Panda looking for help!

[susieg]

Hi, Im hoping some of you lovely people will be able to help be??:worship:

Ive got a 2007 fiat panda 4x4 which is fab, gets me anywhere and everywhere...

unfortunately my poor little car is showing signs of his age and has decided to start dropping to bits

The driver side rear suspension arm/ wishbone needs replacing (or rather the bush does but apparently they cant be bought separately!:bang and it seems its the most unavailable part ever!!

NONE available new anywhere and I managed to find ONE refurbished which the courier has duly lost

So.... does anyone know if the bushes from any other model will fit the 4x4?

Im desperately hoping someone has some secret knowledge to help

Thanks in advance! Susie

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi Susie, and welcome,

i'll ask - in case it makes a difference, :idea:
petrol . or diesel..??

have you tried Shop4parts,
or Eurocarcare

they are both highly recommended, and offer FF discounts.

charlie - Oxford

 

[susieg]

Hi Charlie, thanks for the reply, its petrol . slow I know but does the job!

sadly neother of the ones you mentioned have the part I need

 

[varesecrazy]

that is bad news,

say hi , in the 2003-on Panda section,

somebody in there will probably know of a specialist for the 4x4,

Charlie

 

[AB100]

Hi Charlie, thanks for the reply, its petrol . slow I know but does the job!

sadly neother of the ones you mentioned have the part I need

Like these on Ebay?


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PANDA-4x4-Rear-arm-bushes-set-two-rear-arms-/321375656177




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A49230-FAI-SUSPENSION-TRAILING-ARM-BUSH-FRONT-REAR-LOWER-FIAT-PANDA-1-2-4X4-11-/371010214908?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3APanda&hash=item5661ee9bfc

 

[susieg]

will they do the job do you think? the rear wheel is wobbling and sounds terrible has anyone used them before? bit dubious about ordering from portugal :/

The second link is for for front ones not back

 

[AB100]

will they do the job do you think? the rear wheel is wobbling and sounds terrible has anyone used them before? bit dubious about ordering from portugal :/

The second link is for for front ones not back

I would email the people on the 2nd link as they have many parts and you need to tell them which part. Do you know specifically which one - has your mechanic confirmed which bushes?

 

[Wee Smurf]

I'd be rather surprised if your local Fiat dealer can't get them.

 

[susieg]

the main fiat dealer (autoworld chesterfield) says the bushes are not available separately, you have to buy the whole suspension arm,/wishbone assembly . they're quoting £206 +vat for the part and theyre NONE available in the uk.
Ive trawled the breakers and specialists and no one has the part available, it seems 4x4's just arn't broken for spares! :/ I phoned round all the parts advertisers on ebay on the off chance they have the part needed, but as theres no after market part made no one has any

 

[Wee Smurf]

Even if the part is not in the UK, the dealer should still be able to source it surely?

To be honest, there's not a lot of 4x4 Pandas around and dealers really don't tend to hold a stock of parts which they may not use, however they should be able to source parts within a few days.

I doubt if there would be that many 4x4 Pandas available in the scrappies. I recently had difficulty finding any Pandas at all when I was looking for a part from a wiring loom (dealer said complete loom would be £600).

 

[Goudrons]

Like these on Ebay?


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PANDA-4x4-Rear-arm-bushes-set-two-rear-arms-/321375656177




http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A49230-FAI-SUSPENSION-TRAILING-ARM-BUSH-FRONT-REAR-LOWER-FIAT-PANDA-1-2-4X4-11-/371010214908?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Model%3APanda&hash=item5661ee9bfc

The first link are the rear suspension arm bushes, 4x4

The second link are the front axle wishbone bushes (rear) and fit all Pandas to 2012, if it's rear wheel issues, it won't be these ones.

If it's the rear arm bushes you're after, Silent Blocks (P/N: SB0108) are the aftermarket parts, otherwise it's new genuine arms complete with bushes.
http://silentblocks.com/product.php?id_product=984&id_lang=1

I'm not aware of any other company making them.

 

[AB100]

The first link are the rear suspension arm bushes, 4x4

The second link are the front axle wishbone bushes (rear) and fit all Pandas to 2012, if it's rear wheel issues, it won't be these ones.

If it's the rear arm bushes you're after, Silent Blocks (P/N: SB0108) are the aftermarket parts, otherwise it's new genuine arms complete with bushes.
http://silentblocks.com/product.php?id_product=984&id_lang=1

I'm not aware of any other company making them.

Makes sense - looks like the Ebay seller in Portugal and silentblocks are one and the same company. Can't be two companies in Fanzares, Portugal.


Sounds like a good option to me.

 

[susieg]

The first link are the rear suspension arm bushes, 4x4

The second link are the front axle wishbone bushes (rear) and fit all Pandas to 2012, if it's rear wheel issues, it won't be these ones.

