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Check the thread I mentioned in the previous post. The guy who has used B4s got springs from the same supplier.
Technical 100HP Dampers and Springs
- Thread starter Slevin Kelevra
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Technical 100HP Dampers and Springs
Having just bought a set of rear B4s, I’m interested in the Fiat 500 rear springs. However, I see Shop4Parts lists several versions of the 500 rear spring. Anyone know which one I need for the 100HP please? And is there a part number for the top rubbers which I’ll need to fit at the bottom as well?
Looking forward to having a less bouncy Panda!
Looking forward to having a less bouncy Panda!
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If you are thinking of buying new you'd be better with Bistein rising rate springs.
For 500 springs, just go on eBay and get some used a pair for £20. Just be sure to get the rubber seats as well.
If you dont like them, you wont have wasted more than £20. The ones I used were from a 2015 1.2 500.
Thanks, Dave, I wasn’t sure if the 500 springs were all the same or differed between variants.
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To be fair I've not checked, though they all "look" the same on eBay.
Dave, sorry to hijack someone else's thread but my recently acquired panda 100HP is sitting 15mm lower at the offside. Fitting the 500 rear suspension seems like a good start point but looking on eBay there are lots of models of 500 which one did you use or does it matter do you know.
Thanks
Andy
Sorry AGAIN I should have read the full thread before commenting. I'll get some 500 springs ordered and once fitted report back.
Thanks
Andy
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The 100HP rear springs look like cut down basic 1.2 Panda springs. The wire diameter is the same and there are fewer coils. So no surprises they ride so hard.
I got a pair of 2015 Fiat 500 1.2 rear springs. It's a middle of the range model with more or less the same underpinnings as the Panda 169. They ride a fair bit lower than standard Panda springs but are considerably softer than 100HP springs. The ride height is sorted with rubber buffers at top and bottom. You could also add thick rubber rings at the top mount to raise the ride if you need to. I have not needed that on my 100P.
Example https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-500-2008-15-PAIR-OF-REAR-COIL-SPRINGS-1-2l-8v-Petrol-169A4-000-5220V/401266324028?fits=Car+Make%3AFiat%7CModel%3A500&hash=item5d6d56323c:g:6B0AAOSwLEtYiz1Q
The 100HP bump stops are much longer than ordinary Pandas. Something shorter such as Fiat Coupe bump stops would be more suitable.
e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Coupe-upgrade-500-Abarth-Rear-Suspension-Bump-Stop-Brand-Genuine-7782710/142415656813?epid=1971344434&hash=item2128a2776d:g:T9QAAOSwo4pYZRD6
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Slevin Kelevra
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Update on my car.
So far I’ve replaced (with bog standard, like for like parts)
Rear shocks
Rear springs
Rear Bump stops
Front shocks
Front springs
Front top mounts
Front bump stops
Front Drop links
Alignment done
I honestly don’t understand all the negative chat on this forum about the ride of the 100HP. It’s a very cheap, old car so it’s never going to ride like modern cars do, suspension design has just moved on so much since the Panda was new.
With the new kit fitted it drives perfectly, sure it’s a bit bouncy on certain pieces of road but what car isn’t.
In my opinion, fitting springs and bump stops etc from other models is not required in the slightest.
Just my two pence worth for all the people asking questions and hunting down parts from other cars and trying to fit them to their 100HP.
Cheers
So far I’ve replaced (with bog standard, like for like parts)
Rear shocks
Rear springs
Rear Bump stops
Front shocks
Front springs
Front top mounts
Front bump stops
Front Drop links
Alignment done
I honestly don’t understand all the negative chat on this forum about the ride of the 100HP. It’s a very cheap, old car so it’s never going to ride like modern cars do, suspension design has just moved on so much since the Panda was new.
With the new kit fitted it drives perfectly, sure it’s a bit bouncy on certain pieces of road but what car isn’t.
In my opinion, fitting springs and bump stops etc from other models is not required in the slightest.
Just my two pence worth for all the people asking questions and hunting down parts from other cars and trying to fit them to their 100HP.
