Technical 2013mk3 bottom arms, are they interchangeable mk2

[cinqy boy]

A few months ago I changed all the front suspension (shock/links/bottom arms) to get rid of an annoying Knock from the front end. Gradually it came back so back to plan B and I'd thought I'd have a go at the top mounts and anti roll-bar bushes. No way are the bushes at fault (they aint going nowhere) so it was while I was putting the ARB back and had a large bar looking for play. That's when I saw it , the bottom ball joint has come loose in the arm. The bottom arms being pressed steel has the ball joint pressed in the arm on splines.
So will the Cast arms from a mk2 fit the C--p pressed steel mk3 arms.

(No they were not genuine arms but its got a nice pair of Bilsteins to make up for it)
Cheers guys, col

 

[AAB1992]

A few months ago I changed all the front suspension (shock/links/bottom arms) to get rid of an annoying Knock from the front end. Gradually it came back so back to plan B and I'd thought I'd have a go at the top mounts and anti roll-bar bushes. No way are the bushes at fault (they aint going nowhere) so it was while I was putting the ARB back and had a large bar looking for play. That's when I saw it , the bottom ball joint has come loose in the arm. The bottom arms being pressed steel has the ball joint pressed in the arm on splines.

So will the Cast arms from a mk2 fit the C--p pressed steel mk3 arms.



(No they were not genuine arms but its got a nice pair of Bilsteins to make up for it)

Cheers guys, col

They won’t, you have to remember the panda mk3 has a wider track then the older mk2 panda so the arms will be different. Also the bushing sizes are different between the models.

 

[timmycm850]

Hi cinqy boy

So go back to the supplier as the arms bust have a warranty on them, you may have to buy a second set and then return the first set for a full refund but let them know you are changing a previously supplied set before getting the second ones. You may be able to ask the supplier to supply a different manufacturer but you may have to pay the difference

they wont cover any fitting costs but it saves you paying out of your own pocket again.



Tim

 

[cinqy boy]

Hi cinqy boy

So go back to the supplier as the arms bust have a warranty on them, you may have to buy a second set and then return the first set for a full refund but let them know you are changing a previously supplied set before getting the second ones. You may be able to ask the supplier to supply a different manufacturer but you may have to pay the difference

they wont cover any fitting costs but it saves you paying out of your own pocket again.



Tim

Its a bit late for all that, I need to get under a gen2 panda/ 500 with a tape measure for a quick look. The car has been off the road sorn'd etc for a few months and I don't think I'll get onto it with the lock down going on.

 

[oyumurtaci]

I've briefly been down this road before. The mk2 arms unfortunately don't fit the 312 Panda. That being said, while Fiat in their infinite wisdom only sell the whole arm with the pressed bushings, I was able to find a local (to Turkey) company that makes a plethora of bushings, one of which matched the specifications. I had to take a trip to the industrial zone of my city to have them pressed in, but they've been clonk-free since then.

Only after this arduous process did I also find out that while the part numbers are different, the bushing specifications between the 312 Panda and the 500 are identical. This means if you can find an aftermarket bushing for the 500 (including polyurethane ones), odds are they'll fit the Panda.

 

[cinqy boy]

After some investigation I think I have sussed it out , The ball joint diameter on the mk2 is 15mm diameter, the mk3 is 17mm. In my opinion the dimensions looks like they will fit (apart from the post diameter).