General Repair Bill!

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General Repair Bill!

You can get OE from Shop4Parts.
Donate a couple of quid to this forum and get your discount code for 10% off, so that should be less than £60 a pair.

With OE you know they'll fit properly and be fit for the job.

As already written, steer clear of unbranded stuff.
The likes of KYB, Sachs and Monroe are OK budget/mid range items.

The top mounts are not overly reported to fail on these, so it's up to you if you replace them.
Again, probably not wise to bin the originals if they appear ok and fit cheap ones.


A couple of notes on replacing front shocks.

You need spring compressors to remove the spring from the shock and even with a decent set it's a nervous job.
It's probably less hassle to remove the struts from the car and take them to a local garage to swap the springs over.

If you are going to diy, only use good quailty compressors and point the top ends facing away from you when handling/undoing the top nut.
I didn't one time and have a permanent scar on my face because of it!

The two bolts and nuts that attach the the lower strut to the hub knuckle will no doubt be cruddy and rusty.
Soak them up a few days before with penertrating oil and wire brush all the crud out of the bolts protruding threads, this saves trying to drag the rust back through the nut.

They can be tough to shift as the bolt threads and nuts are designed not to shake or rattle loose, cheap sockets that don't fit well will round off the nuts or bolt heads.

Take a pic of which way around each top mount is fitted through the inner wing.
There's a rubber nipple on the mount and small two holes through the inner wing, record which hole the nipple fits each side and refit the same way around.

The droplinks can also be a pain to remove due to crud and rust and the fact the balljoint will spin in the socket.
More often than not you can hold the shaft with an allen key in the end of the shaft, but the allen key hole in the end can strip while you are trying to hold it and undo the rusty nuts.

Lately I've never bothered with trying to undo them, I just grind them off.
But you can often get an open ended spanner down the back if there's a flat on the shaft just under the end of the rubber boots, this holds the ball joints shaft.
If not, a tight pair of grips on the ball joint (over the rubber boot part) should hold it while you undo.


Hello, the two parts on the Shop4Parts site look good, but the brand is down as 'Top Line', are they decent? (better than GH?). And how do I go about getting the discount? I've donated a small amount before but do i need to donate more to FiatForum? And I don't mind if I do need to :)

When I say 'do it myself', I mean my uncle who will likely do it. He has a garage and some decent tools and has done this kind of work to his own VW Bora, when I showed him the shocks and stuff he said we'd get them on somehow! I appreciate your tips and no doubt they'll be on the laptop next to when we're doing the job!

Would you recommend just buying replacement nuts/bolts in this case? If so, what are the sizes (or descriptions so I can find the sizes on eLearn) :)

Ready to buy the Shop4Parts drop links and 'Top Line' shocks now once I get your response so thanks again :)
 
Okay, so I've bought the parts... thanks for the forum I saved almost a tenner :)

'Top Line' is the brand of the left and right shocks I ordered, plus two drop links of the brand 'Original Birth', never heard of either but I'm hoping for the best.

Just going to order another matching Suplex coil spring from eBay (as I'd might as well replace that too to keep both sides perfectly balanced)

See the order form there and if you want let me know if I bought decent parts?
 

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Shop4Parts supply quality stuff so you should be fine. Either gebnuine FIAT or top quality aftermarket replacements. Don't know Top Line but Birth is quality Italian stuff.

FirstLine is a very cheapo brand of aftermarket parts but cover lots of items.

When you do the struts you can check and grease the top mounts.
 
Sounds like you found out how to access the discount!

You only need new nuts and bolts if you bugger the old ones getting them out, which is why I suggested cleaning the threads with a wire brush, soaking them overnight and using a decent fitting socket/spanner.

The two lower strut ones aren't normal nuts and bolts, but high tensile with special threads that grip tight so they do not rattle loose, you need to get them from the dealer (if needed).

They take some effort to undo as they don't just loosen and spin off, you have to wind them all the way off with your tools. (which is why you clean the rust off, save dragging it back through the nut)

If I remember right, a lot of thread hangs out past the nuts (to rust) and I mullered one on my sister's 54 plate due to it jamming up right near the end of the threads.
Had to grind it off and quickly order one up from Fiat for the MOT the next morning.

When refitting, a big dollop of copperslip on the threads will help keep the rust out a bit for next time.
 
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Sounds like you found out how to access the discount!

You only need new nuts and bolts if you bugger the old ones getting them out, which is why I suggested cleaning the threads with a wire brush, soaking them overnight and using a decent fitting socket/spanner.

The two lower strut ones aren't normal nuts and bolts, but high tensile with special threads that grip tight so they do not rattle loose, you need to get them from the dealer (if needed).

They take some effort to undo as they don't just loosen and spin off, you have to wind them all the way off with your tools. (which is why you clean the rust off, save dragging it back through the nut)

If I remember right, a lot of thread hangs out past the nuts (to rust) and I mullered one on my sister's 54 plate due to it jamming up right near the end of the threads.
Had to grind it off and quickly order one up from Fiat for the MOT the next morning.

When refitting, a big dollop of copperslip on the threads will help keep the rust out a bit for next time.


Sure did! Contemplating ordering them anyway! Surely the bolts from Fiat won't cost a bomb?

Any idea for the part number?

Or do you reckon if my uncle has done it on other cars hell know exactly what to expect or is this a Panda specific problem from all of your experiences?
 
