General lifting a panda 4x4

[crosspanda]

has anyone lifted a panda 4x4,

saw this kit


http://www.4x4styling.com/Lift-Kit-Auxiliary-Springs-replacement-springs-Fiat-Panda-4WD-Type-319-My-0212-front-30-mm-rear-10-mm

 

[deeyup]

R1nga is about to add a few mm but with a different kit.

I wonder why the kit in the link lifts the front by 30mm but only 10mm at the rear?

 

[portland_bill]

As the driveshafts would then be running different angles than intended, this may well shorten the life of the joints.
Tyre wear could also be an issue.
Hopefully the reason for needing the extra height is worth the potential extra maintenance costs.

 

[babbo_umbro]

I have real reservations about such a mod unless there's a very sound functional reason for it. Not sure I'd like the way it would feel on the road.

Also, it doesn't take a great load to drop the back considerably - a couple of average-sized passengers (or a sensible load of wine and olive oil) will give the car a slight nose-up attitude, so lifting the front by almost an inch more than the rear sounds very odd unless you know you're never going to carry much weight.

If the mod is cosmetic I'd avoid it like the plague.

 

[R1NGA]

I think the clue is in the name of the website......! +30mm it way too much in my view and to then 'match' it with only a +10mm rear is nuts. But then this is from a site calling itself "4x4 Styling", after all...

I now have my Prometeo +15mm kit and do intend fitting it soon. Nicely made and looks engineered to be simple to fit (and remove, if necessary). Sure it will lift the C of G a little, but I'm keen to see if the additional ground clearance helps on some of the track I use occasionally. Like all things, you need to drive to the surroundings and the vehicle, so as long as you accept that this mod will introduce a little more roll and drive accordingly, then all should be good. +15mm is not excessive either really.

 

[deeyup]

I think the clue is in the name of the website......! +30mm it way too much in my view and to then 'match' it with only a +10mm rear is nuts. But then this is from a site calling itself "4x4 Styling", after all...

I now have my Prometeo +15mm kit and do intend fitting it soon. Nicely made and looks engineered to be simple to fit (and remove, if necessary). Sure it will lift the C of G a little, but I'm keen to see if the additional ground clearance helps on some of the track I use occasionally. Like all things, you need to drive to the surroundings and the vehicle, so as long as you accept that this mod will introduce a little more roll and drive accordingly, then all should be good. +15mm is not excessive either really.

I would have thought the complimenting wheel spacers will help negate the higher c of g.

 

[R1NGA]

I would have thought the complimenting wheel spacers will help negate the higher c of g.

That is indeed the design intention and the matching 15mm spacers in the 'kit' will all go on at the same time.

 

[crosspanda]

Sounds a much better lift kit than the one i found.
Im going to do my usual thing lol. I buy loads of parts before i even get my car lol. I am weird lol

 

[crosspanda]

That is indeed the design intention and the matching 15mm spacers in the 'kit' will all go on at the same time.

any news on this mod, did it work well, was it any good

 

[R1NGA]

ah yes, sorry for the radio silence on this one, but I've been too busy to get it done (or shamefully, do it myself). The 15mm wheel spacers from Prometeo are on and are nicely engineered, hub-centric things that induce no ill effects. Handling just as good as before but looks better.

On account of being too busy, the car is booked into the garage at the end of the road in 2 weeks for the lift kit fitting. I promise to report back thereafter!

 

[oyumurtaci]

I'd imagine the spacers probably very slightly improved the handling and grip levels, and by increasing the acting moment might have improved the ride a bit. With modern electric steering, bump-steer isn't usually an issue either. The only significant detriments I can think of are the increased wear on components and increased scrub radius.

 

[jrkitching]

The only significant detriments I can think of are the increased wear on components and increased scrub radius.

Yes, and on a car that's prone to premature wishbone and top mount failure, this would concern me just a little. The spacers will magnify the effect of any out-of balance forces (and there are always some). The same is true if fitting larger wheels/tyres with a greater moment of inertia.

The original Minis were prone to this. Fitting spacers was a common modification back in the days when insurers were much more relaxed about such things, and doing so on a Mk1 Mini would practically guarantee early wheel bearing failure.