If it's the rear arm bushes you're after, Silent Blocks (P/N: SB0108) are the aftermarket parts, otherwise it's new genuine arms complete with bushes.


I'm not aware of any other company making them.

Thanks loads guys
have you dealt with this company before Goudrons?
looks like I'll be ordering abroad then!
do you think this sounds like the right bit for a wobbling back wheel?
you've been really helpful
....

new question... is there anyway of getting more mpg out of my petrol panda 4x4? it annoys me I only get 38mpg:bang: does mapping work??

Thanks! Susie

 

[AB100]

Thanks loads guys
have you dealt with this company before Goudrons?
looks like I'll be ordering abroad then!
do you think this sounds like the right bit for a wobbling back wheel?
you've been really helpful
....

new question... is there anyway of getting more mpg out of my petrol panda 4x4? it annoys me I only get 38mpg:bang: does mapping work??

Thanks! Susie

I think you should ask another garage for a quote on the wobbling back wheel. Just in case it's simpler like the bearing. Maybe Woodleigh, just for a laugh. Or some independents in Storforth Lane.


Has the car done massive miles? Mind you, the roads in Chez Vegas are bad.


38mpg seems about right. Mapping works yes - helps you find shorter distances and save petrol.


Otherwise, you can't really 'tune' the 4x4 with a chip.

 

[anc]

According to my Haynes and my local motor independant motor factor I was in the same position with my 98 Cinq. Wrecked bushes on one side but, I managed to source a Poly set on ebay, from Poland. (Powerflex, they don't list a Panda though) Took a bit of messing getting the old bushes out but fitting the new poly ones was just a case of sticking them in the holes with a light smear of grease and bolting the arm back on the car.

 

[susieg]

I think you should ask another garage for a quote on the wobbling back wheel. Just in case it's simpler like the bearing. Maybe Woodleigh, just for a laugh. Or some independents in Storforth Lane.


Has the car done massive miles? Mind you, the roads in Chez Vegas are bad.


38mpg seems about right. Mapping works yes - helps you find shorter distances and save petrol.




Otherwise, you can't really 'tune' the 4x4 with a chip.

sorry I didnt mean mapping I ment an engine chip!

(I think!)

Not got loads of miles 70k and Ive had it from new roads are appalling in and around holmesfield/totley and its killing my car

The mechanic is an independent on station lane (john jackson) he's very good and totally trustworthy which is nice I dont trust main dealers (John is pretty confident its the bushes, you can move the whole wheel in and out when the cars on the floor! :/ )

susie

 

[Goudrons]

There's a few things that can effect the rear wheels like that, so you need to be sure before parting with money for bushes, though the bushes are reasonably priced, the labour to replace them won't be too cheap, it's a bit of a faff.

Perhaps print out the diagram from the link and take it to the garage and ask if he means these bushes??

These bushes aren't considered by Fiat as replacable, they list the complete arm with new bushes already attached, though garages do have their ways of removing.
I've managed to get metal shelled, rubber bushes out of suspension parts with a blowtorch and hacksaw, but there are wind up pullers and presses to get the out/in.

I've not used the company myself, but Ebay with Paypal is always a good safety net as are credit cards rather than debit.

I wouldn't worry about chipping/remapping, I seem to think the car is geared a little lower for the rough stuff, my new 4x4 TA certainly is, so you ain't going to make much of a difference.
Spend your money sorting out the odds job out and accept it's a little slow from the lights!

 

[anc]

Where about are you? My local motor factor got me a new replacement rear arm (opposite side to the polybushed one) cheaper than the ones on ebay after it corroded badly where the bottom of the spring sits. Maybe he could find one for you.:chin:
EDIT: Sorry, just spotted the other post. If you pm me your reg number and engine size (for his enquiry) I could ask Mike (Mike's Motor Mart) if he could get one for you. I'm just outside Liverpool so not a million miles away.

 

[susieg]

Had the car back to the garage and up on the lift and its def the bushes that have gone on the drivers side rear

So Ive ordered the ones from Portugal and fingers crossed they come soon as Ive got to drive it to doncaster airport next Friday! Bloody exhaust has to be changed as well at the same time as that's about to die totally :yuck: Why do cars seem to get to 7 years old and hit the self destruct button!:bang: Oh well, here's hoping for no more big bills til mot time in September!

Susie

 

[AB100]

Had the car back to the garage and up on the lift and its def the bushes that have gone on the drivers side rear

So Ive ordered the ones from Portugal and fingers crossed they come soon as Ive got to drive it to doncaster airport next Friday! Bloody exhaust has to be changed as well at the same time as that's about to die totally :yuck: Why do cars seem to get to 7 years old and hit the self destruct button!:bang: Oh well, here's hoping for no more big bills til mot time in September!

Susie

See how it goes. Sounds promising.


On the plus side, it's nicer flying from Donny airport.