Cheers
Slevin Kelevra
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Andy,
Not a night and day difference but it has improved the way the car drives for sure. Id never call a Panda refined but its more controlled over all surfaces. Certainly sorted out a few rattles coming from the rear end.
What I did notice is things like the bushes on the mounting points on the rear shocks looked like a much improved design on the new items. Much beefier overall.
One other thing to note is I fitted Goodyear F1s all round. Some may not realise but cheap tyres can totally ruin the way a car drives even if they seem to have a decent level of outright grip.
Cheers
Not a night and day difference but it has improved the way the car drives for sure. Id never call a Panda refined but its more controlled over all surfaces. Certainly sorted out a few rattles coming from the rear end.
What I did notice is things like the bushes on the mounting points on the rear shocks looked like a much improved design on the new items. Much beefier overall.
One other thing to note is I fitted Goodyear F1s all round. Some may not realise but cheap tyres can totally ruin the way a car drives even if they seem to have a decent level of outright grip.
Cheers
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You make an interesting point about Goodyear F1s.
I fitted them (actually got stuck with them) on an Audi A4 to replace the OEM Bridgestone Potenzas. To be blunt, the F1s ruined the car especially as I had specified Potenzas but the tyre fitters fitted the F1s leaving me over a barrel as I had to use the car. The issue was excessive noise, not something anyone would want on the Panda.
I've said before the General AltiMax works well on the 100HP for very reasonable money and they are good on road noise.
I fitted them (actually got stuck with them) on an Audi A4 to replace the OEM Bridgestone Potenzas. To be blunt, the F1s ruined the car especially as I had specified Potenzas but the tyre fitters fitted the F1s leaving me over a barrel as I had to use the car. The issue was excessive noise, not something anyone would want on the Panda.
I've said before the General AltiMax works well on the 100HP for very reasonable money and they are good on road noise.
Slevin Kelevra
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Dave, My point was actually that I see the F1s as the best tyre for the Panda, that's why I chose them.
My thought process was that people who know far more than me about cars, namely the Evo magazine journalists ( I respect Richard Meaden's opinion) at the time the Panda was released never had a bad word to say about the F1s which were original equipment on the 100HP. Why change what the manufacturer put on the car in the first place unless impartial "experts" give negative feedback?
In my younger days I drove all kinds of hot hatches etc and the F1 was definitely one of the choice tyres for a road car. They always did well in tyre tests etc also.
Ive had three new Golfs over the years, GTD, R and GTI, all fitted with Potenzas and never thought they were a bad tyre. Given a choice I would always go F1 though.
Road noise is not something I ever think about in the Panda, no matter what you do, lets face it, it will be a loud car to drive about in
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I had not realised the F1 was original equipment, but the show stopper was just the horrendous noise. They gripped ok but the car was sold (totally separate issue) before they wore out so tread life was not tested by me. BTW, the Potenzas lasted 21.5K and all four were shot not bad I guess on a near enough 2 ton car.
The F1s spoiled a quiet car (Audi A4 TDI) so unless they have improved over time, I would not want them on the noisy Panda. Even if they gave the very best handling and tread life I could not live with the racket.
The F1s spoiled a quiet car (Audi A4 TDI) so unless they have improved over time, I would not want them on the noisy Panda. Even if they gave the very best handling and tread life I could not live with the racket.
Ok, so fiat 500 springs at the back, shorter bump stops and new shock absorbers. Now the tyres catch plastic bodywork when I go over big bumps with anyone in the back. Have I missed something or is this what happens when you fit shorter bump stops?
Thanks for the reply. I get a scraping noise when the suspension goes down. Looking at the plastic trim that goes around the arch it's looking a bit rough so I assume that is what is touching. I may put some tape on the underside of the trim and see if it gets marked.
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I have 50 series tyres which will rub on the rear inner wheel arches. Longer bump stops will avoid the issue but it happens so rarely I prefer to have the better ride quality.
I also have 50 series tyres, I wonder if leaving the fiat 500 springs on but fitting longer bump stops would give a better ride, but hit the bump stop and not the tyre on the arch? Are 106mm long bump stops the standard length does anyone know? Current ones are 85mm long and as the tyre hits the arch trip before the bump stop hits makes them a bit pointless?
Thanks again,
Andy
