Tuning lowering a panda on a budjet

[sam ridgett]

Hi all

A newbie here, i've got a panda witch i'd like to lower. I,ve only got a small budget so i was wondering if i can use parts from other cars from the fiat range to lower it?

Cheers all.

 

[kolza]

Hi, and welcom to the forum.

Please be aware that users of this forum will not give you advice on " how to butcher my panda".
(only if talking about rust treatment).


If you got small budget, please do not modify suspention yet, wait until some cash saved and go for SPAX Part no. S010018.

Here is releated thread
https://www.fiatforum.com/members-motors/333945-wanting-lower-my-92-panda.html

 

[panda panda]

Hi sam,

can you hear the sucking through teeth and the tutting?

I have a lowered panda - I bought it that way - it has Spax lowering springs fitted and they are pretty good - Don't get much rubbing even when loaded up. I - and a few others here would recommend them.

Welcome to the forum,

Chaps - let the debate begin.....

Edit: Jacob started early....

....with the thread of the car I now own

 

[sam ridgett]

Cheers guys for the help. And thanks for the welcome's. You see i 'm a ford and fiat fan, i have a mk2 fiesta a mk5 rs2000 and the panda. I know more about "mod'ing" ford that i do fiats and i know with fords you can mix and match parts to inprove the cars. But i've had the panda since i was 15, i'm now 18 but don't know to much about fiats. So thay why i need some help. So thanks dude's

cheers.

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Grumpy reply there. I think some folks are assuming budget lowering means cutting springs rather than what you actually asked which is about parts compatibility with other models, which is sensible enough since I believe there's a pretty popular 4x4 lift involving some Skoda springs...
Sadly no, no known bolt in swap which will lower the Panda other than aftermarket spring kits. Pi come in a bit cheaper than the Spax option and have been fine on mine. Or.. (Prepare for tantrums..)

Mine ran cut springs for ooh 10 years without killing anybody at all! Worked fine. Just don't go mad, you can take off, you can't add back on.

 

[sam ridgett]

Cheers buddy. Does cuting the springs put in insurance up? I thought i rember reading that cuting the spring in road legal. But i'm prob wrong?

Cheers mate looks like a nice car you got there.

 

[Palio]

Hello & welcome.

Yes we hate people modifying Panda's. Oh hang on that's not right is it? Panto's got a couple of tiny mods (the Spax springs seem good), and Vern's created a business modifying them!!

As long as it's not an early or rare model you're ok!

 

[firstcar-Y10]

Cheers buddy. Does cuting the springs put in insurance up? I thought i rember reading that cuting the spring in road legal. But i'm prob wrong?

Cheers mate looks like a nice car you got there.

Thanks. Lowering the car has to be declared and yes it'll put up the premium, have to be careful who you insure with as some just don't have a box to tick for it. Most insurers will just ask how much the car is lowered by though, under 50mm you're normally OK, but they tend not to ask how you lowered it. The issue with cut springs normally is if they are not seated properly afterwards so they would come adrift at full droop if the suspension is extended on the road. On the Panda you have nice straight springs, no pigtails or anything and pretty forgiving mountings, if they seat OK they should be fine at MOT time. Just don't take so much off the springs that they can flap about when the car is lifted and a lot won't even notice since the car is so high as standard.

 

[sam ridgett]

Thanks dudes. I live in stupied france i will see if my insurance will be different. But i think if i can and if you say it works ok i will prob cut the springs Also found some wider steels of a brava. Will thay fit?

Cheers.

 

[sam ridgett]

I posted this question on retro rides and one bloke said the lancia y10 spring's will do the job epsecially from the turbo? What do you guys think?

Cheers dudes.

 

[dave]

welcome to the forum, get some fat mates it's the cheapest way to lower a car

 

[sam ridgett]

Just found these would thay work?

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/AutoStyle-25091-Autostyle-Lowering-Springs/dp/B00DP2UX9I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1414757731&sr=8-2&keywords=lowering+springs+fiat+panda[/ame]

Is it for the right car?

 

[Giacosa]

I posted this question on retro rides and one bloke said the lancia y10 spring's will do the job epsecially from the turbo? What do you guys think?

Cheers dudes.

Y10 springs won't work sadly. A Y10s front strut design is different so the front coils are cone shaped. Narrower at the top than the bottom. You can see it in the pic below. Pandas have the same size coils all the way up the spring. So Y10 front spring won't seat properly in a Panda strut top. And you don't want to consider using a Y10 strut as its TRE mounts much lower than on a Panda so you won't be able to steer.

The rear springs would work in theory but spax Y10 springs are a drop of 40mm if I recall wheras Pandas are 30mm so mixing and matching might not be a good idea

 

[Didge3]

The rear springs would work in theory but spax Y10 springs are a drop of 40mm if I recall wheras Pandas are 30mm so mixing and matching might not be a good idea

Spax Panda lowering springs are 40mm drop.

OP be aware that buying Spax (and possibly other brands) lowering springs results in the back sitting higher than the front (like Panda's do on standard springs)