General Anti Roll Bar

Currently reading:
General Anti Roll Bar

All60Horses

New member
Joined
May 2, 2018
Messages
32
Points
13
Evening All,

Had my car serviced today. Since I've had it I have been under suspicion that it has been previously lowered. And my mechanic confirmed that for me. He also said that the ARB and drop links have been taken out. Likely due to the fact that the drop links wouldn't fit over a 40 mm drop.

So, my first question is; did this model (Punto Evo MyLife 1.2 8v 68hp 2011) come with ARB as I have read a few articles that say the last GP's didn't?
And the other is; I was told this is an MOT fail. I have read that it is only a fail if the mounting points for the ARB are in bad shape, or there are missing parts from the system. Any of you know?

Thanks
 
UPDATE

So, I contacted my local Fiat dealer and gave the guy on the parts department my reg. He searched his system and ARB was labelled 'not applicable'. So it never came out the factory with one.

Now I just gotta tell my insurance that it's lowered... and hope they don't sting me for being 18 y/o
 
They will sting you massively, still far cheaper to completely restore the suspension to standard levels than to pay insurance prices for an 18 year old with a lowered car.
 
It's around £300 for new springs all round. Would it be worth asking what the change in premium would be? And technically I can try and play the innocent card as it is how I bought the car and haven't known for a year and a half. Although they're probably gonna be pretty firm.
 
I’d say just get them changed for new springs, otherwise when you come to renew your insurance you’ll have to fork out again for the modification. Plus getting all round new springs will make your car feel less rigid as the shortened springs are firmer.

It would be interesting to know how much your insurance would charge you extra though, who are you with?

I’m 20 and I fitted locking wheel nuts to my evo and Hastings wanted to increase my premium!
 
Not happy...

Called up my broker (who is A Choice btw) and explained the situation whilst trying to play the innocent card. He then said he had to speak to his underwriter to see what could be done.

He then came back to me and said that it is out of the policy T's and C's. And that the only way I could still have the springs was to get a new policy that is £4k?!?!?. I told him that I would not be taking out a new policy and would get the car back to factory spec ASAP.

So today, I got springs from Euro Car Parts and got them fitted by my local garage with £110 labour. So all in all, it's cost me £270.

Now it just drives like a boat and the rear end is loose. But the ride quality is much better.
 
Not happy...

Called up my broker (who is A Choice btw) and explained the situation whilst trying to play the innocent card. He then said he had to speak to his underwriter to see what could be done.

He then came back to me and said that it is out of the policy T's and C's. And that the only way I could still have the springs was to get a new policy that is £4k?!?!?. I told him that I would not be taking out a new policy and would get the car back to factory spec ASAP.

So today, I got springs from Euro Car Parts and got them fitted by my local garage with £110 labour. So all in all, it's cost me £270.

Now it just drives like a boat and the rear end is loose. But the ride quality is much better.

Told ya it would be cheaper to replace the suspension... as it turns out you could have probably replaced the whole car!

The boat like loose handling is a standard punto grande/evo thing.
 
Hi.
If you ever need any help with insurance at all then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.
 
I find this difficult to believe. I haven't heard of a car without an arb since the 70s. Try some of the online parts stores, and see if they list droplinks for your reg.
UPDATE

So, I contacted my local Fiat dealer and gave the guy on the parts department my reg. He searched his system and ARB was labelled 'not applicable'. So it never came out the factory with one.

Now I just gotta tell my insurance that it's lowered... and hope they don't sting me for being 18 y/o
 
Last edited:
Take this from not quite an old git, but also someone who has been around for a few years and has burned many 1000 miles late at night on poor roads in Norfolk visiting girlfriends or taking drunk friends home... You are the perfect example as to why insurance companies charge lots. If you routinely drive in a way where you notice dynamic difference with or without any kind of modifications, if you assume a back street garage can do better than a full car manufacturer, if you want to impress friends with cornering, then you are literally heading for a ditch one day soon. The greatest reward in driving is not crashing, getting home safe, and feeling when you nearly lose it that at least you were driving defensively and any dynamic reserves the car has saved you when you accidentally needed them. If you always try to feel the limits you will be in that ditch.
Edit, you have done right to restore the car to factory and this might have come over a bit strong, drive safe.
 
Last edited:
You are the perfect example as to why insurance companies charge lots. If you routinely drive in a way where you notice dynamic difference with or without any kind of modifications, if you assume a back street garage can do better than a full car manufacturer, if you want to impress friends with cornering, then you are literally heading for a ditch one day soon.

you have done right to restore the car to factory and this might have come over a bit strong, drive safe.

Just a bit strong, literally non of what you ranted against was mentioned in the posts above...
 
Quite, the OP is doing right, it was one or more previous owner who made aftermarket mods. Insurance is very high for their age group, and it is because many of them worry about the capability of the car more than their own ability to stay well within safe road craft constraints. I am sure our OP appreciates this.
 
Back
Top