On a car still in warranty, fitting spacers will likely invalidate that part of the warranty which applies to the steering and suspension (if you get found out!)

 

[crosspanda]

then dont get caught lol

 

[illy]

One question, when I lifted my Freelander by 50 mm I needed camber pins to alter the angle of the wheels as the lift made the camber + how would this be achieved on the Panda as it has a different kind of lower arm?

Incidentally my Freelander was lifted for 3 years coverd 40,000 miles, was also taken offroad with the lift and had no problems with wheel bearings or drive shaft problems, however there was slight uneven tyre wear, so I wouldn't see a 15 mm lift on a Panda a problem.

illy:devil:

 

[R1NGA]

One question, when I lifted my Freelander by 50 mm I needed camber pins to alter the angle of the wheels as the lift made the camber + how would this be achieved on the Panda as it has a different kind of lower arm?

Incidentally my Freelander was lifted for 3 years coverd 40,000 miles, was also taken offroad with the lift and had no problems with wheel bearings or drive shaft problems, however there was slight uneven tyre wear, so I wouldn't see a 15 mm lift on a Panda a problem.

illy:devil:

I already have Eibach Adjustable Camber bolts in the suspension mounts, so I expect to be able to compensate for any change in camber, should it occur. Although right now I run just over 2deg -ve camber which gives the car much more front-end bite, as I'vce mentioned before. I'm not expecting the camber to change much though, as the McPherson strut design should limit this. Tracking will shift a mile though. But as you say, we're only talking 15mm here, which is undoubtedly less than the normal change in ride height between one 7st driver or four 15st prop forwards - and that doesn't need a geometry setup....

 

[illy]

ye thats good, I also gained another 25mm on the Freelander by changing the tyre's size, but I dont think theres enough room for that on the panda, any way im looking at some wheels instead of spacers 15x7 0ET.

illy

 

[R1NGA]

So, I finally managed to get the +15mm Prometeo lift kit fitted this week. Fronts were straightforward, but even when unbolted, the rears would not drop down far enough to get the spacers in and seated without having to use a spring compressor to take a little further pressure of the mounting. But once in, all went back together OK.

Car drives exactly the same as before, which is hardly surprising, given the subtle lift amount, but I am pleased with the result. I've not been able to find any BEFORE prictures as yet, but here's what it looks like now. I swear the car was higher when I saw it in the showroom 18 months ago, so maybe mine had settled a little more than some. Or maybe the tools and spare bits of Boy Scout kit I carry around in the boot weighs a little more than I expect! Camber adjested to max -ve as before, tracking reset and job's a good'un!

 

[illy]

Do you have a website link to the lift kit mate I cant fiend it any where.:bang:

illy

 

[portland_bill]

... the rears would not drop down far enough to get the spacers in and seated without having to use a spring compressor to take a little further pressure of the mounting...

Or maybe the tools and spare bits of Boy Scout kit I carry around in the boot weighs a little more than I expect! Camber adjested to max -ve as before, tracking reset and job's a good'un!

If the mountings are under pressure, will this prevent the lift you'd wanted? Will it lead to early failure of the mountings?
General advice when replacing lower arms or any suspension bushes/mountings, is to have the car sat on them before final tightening. This puts the flexible mountings in their normal 'at rest' position, so that they flex evenly form there. If not already done, might be an idea, with the car sat on its wheels, to slacken all the mountings and retighten, to allow any stressed rubbers to relax.

If you are carrying a lot of heavy stuff, might be worth weighing it to ensure not overloaded. Whilst the load may be less than carrying people, the position may need adjustment to even it out.

 

[R1NGA]

Do you have a website link to the lift kit mate I cant fiend it any where.:bang:

illy

http://www.prometeomeccanica.it/prometeo_meccanica_panda_new_rialzo_sospensioni.html

Then drop an email to [email protected] asking for information about price, shipping and availability and I am sure he'll be as responsive for you as he was for me.

My car had definitely 'sagged' over the last 18 months, as there is no doubt in my mind that it stood taller when I collected it. I will clear out the boot and spare-wheel well soon and see how much the unloaded rear of the car gains in height, but I am very pleased with the Prometeo kit overall.