Anyone used to removing parts from under a car should know the pit falls.

I can't remember the part numbers, but a nut and bolt was about £7 all in.

But if you go at it with some thought, you should get the old ones out ok.
 
Why not discuss this thread with your uncle?
That way, you'll get a better idea of the extent of his knowledge and experience and between you you can plan the best way to do these jobs. They are, after all, little more than routine jobs that are part of car ownership.
 
<SNIP>

Timing Belt and Oil Seal, I'm going to save up the £480 and hopefully if time allows me a few months get it booked into Fiat for those repairs.

On the oil seal, if you are not getting lots of oil on the drive or having to top up the oil more often than once a month I'd leave it until you need the gearbox off for something else (like the clutch). The time is more expensive than the parts.

Robert G8RPI.
 
On the oil seal, if you are not getting lots of oil on the drive or having to top up the oil more often than once a month I'd leave it until you need the gearbox off for something else (like the clutch). The time is more expensive than the parts.

Robert G8RPI.

I'm planning on taking this to Fiat later in the year when I've got the money, but I've taken advice on here that I should prioritise the Timing Belt first due to the cars age. One person said they'd never known a F.I.R.E. Engines belt to snap but still, to be sure!

I am aware that if I just top up the oil and make sure it's adequate then this won't cause a problem (until the seal deteriorates) which I imagine will be a long time. So yes, I'll fix it but I'll put it below the suspension and timing belt in the priority list :)

Not a drop of oil under the car with the level of wear today. Someone referred to it as 'sweating' which I believe Fiat also used to describe it.
 
Why not discuss this thread with your uncle?
That way, you'll get a better idea of the extent of his knowledge and experience and between you you can plan the best way to do these jobs. They are, after all, little more than routine jobs that are part of car ownership.

I will do! I was up on Friday showing him the Fiat Service report, which is when he told me we could do the handbrake and suspension ourselves!

He said to go for the Timing at Fiat as the guarantee is worth it on an older car (especially if I want to invest in it and use it for the next few years), oddly, he did say not to bother at all about the oil leak as 'all old cars leak oil somewhere' and that it's not too serious unless it got much worse. <- This put my mind at rest over the oil seal, but I intend on getting it put right this year! Just not in a hurry and in good hopes it permits me the time to save!

I went up on Sunday to show him the parts I'm going to order and the eLearn instructions, said that's fine. If I get them he's adamant we can get them in somehow.

I'll be there on Friday fixing some rusty spots on the bodywork so I'll show him this then in between waiting for the paint to dry! Great idea!
 
Proper cambelt replacement by Fiat is not a bad idea for peace of mind, the only problem then is that often you're advised to change the water pump at the same time which will be dearer at a Fiat garage with a genuine Fiat part. But after that nothing should need doing for 6 or 7 years, i.e. more than the life of the car.

Unless of course the head gasket goes, which is not uncommon or disastrous on these engines. But if you look after the coolant / cooling system then that will help to avoid this situation.
 
This video makes the job look rather simple! Am I right to think that it is?!

* assuming I take care to get the bolts off!
* assuming I carefully manage the spring compression with the more basic tools than the video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aD2rqtOwm4

:)

I'd recommend at least 3 spring compressors - they're not too dear from your local motor factors. Two of them just isn't enough, especially if you value your lower jaw.
 
I'm not so sure about that.

The most any guarantee would be worth is the market value of the car; on a >10yr old base model Panda, that'd be at most £500.

By guarantee I mean the two years parts and labour warranty - if the belt snaps or has any technical issues Fiat will take responsibility and repair it for free of charge! As well as any damage this causes to other parts, I confirmed this with them. And there was a guy with three Fiat mini busses who was there too who was essentially there because a £20 part he had fitted to one of his busses by the dealer caused £1500 of damage which he was getting repaired under the warranty!

I couldn't see any of the excuses of local mechanics in my area taking responsibility for any possible failures caused by lousy non-genuine parts or a mistake in fitting it :(
 
Proper cambelt replacement by Fiat is not a bad idea for peace of mind, the only problem then is that often you're advised to change the water pump at the same time which will be dearer at a Fiat garage with a genuine Fiat part. But after that nothing should need doing for 6 or 7 years, i.e. more than the life of the car.

Unless of course the head gasket goes, which is not uncommon or disastrous on these engines. But if you look after the coolant / cooling system then that will help to avoid this situation.

Fiat will replace the water pump and the timing belt for the £242 I was quoted :)
 
As far as compressing the front springs go, and bearing in mind your relatively little experience, I wouldn't even risk it. There is danger in using spring compressors as shown, and the power of a compressed spring should never be underestimated.

For the sake of peace of mind, and for just the price of a few drinks, I would take the removed struts to the nearest garage with a decent spring compressor and get them to change the springs over for you.
 
By guarantee I mean the two years parts and labour warranty - if the belt snaps or has any technical issues Fiat will take responsibility and repair it for free of charge!

They most likely won't repair it if the cost of the repair is more than the value of the car - they'll just give you a cheque for the value of the car.
 
They most likely won't repair it if the cost of the repair is more than the value of the car - they'll just give you a cheque for the value of the car.


Seriously? And I don't get a say in the matter or to say 'no I'd prefer the repair?'

That's madness! Plus I take it their opinion on the value is final (and probably not great) :-/

Still.. Better than no offer from a normal mechanic? Hmmm
 
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