Technical Rear Shocks brand?

[shortie]

Hello all,

I have a knocking rear shock on my MJ 500 and what to get it replaced but i want to avoid getting the same brand as what is standard on the car. Does anyone know what brand is standard as at 26k miles I don't want to be replacing another in the near future?

I'm aware that there are shocks issue with the 500 and that when changing the shocks to use new bolts. Eurocar parts are selling Sash's. Has anyone fitted these and had any issue with them?

Thanks

 

[306maxi]

Sachs are a decent brand, personally I'd go for Bilstein b4's on, I put some on my Panda and they're much better. They're not massively expensive

 

[derekandclive]

Bilstein B4s improve the ride and reduce the 'bounce', and are not too expensive (~£60-70 each) - though you will need the bolts as they rattle like the Koni FSDs mentioned in various threads.

 

[306maxi]

If you shop around they're much cheaper, ones on my panda don't rattle.

 

[bgunn]

Standard are COFAP - which is a suspension company owned by FGA.

 

[derekandclive]

A quick search of the Bilstein online catalog brings up a couple of interesting results

The rear shocks for the Panda are a different part number from those of the 500, but interestingly the same Panda part number fits the new Ford Ka (!).

Differences are hard to spot, except the top 'eye' is different - on the Panda/Ka version it is larger and perforated (quieter?), more like the style of the the Fiat 500 OEM units.

There may be differences in length perhaps, but otherwise very similar

For reference

Panda/Ka Bilstein part number = 19-197227
500 part number = 19-184104

And as Maxi says the Panda/Ka ones appear to be cheaper - perhaps they are interchangeable?

 

[306maxi]

http://rexbo.eu/fiat/500-07/1-2-19093/shock-absorber-100067?lp=2

Fairly cheap here, I've ordered from,them before, they're quite good.

 

[shortie]

Thanks guys. I'll look into those later. I'd obviously have to change both rear but can I leave the front? Has anyone sourced a supplier of the bolts needed?

 

[306maxi]

I'm not sure new bolts are needed?

 

[derekandclive]

If you put on B4s with part number 19-184104 you will get a rattle using the standard bolts, at least from my experience.

 

[306maxi]

I would be surprised, the ones for my Panda 4x4 went on just fine and don't knock. I can't imagine that Fiat have different bolts for the 4x4 Panda, the 2wd Panda and the 500

 

[derekandclive]

The Panda B4s are a different part number, with a different top eye mount, perhaps this insulates any knocking that may be transmitted to the body via the top bolt?

 

[306maxi]

In most manufacturing they use as many common parts as possible so i doubt that Bilstein would use different diameter inserts for different dampers unless Fiat use a different sleeve and bolt for both. Possible, but unlikely I'd have thought.

 

[Gregi]

Does anyone know what brand is standard as at 26k miles I don't want to be replacing another in the near future?

Standard shocks which are supplied for Fiat/Abarth 500 are made by COFAP.

 

[bgunn]

There's an echo in here - can you hear it?

 

[306maxi]

I think they're made by COFAP btw.

 

[shortie]

:0)