Technical Suspension noise

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Technical Suspension noise

sworks

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We have a 1.2 500s and it’s had a very slight squeak on the passenger side when going over speed bumps. It sounds like a rubbery noise rather than a hard knock or rattle. I looked a few weeks ago and everything was fine, a little play in the drivers top mount but nothing on the passenger side. Driving it tonight for the first time in a while and it’s getting worse, I still can’t feel any top mount movement when getting hold of the spring. Should I just change both front top mounts as a starting point then at least I can rule it out? Any well known issues? Thanks in advance
 
If it's rubbery it could be one of the lower wishbone arm bushes. What's your front tyre look like? Any sag in the wishbone will show up (eventually) as inner shoulder tyre wear.

But just as likely is the top mounts. Earlier 500s had no caps on top of the strut mount (in the drain channel under the windscreen) so they filled up with rain-water.

It may be an idea (since it's not the most tricky job there is) to just remove the strut and stuff some WD40 and white grease into the bearing. If it goes quiet (even for just a while) then you'll know what the problem is/while you wait for new top-mounts to arrive.

The caps are part number 51938656 for a £Lady. You can find them on eBay (some show as for "new shape Ford Ka").


Ralf S.
 
We have a 1.2 500s and it’s had a very slight squeak on the passenger side when going over speed bumps. It sounds like a rubbery noise rather than a hard knock or rattle. I looked a few weeks ago and everything was fine, a little play in the drivers top mount but nothing on the passenger side. Driving it tonight for the first time in a while and it’s getting worse, I still can’t feel any top mount movement when getting hold of the spring. Should I just change both front top mounts as a starting point then at least I can rule it out? Any well known issues? Thanks in advance
We had a terrible rubbery noise when we got the car going over speed bumps new lower control arms(big rubber bushes) and all quiet.
 
Thanks for the reply’s, the car is a 14 plate Ralf so it allready has the caps fitted to the strut tops. My gut feeling is that it’s not the top mounts as there is no play on the side that’s noisy. I might get it up in the air and look at maybe some silicon spray on the lower arm bush and antiroll bar bush to see if it quietens it. The bush looks ok so I don’t want to change the arm just as a guess.
 
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If you get new lower control arms, I bought Lemforder ones not cheap, but come with new "pinch bolts " this is a good option as the pinch bolts are much harder than you think to remove, my suggestion is, "replace ALL of the front suspension(components) " if you're keeping the car.
 
I might get it up in the air and look at maybe some silicon spray on the lower arm bush and antiroll bar bush to see if it quietens it. The bush looks ok so I don’t want to change the arm just as a guess.

Been there done that...


My hunch would be (and they are both easy and cheap) - If this has just come on or gradually appeared, its the droplinks! The passenger side one is probably as dry as a bone in one of the joints! In fact you can´t really tell they are worn until off the car and sometimes they almost fall apart LOL, where as on the car they seemed fine!


Second - if you, like me had this noise for months (or years) it could be the bolts for the anti roll bar bushes, done up as tight as the last mechanic could get them!!! Mine where done up so tight, the rubber bush was being pinched on the bar. The bolts needs to hold the bush brackets firmly in place, but they shouldn´t be torqued up as far as someone can get them!
 
Been there done that...


My hunch would be (and they are both easy and cheap) - If this has just come on or gradually appeared, its the droplinks! The passenger side one is probably as dry as a bone in one of the joints! In fact you can´t really tell they are worn until off the car and sometimes they almost fall apart LOL, where as on the car they seemed fine!


Second - if you, like me had this noise for months (or years) it could be the bolts for the anti roll bar bushes, done up as tight as the last mechanic could get them!!! Mine where done up so tight, the rubber bush was being pinched on the bar. The bolts needs to hold the bush brackets firmly in place, but they shouldn´t be torqued up as far as someone can get them!

Any droplink issues I’ve seen in the past have been a solid knock rather than a rubbery squeak. The noise was very slight over speed bumps but now quite loud over rough terrain. I thought about antiroll bar bushes, I believe they are original as we’ve had the car for the last 2 years
 
a little play in the drivers top mount but nothing on the passenger side. Driving it tonight for the first time in a while and it’s getting worse, I still can’t feel any top mount movement when getting hold of the spring. Should I just change both front top mounts as a starting point then at least I can rule it out? Any well known issues? Thanks in advance

The after market top mounts come with a little added movement when new, Fiat OEM ones are best.


Also the top mount bearings aren´t working on the up and down movement of a speed hump!
They facilitate left and right movement of the wheel assembly when turning
 
Any droplink issues I’ve seen in the past have been a solid knock rather than a rubbery squeak. The noise was very slight over speed bumps but now quite loud over rough terrain. I thought about antiroll bar bushes, I believe they are original as we’ve had the car for the last 2 years

Yes I replaced the droplinks at 18K miles due to the usual annoying knocking noise.. The passenger side droplink then failed early 5K miles and 6 months later, as the rubber cover was allowing in water and the whole joint was dry as a bone!
It was making a very loud rubbery squeaking sound in the cabin!
 
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We have a 1.2 500s and it’s had a very slight squeak on the passenger side when going over speed bumps.

To be fair, the Fiat 500 hatchback suspension doesn´t stay totally quiet for long. 2014 Twinair lasted 2 years and 18000miles until I couldn´t live with the knocking noises any longer - New top mounts, front gas shocks, drop links and rear gas shocks sorted it out...... For another 2 years - new rear shock and drop links again!
 
Yep our completely replaced front suspension was only noise free for two years and the passenger side drop link only lasted 6k! It's noise free bar a noise going over speed bumps that sounds like the top suspension cup knocking when the suspension is compressed upwards then releases on after the initial compression, not the down side of the hump, even though they're as tight as I can get an the top mounts are new.
 
It's noise free bar a noise going over speed bumps that sounds like the top suspension cup knocking when the suspension is compressed upwards then releases on after the initial compression, not the down side of the hump, even though they're as tight as I can get an the top mounts are new.

Mines been like this since new! It also has had new everything except the lower arms lol
My 500C is much quieter and heavier!
 
It's strange about the stabiliser/drop links on the 500... they're exactly the same part number as fitted to the Stilo JTD (such as my old beast) where they seemingly last forever... :confused:

Mine is on its third set. The second set were fine other than I couldn't undo the nuts that were rounded and rusted onto the threads when I changed the dampers, so I cut them off.. But they'd done at least 60,000 miles by then (on the car when I bought it). I'd say they'd last 90,000-100,000 miles based on my car.


Ralf S.
 
It's strange about the stabiliser/drop links on the 500... they're exactly the same part number as fitted to the Stilo JTD (such as my old beast) where they seemingly last forever... :confused:

Ralf S.

Light weight, short wheel base.. Rear shocks are at an slight angle which knackers them also over time. I think on the basic 500 (ie not 500c or Abarth) the anti roll bar keeps the car under control. They last 18K or so and then they are so tired that they just knock the whole time... seem fine on the car, then once removed practically fall about!
The 500C that I also have, with the beefed up Abarth rear suspension bar doesn´t have this issue.... Also it´s a 1.2 and I drive the TwinAir hatch harder LOL
 
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