Technical General suspension arms how to make them last

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Technical General suspension arms how to make them last

You've been more fortunate than I.

Sometimes parts are produced with small, known variations in size and are selectively assembled in the factory when a precise fit is required; I've often wondered if that was the case with these bushes.

And yes, if an arm cost £100's and bushes a fiver, then I'd probably eat my words and have a go myself; but thankfully that's not the case here, except for those models with bi-Xenon lighting which have arms tapped for levelling sensors.

Arms have gotten cheaper and bushes more expensive so is not worth it on the Panda in my opinion

The 100HP is what people wish to change the Bush for. Not sure why as the last time I looked you could pick one up for less than £30

I can guarantee there is no manufacturing sizing and fitting of the part. Even back in the 70's when it would have been done by hand under a press there wouldn't have been time to be messing around.

until recently I have always used a motor factor.

C.E.S
Pottories Motor Factors no called General Traffic (GT)
Laces now gone
Mini and Ford


C.E.S supply most of the garages around here. Never had a failure from them. Ever


Unfortunately they are no longer competitive with either the new kid in our town euro car parts or the internet. Some parts are under half the price. But sometimes you get what you pay for


However most garages still use C.E.S yes I know the price is different for trade. But I assume most garages are still using them due to time is money and they don't want problems and returns.


Garages rarely change the bushes as they just pass on the price of the arm.
 
From Shop 4 Parts -
"standard" Original Birth arms (OEM 50703129 / KC50) are £38 each delivered plus the replacement pinch bolts against £141 for OEM Fiat. I used these on my wife's 1.2 Dynamic.

100HP arms by Magnetti-Marelli (OEM 51857135) are £82 each. From what I can see the only difference is the rear bush. Fiat OEM arms are £145 each
 
Did you get a discount from Autodoc? If you didn't, I assume you've ordered standard arms rather than the correct ones for the 100HP
 
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Did you get a discount from Autodoc? If you didn't, I assume you've ordered standard arms rather than the correct ones for the 100HP

don't get hung up on the Bush

seen these https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...offerlist.normal_offer.d_title.534f576dO01qsM on ebay no casting numbers fitted with the 100HP bush's and being sold at £165


I can guarantee that within a year there will be more play in the front suspension with cheaply made 100HP arms than if you put a standard panda quality part in. The trouble is how can you spot a quality part it certainly isn't by price. MAGNETI MARELLI meaningless as they can be anything.


just been looking on another forum where they are talking about ball joints. originals are lasting around 7 years and ebays ones lucky to get 18 months.

I buy a lot of substandard Chinese electronic clones. It is what it is. I am still happy because of the price. But in the case of arms it would have to be a seventh of the price.
 
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Did you get a discount from Autodoc? If you didn't, I assume you've ordered standard arms rather than the correct ones for the 100HP

https://www.vsm.skf.com/uk/en/products/VKDS332010

take a look at the fitment at the bottom of the page. SKF own catalogue


yes I know MM and Fiat list different part numbers for the 100HP. Yes I can see loads over the internet selling the other Bush type at inflated price. We have measured the placement of the holes of the 100HP and one of mine 1.1L, they were identical. Even all the casting numbers were identical. Hard to check now as most 100HP will have had the arms changed by now. But 100HP being broken in Poland and Italy and a fair few had standard arms.
 
I've got Magnetti-Marelli arms for my 100 from Autodoc for 36:30 (each) shipped. The pinch bolts and nuts I've ordered from my local Fiat dealer for £14:42

That price sounds like a standard Panda bottom arm. It will be interesting to see if you get the aluminium block type rear bush (means they goofed the price) or they've just sent you the standard Panda bottom arms.

M8 high tensile pinch bolts are about £4 for four on eBay. A good coat of copper grease (which should always be used) will keep them nice. Also be sure to get the ball joint peg properly aligned as its easy to cut a groove down the bolt if you just bash it in. I use a small podger pry bar.
 
Well I got these ones as they specifically match the 1.4 part numbers off ePER (51857135 and 51857136).

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834820
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834821

And not these ones.

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834828
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834829

Both say they fit the 1.4 though!

The prices on their site are up and down all the time, if you use their android or apple app the prices are even cheaper, I got them via my phone.

I'm not 100% sure about their reliability yet though, I ordered Friday, got an order confirmation but have not yet had a dispatch email.

DOH! The price I quoted earlier is off the invoice which is of course the ex vat price! They're £44 each inc the vat.
 
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Well I got these ones as they specifically match the 1.4 part numbers off ePER (51857135 and 51857136).

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834820
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834821

And not these ones.

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834828
https://www.autodoc.co.uk/magneti-marelli/1834829

Both say they fit the 1.4 though!

The prices on their site are up and down all the time, if you use their android or apple app the prices are even cheaper, I got them via my phone.

I'm not 100% sure about their reliability yet though, I ordered Friday, got an order confirmation but have not yet had a dispatch email.

DOH! The price I quoted earlier is off the invoice which is of course the ex vat price! They're £44 each inc the vat.




looks right to me


however if you look at the fitment it specifies all Pandas including the 100HP
 
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