General Help! Replacing subframe fiat 500 lounge 2017
- Thread starter MrDupes
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General Help! Replacing subframe fiat 500 lounge 2017
Hello and welcome to the forum.
What has happened that would necessitate subframe replacement on an almost new car?
You might find this thread of interest.
That explains things - I was (wrongly) assuming you were looking to replace the rear beam (which is straightforward).
@typecastboy is our resident expert on such matters - he'll likely be along soon with a few useful tips.
Not done a subframe I’m afraid. I try to avoid such damage.
I'm struugling to understand how salvage needing a front subframe replacement can be sold as a cat N
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As far as I'm aware, the front sub-frame just bolts to the bottom of the car so the simple answer is there's nothing to do except un-bolt it.
If it was me, I'd remove the brake caliper, disc, hub carrier and driveshaft.. drop out the front damper and separate the tie-rod from the anti-roll bar... then remove the wishbone arms... although the "quick" way might be to just separate the tie-rod and the wishbone arms from the hub.
The subframe is also almost certainly connected to one or more engine and/or gearbox mounts, so get the car onto stands and crawl under it to check. If you removed the driveshafts and suspension, this will be easy to do.
If any part of the motore or gearbox is supported by the subframe you ought to put an engine or transmission stand (or an axle stand, or just a jack) under the engine/gearbox to support its weight when you remove the subframe.
Ralf S.
If it was me, I'd remove the brake caliper, disc, hub carrier and driveshaft.. drop out the front damper and separate the tie-rod from the anti-roll bar... then remove the wishbone arms... although the "quick" way might be to just separate the tie-rod and the wishbone arms from the hub.
The subframe is also almost certainly connected to one or more engine and/or gearbox mounts, so get the car onto stands and crawl under it to check. If you removed the driveshafts and suspension, this will be easy to do.
If any part of the motore or gearbox is supported by the subframe you ought to put an engine or transmission stand (or an axle stand, or just a jack) under the engine/gearbox to support its weight when you remove the subframe.
Ralf S.
Its pretty common for the steering rack to be bolted through the subframd too..
Is the issue of removing /unbolting..?
Or just getting clearane in the TIGHT space of a 500..??
Is the issue of removing /unbolting..?
Or just getting clearane in the TIGHT space of a 500..??
Believe me I thought the exact same should of been an S !! However stupidly bought it further away than I normally would have so didn't view the car prior to buying ! Lesson learntI'm struugling to understand how salvage needing a front subframe replacement can be sold as a cat N
It's free just no clearance to remove out to swap I'm under the impression I'll have to take exhaust pipe off for clearance it's a pain in the ar*e
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I'm struugling to understand how salvage needing a front subframe replacement can be sold as a cat N
Cat N is for non structural damaged cars.
The subframe isn't necessarily structural on these, it doesn't form part of the structure or effect the car structural integrity. Remove it and the vehicles rigidity doesn't alter, it basically holds the suspension on and isolates the wheels from the body.
Unlike damage to either A, B, C, D pillars, strut towers, firewall, front and rear rails (commonly called chassis legs), these would make it a Cat S.
That's true; bolted on parts aren't considered part of the vehicle's structure when classifying salvage.
But I still can't understand how you can damage a front subframe sufficiently to require replacement without also deforming some part of the structural bodyshell
.For anyone who's interested in how the system is supposed to work, I've attached a copy of the current ABI Code of Practice for the classification of vehicle salvage.
I saw a couple of cars last winter with very light "run over" damage, usually to sump and subframe crossmember.
One had apparently been done on snow at single-figure speed over a rounded concrete driveway marker. Had a nice neat half-moon shape out of the bumper and no other visible damage. The subframe was bent upwards in the middle, like it had been jacked up badly.
I guess that one would be fairly safe/easy to repair.
Not sure I'd want anything to do with one that bent the subframe from a conventional impact though. They are pretty substantial.
One had apparently been done on snow at single-figure speed over a rounded concrete driveway marker. Had a nice neat half-moon shape out of the bumper and no other visible damage. The subframe was bent upwards in the middle, like it had been jacked up badly.
I guess that one would be fairly safe/easy to repair.
Not sure I'd want anything to do with one that bent the subframe from a conventional impact though. They are pretty substantial.
On most FIAT cars
To drop the exhaust.. just unclip the rubber near the gearstick..
Unbolt the flange / coupling at the flexi..near the engine sump.
That will buy you around a foot /0.4 m of working clearance.. in around 5 mins
My current 2014 sport that I’m driving around in while my 500x is being repaired is a Cat S. It needed a wing, door, repair to rear quarter and a quarter light window. It had no structural damage whatsoever. The categories are not cut and dry by any means.
Ah yes... I forgot to mention the exhaust... but just separate the downpipe from the manifold and it should come free. It's just suspended on rubber blocks.
Ralf S.
