I have just bought a 1990 fiat panda sisley 4x4. I am trying to get through the MOT. On the front drivers side suspension strut, the seal at the top is knackered. I am trying to replace the entire strut, including spring/seal etc, but can't source one anywhere. So now I am looking into either trying to replace just the seal or buying new struts for both sides of the vehicle, but what will fit this car? Can anyone please help me. In hope, Charlotte
Panda (Classic) please help
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Panda (Classic) please help
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New struts are available from Ricambio at least, probably worth asking your nearest decent motor factors as well. It might be worth googling to see what's available elsewhere.
Note that ordinary struts have a slightly shorter travel than the 4x4 ones. Can't remember if the overall length differs offhand.
Note that ordinary struts have a slightly shorter travel than the 4x4 ones. Can't remember if the overall length differs offhand.
Hey there, and welcome to the Fiat Fourm!
hmm i hope this helps on your question:
you can use standard 2 wheel drive struts. doing this you will loose 2cm of ride hight, but that would be recovered if you were to use the 4x4 springs on the 2x4 struts.
you will find that 2x4 struts will be much more easy to find (and cheaper) than 4x4 struts.
you can find them on Ebay too.
one strut will fit both sides of the car too so no looking for a left and a right.
while you are in there check over your ball joints and see if they have any play in them. if they do, they need to be replaced.
same go for the CV boots.. check them over, if the CV boots that are fastened onto the gearbox ever get a hole in them, the gearbox will loose all of its oil. the bad thing is, this could happen and you would not know about it until noticeable permanent damage has been done.
its a shame they dont make silicone CV boots for cars.
enjoy the little scamp of a car. they are great fun, and come the snow fall you will have a smile on your face.
hmm i hope this helps on your question:
you can use standard 2 wheel drive struts. doing this you will loose 2cm of ride hight, but that would be recovered if you were to use the 4x4 springs on the 2x4 struts.
you will find that 2x4 struts will be much more easy to find (and cheaper) than 4x4 struts.
you can find them on Ebay too.
one strut will fit both sides of the car too so no looking for a left and a right.
while you are in there check over your ball joints and see if they have any play in them. if they do, they need to be replaced.
same go for the CV boots.. check them over, if the CV boots that are fastened onto the gearbox ever get a hole in them, the gearbox will loose all of its oil. the bad thing is, this could happen and you would not know about it until noticeable permanent damage has been done.
its a shame they dont make silicone CV boots for cars.
enjoy the little scamp of a car. they are great fun, and come the snow fall you will have a smile on your face.
John, you've played with them, are the 2x4 shocks OK with the 4x4 bolts or do they need downsizing too? If I remember right the bolts on a 4x4 are M12, on a 2x4 only an M10.
Charlotte, the front struts are not a complete unit as such, they consist of a spring, over the shock absorber, held on at the top by a top mount, all of which are sold separately, so unless you go to someone breaking a Panda on ebay (or on here) you will not get a 'complete' unit. If it's the shock that's leaking you're just searching for that initially to get through the MOT, and if you're planning to do it yourself it's easy enough but you need spring compressors and MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Compressed springs can be really dangerous if you get it wrong! You're right enough by the way if replacing springs and/or shocks, always best practice to do both sides at once. If refreshing it all is the plan then spring, top mount and shock are the 3 bits to get. That's enough so you can assemble off the car, then swap those in complete.
I would suggest getting 2x4 shocks and top mounts, then reusing the existing springs to retain the 4x4 ride height if they're reasonably OK. They are the part that's hard to get and will make a visible difference if you swap to 2x4 parts. Bear in mind to refit you might need slightly thinner bolts, hopefully John (Dragon Man) will get back on that.
And hello!:wave:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Fiat-P...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d1fce8436
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Pand...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35da9ac1a2
and maybe
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-new...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5663cf6c17
while you're there.
Charlotte, the front struts are not a complete unit as such, they consist of a spring, over the shock absorber, held on at the top by a top mount, all of which are sold separately, so unless you go to someone breaking a Panda on ebay (or on here) you will not get a 'complete' unit. If it's the shock that's leaking you're just searching for that initially to get through the MOT, and if you're planning to do it yourself it's easy enough but you need spring compressors and MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING! Compressed springs can be really dangerous if you get it wrong! You're right enough by the way if replacing springs and/or shocks, always best practice to do both sides at once. If refreshing it all is the plan then spring, top mount and shock are the 3 bits to get. That's enough so you can assemble off the car, then swap those in complete.
I would suggest getting 2x4 shocks and top mounts, then reusing the existing springs to retain the 4x4 ride height if they're reasonably OK. They are the part that's hard to get and will make a visible difference if you swap to 2x4 parts. Bear in mind to refit you might need slightly thinner bolts, hopefully John (Dragon Man) will get back on that.
And hello!:wave:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-Fiat-P...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4d1fce8436
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Pand...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35da9ac1a2
and maybe
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brand-new...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item5663cf6c17
while you're there.
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that is one thing i have not looked at... i will have to check.. from memory though the 4x4 struts i took from off fallout were 4x4.. but now i am putting 2x4 on him.. the original bolts fit fine.
will have to check..
will have to check..
