I got a quote today for the Koni FSDs, Brembo variable rate springs and fitting from a local Abarth dealer £1150 (down from £1190) parts are £762......
Technical Bilstein B14s - Ordered
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Technical Bilstein B14s - Ordered
I got a quote today for the Koni FSDs, Brembo variable rate springs and fitting from a local Abarth dealer £1150 (down from £1190) parts are £762......
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A guy on the AF fitted a set of eibach sprigs himself and got the impression that he was at it most of the day. He listed a set of tools that were needed and the one item I'm missing is a spring compressor.
Had a problem with a Hotpoint washer dryer where someone had blocked the filter with coins, buttons and hairclips. Spend a good 'hour' dismantling the back of the machine and got them all out par one clip. Resorted to calling out the repair man who found that a hair clip had worked itself into the pump (I had missed that one). Not a happy punter having to pay him €114 for the call out but he obliged me with a new seal on the door which involved dismantling the whole front.
If someone is willing to fit a set of shocks on the MiTo for €113 I would gladly pay it. I wouldn't want a repeat of the washer/dryer scenario.
£388 for labour sounds pretty steep even if it includes an alignment / setup. Remember seeing a set of FSDs for the 500 at £495 but they seem to have gone back up to £553 with the springs are working out at £174 which comes to £728 - that still beats the Abarth price on parts.
Are you sure you want to lower a 500 MJ by 30mm with a set of FSDs. Would you not consider using standard springs ? From the track history on the A500s the FSDs don't fair too well with reduced rear suspension travel. Get the impression that you'd be better off with Koni Sports if you were looking to lower. Unsure if the MJ is using the springs off the Sport model which is reduced by 10mm compared with the 1.2 / TA.
Spring compressors can be picked up from £20, I'd lend you mine but it's cheaper to buy a set. I've seen a video on you tube and it looks very simple, similar to my old focus. My cupra was a pain as you had to remove the drive shaft from the hub. It didn't help the brakes weighed a ton !!!
I've already been looking at what packages are out there..... I just need to decide if I'm going to swap
I've already been looking at what packages are out there..... I just need to decide if I'm going to swap
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Is this the kind of 'thing' that you're referring to ?
Sealey AK3841 Coil Spring Compressor 2pc: Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
I'd suspect (from some how many fingers can i fit in the arch gap measuring) that it doesnt have the sport springs, (nor brakes grrr).
I'm keen on loosing the body roll and gaining a little more of a confident feel in the corners. The FSD's & Brembo springs appear at face value (and due to them being Abarth rubber stamped) a good plan though Koni Sports are tempting me (As are B14s).
From my discussion with the stealer in question it would appear that warranty would remain intact or at least be very symathetic if this option was bought and fitted within the Fiat/Abarth group too. Though at that price....I'll pass for now.
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If the springs in the MJ are 10mm lower than standard, the FSDs are a good choice IF you can get the life time warranty and you plan keeping the car. Also if you're handy it might be a job that could be tackled by a DIYer. Dampers in the 500 will always hold the car back and particularly in a MJ II.
EDIT: just re-read your posting again. Worth making a call to see if the part numbers for the springs & the shocks are the same ones as on the 1.4
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Work has been a zoo, the 500 has thrown a strop by flattening her battery and I'm in Birmingham from tomorrow until Sunday. This is rapidly turning into a next week task.
Edit: I have spring compressors but its still a complete ballache of a task to do on a sloping driveway in the rain.
Edit: I have spring compressors but its still a complete ballache of a task to do on a sloping driveway in the rain.
They're 257mm brakes aren't they? If so that's the largest you can get without going to Abarth or Brembo calipers.
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They look as if they should do the job. It takes quite a bit of force to compress the spring sufficiently, so it's important to get something decent or you'll just end up stripping the threads on the tool &/or (worse) having the tool fly off the spring. Guess how I know this
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A friend of a friend?
yep thats them, there are various different versions, the strut should come out complete, put the compressors on tighten them until the spring just starts to rattle/tension taken up, then undo the top nut, you usually need a socket and an allen key - the allen key stops the strut from turning.
Just take it easy and keep your fingers out the way. The backs are easy, i bet it takes longer to jack the car up and take the wheel off than changing the shock and spring.
Just take it easy and keep your fingers out the way. The backs are easy, i bet it takes longer to jack the car up and take the wheel off than changing the shock and spring.
I thought the diesels were the same as the 1.4's, 257mm?
The 95's are 257mm (Like the 1.4) at the front, but drums at the rear as with the 75 and 1.2....even though it has the most torque and almost equal highest power of the FIAT 500 range.....
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Thanks for clarifying that Alex. Didn't respond to Jason's last post since I guessed that something was niggling.
I had checked shop4parts before posting. The one listed for the Diesel was different than the one listed for the 1.4. Grudging posted the link to Gazella since it specified the size. It seems that all the references to the disc spec for the 500 Diesel are only for the 75bhp. Even fiatusa500 which is normally accurate didn't get it correct (if we exclude the load capacity fiasco).
The Multi-jet II is probably the only true performance engine left in the Fiat 500 range. The improvements over the MJ I were quite significant with the C514R (re-enforced gearbox) over the standard C514 which didn't cope with a re-map. The II for those brave enough can facilitate a tuning box unlike the I. If you check out the springs you might be in luck and they could have the lowered springs off the 1.4. That idea about putting discs on the rear isn't so mad after all although it would probably be an insurance headache.
I suspect there's so little weight over the rear wheels that the difference would be largely cosmetic, especially with that heavy MJII engine.
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The weight up front on the MJ is quite noticeable. At 980kgs compared with the 930kgs on the 1.4 & TA. Would agree that the discs on the back are more for show and you have to 'live' with the maintenace associated with it. The 'squeeling' is quite common place and there would appear to be a design flaw with them.
The discs at the back are a total pain the arse to change. Removing the handbrake mechanism, fighting your tools through the springs to access the bits needed to pull things off to get at the discs, calipers that are a total pig. Hateful job. I've did it once and every time since I've paid a trusted mechanic to do the rears. Completely ball ache.
Anyway, in coilover related news, the drop links are now made up, greased, protected with the boots etc etc:
I'm talking to to the man, looking like a tuesday install date. Then the real fun of fiddling with settings begins
Anyway, in coilover related news, the drop links are now made up, greased, protected with the boots etc etc:
I'm talking to to the man, looking like a tuesday install date. Then the real fun of fiddling with settings begins
Righto, after much fiddling and other hassles, the beast has been dropped off this morning. As I write this she's probably being put on the hoist. All going to plan I'm told that I'll be able to collect her tonight after work.
I fully anticipate the call mid morning where they tell me they've found a black hole or nuclear meltdown or some other electric/mechanical malady that will cost millions to fix and only be possible with the ordering of unobtanium parts that are on backorder for a millenia. It's usually the way with such things.
Still, the outlook is positive and all going well I'll post some initial observations when I get home tonight.
I fully anticipate the call mid morning where they tell me they've found a black hole or nuclear meltdown or some other electric/mechanical malady that will cost millions to fix and only be possible with the ordering of unobtanium parts that are on backorder for a millenia. It's usually the way with such things.
Still, the outlook is positive and all going well I'll post some initial observations when I get home tonight.
