General Lowering a Cinquecento

[Ratters]

Hi all,
I'm wanting to lower my standard '94 899cc Cinq, but not sure by how much. And also could I used my normal shock absorbers or will I have to get new ones?

Cheers

 

[fingers99]

You might be better finding a scrap Sporting. 20mm lower straight away. Pinch the ARB off it while you're there.

 

[Ratters]

But I was thinking more along the lines of getting some springs which will lower it by about 40mm.

Cheers

 

[fingers99]

40 is about the max for the shocks. But fit Sporting ones and you can still lower it 40. It'd be 60 lower than it is now.

But, more importantly, fit an ARB and it'll handle better.

 

[levemircento]

If you are on a budget, and your existing shockers are in good shape, then go for the -40mm's

can always sort the shockers when you have more £'s, back ones are so easy, your granny could do them

I got these [the -40's for sporting, you would get the same] http://www.tuning.co.uk/fiatshop/en-gb/dept_7.html

for brand new springs, I could not find anywhere cheaper, somebody of here recommended them, they are ace.

might as well slip this in:


With a non sporting, and if on steelies, I would clean the rims up, paint them white for the rally look.

 

[ycming]

i find that the back one are harder to do, due to the top suspension bolts is total pain the arse ... if this is the first time that bolt is coming off .........

anyway, save up and get the full kit save u alot of trouble

And fingers alway say that shocks only last for 50k, so if your car is 50k or above, you might as well get new ones!! one stone kill two bird

Just my recommendationw

Ming

 

[Ratters]

Ok...so I agree I would need a ARB, and I recon it could do with a whole suspension change anyway. I found these on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7984530544

Just tell me what you think.

Cheers

 

[willieboy]

60mm ftw:yum: do the arb, the shocks and dampers if you go that low though......this is a suposed 60mm, scrapes just getting out the drive

 

[fingers99]

Never heard of them, but they look OK. Fitting for £60 is bloody cheap if you're local to Newcastle.

New top mounts would be a good idea, while you're at it. You'll probably find that the bushes need doing shortly afterwards. Keep the old stuff and you can revert to stock when/if you buy a Sporting.

 

[Ratters]

Ok cheers all, my best mate is a mehanic so he can fit them, any more info would help.

Cheers

 

[fingers99]

There's an excellent guide to the fronts above. For the rears, plently of plus gas and note that the nuts are welded (often not very well) to the crossmember/trailing arm. Counterhold these with a spanner/socket while undoing the nuts. Coppaslip on the sleeves of the new ones should prevent the sleeves rusting onto the bolts.

 

[ycming]

http://www.tuning.co.uk/fiatshop/

these are better

 

[fingers99]

Which? The Apex or the Bilsteins plus springs? And why?

 

[ycming]

apex kit.. guess more reputable, if u r paying for the same price, then you might as well get something that has been testing done on it (http://www.apexsuspension.com/)

Ming

 

[fingers99]

You know, I'd go for the bilsteins and the springs.

 

[ycming]

isn't the bilsteins, made to oem standard tho ??

Ming

 

[fingers99]

To replace, yeah. I think Bilstein's workers would have to be stoned out of their minds to make something as bad.

The Cinq I have which handles best is 35mm lowered and has gas Monroe's. It could use some anti lift at he front when the turbo kicks in, but is otherwise superior top the one on Spaxs.

 

[GoBe]

The Bilstein dampers are nominally 'OE replacement' items however they are gas dampers and in reality they give better damping while providing better ride quality.

 

[Whiley]

got full set of gmax lowering springs for a sporting to lower 40mm brand new..! cheap if you fancy pm!