Hi,

The ride on our 1.9 8v Multijet (34k-16”) is very unsettled, like jelly. Can anyone suggest a fix, even a partial one? I’m a bit reluctant to pay Fiat for new springs and shocks because the ride has always been rubbish (12k on) and it might end up just the same. Somehow, I can’t imagine that all of the cars based on the same Vauxhall suspension have such a wobbly ride. Truth is, I can’t stand it anymore, banging my head against the side window every time we go over a small bump around town. Help!

Thanks

No shortcuts really, make sure tyres are correctly inflated of course.

Then you get into springs, dampers and suspension bushes....

If it's as bad as you indicate the MoT will be a painful & expensive experience.

I have always used pattern parts, they can't be any worse than the rubbish genuine parts . Example, front spring, Fiat price £163 each, pattern £42, EGR valve, Fiat £250, pattern £98, alternator, Fiat £300, pattern £168. There are a few exceptions but generally I find these parts o.k, Best of luck.

Bob

bobbyblue said:

I have always used pattern parts, they can't be any worse than the rubbish genuine parts . Example, front spring, Fiat price £163 each, pattern £42, EGR valve, Fiat £250, pattern £98, alternator, Fiat £300, pattern £168. There are a few exceptions but generally I find these parts o.k, Best of luck.

Bob

Click to expand...

Where/what make is the patern EGR valve & source?

Regarding unsettled ride then as already mentioned we are into springs, dampers, bushes (including anti-roll bar links etc) and tyres.

Dampers are fairly easy to check. Look at each damper and gently lift any rubber shroud. You are looking for signs on oil/damp/stained look on the damber body. It is unlikely that all four are shot/leaking so you will have some basis on which to compare.

Then their is the usual "corner bounce test". Corner by corner you bounce (depress and release) the car and look for undamped oscillations in that corner/suspension.

This last test is only a guide unless the dampers are totally shot. Unless you can mount a pen and roll of paper and pay the paper out sideways as the car bounces then you won't really be able to deduce/comapre much other that "visual feel".

Generally speaking the corner should stop movement with 2 strokes, i.e. up and down motion.

Can't help but ask - is the ride too hard or too soft, does the car seem to dip too low at the back or front, does the car body seem to move a long way and then stop with a jolt? Please could you add more details of what you're trying to describe - thanks.

The Croma ride quality is nothing special, I would rate it as not much better than a Punto. There are four basic problems with it:-

1. The wheelbase is short compared to the length of the car - causes more sensitivity to 'pitching' movements set up by one front or rear set of wheels encountering a road irregularity

2. The car is narrow compared to its length - causes more sensitivity to 'rocking' movements set up by one side set of wheels encountering a road irregularity

3. The seating position is higher than average - this again exacerbates any 'rocking' movements

4. It uses Vauxhall suspension components

I worried a lot about the rear suspension when I got the car as I was going to use it for towing, it seemed way too soft and the car seemed to wallow a lot even when solo - there seemed to be very little damping at the rear, then a 'thump' when the car was nearly on the bump stops. I fitted a set of Bilstein B4 rear shocks and that improved things greatly - less sensitive to crosswinds and better body control.

It still wasn't too great towing though (my caravan weighs 1400Kg) so I fitted a second-hand set of vectra estate rear springs from a 3.0 CDTi. The coils were noticeably thicker (I'd estimate 2-3mm) but slightly shorter, so the ride height remained the same. I believe new springs are longer than the ones I got then 'settle' over time.

The estate rear springs made the car feel noticeably tighter at the rear with less body roll. This is how I prefer it, other people's tastes may differ. The next step for me will be to replace the front springs with Eibachs or similar before they break and take a front tyre with them, but leave the back as it is.

As for your car - better shocks may help (as the Vauxhall Sachs units are hopeless, have a look on www.vectra-c.com) and rear ones aren't too expensive from LMF or eurocarparts, and can be fitted easily too. If that doesn't work then I'd suggest a different car - sorry!

