the dealer ship noted that it had a control arm replaced under warranty before the 8.5k miles etc. The front suspension has been quiet on this car, although it also needed replacement rear dampers at 20K.

I don´t think what you are stating is uncommon - just that most people seem to buy cars on PCP and give them back after 3 years lol