A couple of final points - my original rear shocks passed the 'bounce test', also I've had 16" wheels, 17" wheels and 18" wheels on my car at various times and the ride is softer on 16" wheels but the best compromise is 17" - sharper handling without the harshness that you sometimes get with 18" wheels.

HTH.

Interesting info re your upgrades DoIDon'tI.

As you know I tow a caravan, 1000kg, but being an Eriba (steel reinforced, streamlined and not a "wobbly box") I've not found any issues / concerns with the Croma rear setup.
No/little wind catching surfaces to jiggle the Croma's rear end.

Like you I like a tight, on the firmer side, little roll and well damped setup. When I was doing motorsport in our Uno and Strada Abarth suspension & handling was very important. On the public roads I like to be able to chuck a car from inside to outside, rounds bends, stability under braking (especially if you get it wrong and have to brake and turn at the same time) etc.

I've chucked my Croma around quite seriously and it isn't perfect by a long shot but it is quite predictable. Predicatablilty is the key for agressive driving. Ultimate grip, turn-in, etc. is not that important unless you a actually track racing.

Now for the "I don't quite understand moment" which seems to support a number of views posted here.

If I hammer the Croma suspension then I don't seem to have and problems issues.
However if I gently go round a medium mini roundabout where there are inner rumble bricks/stones, then if I clip/ride these 'disturbances' then I do immediatley feel the back end becoming very unsettled and the front end becoming vague.

To me this suggests that there is a 'no mans land' / window of crap handling/performance that depending on your general driving style can upset you and leave you wanting more.

s130 said:

Where/what make is the patern EGR valve & source?

Click to expand...

I changed it earlier in the year, I got it from emissioncontrols.co.uk and it was a genuine Pierburg unit, the price included courier delivery and 2 gaskets, I quoted the number on my old unit and they sent me the latest version.

Bob

Thanks bobbyblue

URL and number noted.

s130 said:

If I hammer the Croma suspension then I don't seem to have and problems issues. However if I gently go round a medium mini roundabout where there are inner rumble bricks/stones, then if I clip/ride these 'disturbances' then I do immediatley feel the back end becoming very unsettled and the front end becoming vague.

To me this suggests that there is a 'no mans land' / window of crap handling/performance that depending on your general driving style can upset you and leave you wanting more.

Click to expand...

I can identify with the feeling you describe, it was a combination of wheel alignment followed by dampers followed by estate springs that finally gave me confidence in the back end in terms of precision. The uprated springs allow less weight transfer and this in turn helps the front remain composed. The limiting factor is now the high centre of gravity.

45,000 miles later it's a combination of small amounts of play in the inner track rod knuckles and lower wishbone balljoints that concern me. All standard vectra-c stuff and all cheap (and easy) enough to sort out, it's just a matter of me putting up with it until I can't stand it any more.

The suspension on any car based on the vectra-c platform is really built down to a price - it's not just a Croma issue. At least the parts are cheap, plentiful and it's not hard to work on...

HTH.

bobbyblue said:

I changed it earlier in the year, I got it from emissioncontrols.co.uk and it was a genuine Pierburg unit, the price included courier delivery and 2 gaskets, I quoted the number on my old unit and they sent me the latest version.

Bob

Click to expand...

Lucky you a £98. Just checked today and current price is now £132 all in.
Still genuine Pierburg unit including gaskets.

Curret Fiat prices are:
£89.58 + vat for recon exchange unit with £30 surcharge till old one returned
£168+vat for new
Gaskets extra!

Hi S130, apologies, I gave you duff info about the price of my new EGR valve from emissioncontrols.co.uk. I dug out my invoice, I actually paid £121.59 for it back in February not the £98 I quoted........must be early Alzheimers brought on by poverty due to spending all my hard earned cash on car parts instead of food. Still a good price though.

May not be of any help.... but I tow a caravan with my Croma 1.9 8v Dynamic and when I fitted spring assisters to the rear it seams to have improved the ride, even solo...could just be me though.......

Our Croma's rear shocks are dead. Will be replacing them with Bilstein B4s. Will add it to the list of bits to replace

Thanks everyone for your replies, I'll try the Bilstein B4 rears first.

Cheers