Technical Sei New ABS steering knuckles and rear trailing arms weird problem

[Jamieboy]

I have recently bought the above parts for my ABS-equipped Schumacher Sei. The left steering knuckle correctly has the through-hole for the ABS sensor and M6 blind tap for attachment, but the right side does not, although it has cast into it the correct part number.

Similarly, neither rear trailing arm has the ABS sensor-mounting apertures. I am in contact with the supplier, but the initial email advised that all of their stocks of the front right steering knuckle are not machined.

Can anyone throw any light on this in the meantime? I do not wish to get rid of the ABS, as it works completely fine and I don't want to mess with the insurance update. One option, if the supplier is unable to give replacements, is to have the appropriate apertures machined in the new parts (although I am less keen on this since position tolerances are presumably critical).

 

[Ralf S.]

Are those genuine Fiat parts? It would be unusual for aftermarket parts to have the Fiat part numbers stamped on them but if your source isn't claiming they're original parts then they could just be copies, stamped part numbers and all.

If they're copies then the prospects of them being "unfinished" is higher than if they are original parts. Similarly the arms just have a label on them so it could easily be the wrong label (the arms would seem to be non-ABS which presumably has a different part number).

Anyway it sounds like the supplier got a job lot of them, so no surprise that they're all the same. I would try to track down the same parts from an alternative supplier/different brand to see if they're different. Try Shop4parts for instance.. they sell Original Birth which are not too shabby.. (or look on eBay for someone listing with an actual photo of the part, not a generic image). The seller may also be able to tell you if their part has the machining.

If you can't get any joy with your original supplier, keep the bits that fit and send back the bits that don't.


Ralf S.

 

[Jamieboy]

Dear Ralf,

Thank you for the reply - I appreciate it. The seller is a well-known Fiat parts retailer who have stated they get their stock directly from Fiat.

You are correct - the rear arms are exactly the same as the non-ABS parts, only with one tapped mounting hole and one through-aperture for the sensor body which pokes through to the backplate (also exactly as non-ABS, plus one hole) and into read the interrupter ring on the drive flange (this part is very different, and not just the standard part with a couple of holes in!). I'm pretty sure non-ABS cars could easily use the ABS parts with no ill effects (but certainly not vice-versa!).

I will have a look on shop4parts as you suggest and can hopefully get something sorted out!

I will post back with any follow-up comments and I would like to thank you again for your reply.

 

[Ralf S.]

Fiat parts usually come in a "Fiat" grey-stripey box or a similarly printed plastic bag. It usually also has the Fiat parts logo stamped on it (a kind of shield with a diagonal stripe on it).

Sadly, it's not uncommon that especially parts for "old" cars are modified to the extent that they no longer work without modification, as the factory tries to rationalise the number of different parts it keeps.

If they've doen that here, you'd think they could have just dropped the non-ABS stuff and only supplied ABS style, whether the customer has ABS or not, rather than mix and match. Hopefully you'll turn up a "proper-fit" part.


Ralf S.

 

[Jamieboy]

As far as I remember, they were packaged as such. I'm also really bummed out that I had the bearing pressed into the knuckle before I noticed it. I wouldn't have thought that the new bearing can be pressed out and re-used. Yes, I totally agree - they could have made everything to the specialised ABS pattern without issue!

 

[Ralf S.]

I'm also really bummed out that I had the bearing pressed into the knuckle before I noticed it. I wouldn't have thought that the new bearing can be pressed out and re-used.

Aye! Been there before too...

I hate cars!


Ralf S.

 

[dac69er]

i know it is extra cost, but i would see about getting them machined. any machine shop should do that no problem.

 

[Jamieboy]

Thanks for your response, I am grateful. I think you're right and I will look into it. The rear arms, I don't foresee being to difficult to do, but the (cast?) fronts, might be a bit trickier.

 

[dac69er]

If they have one to compare, it will be easy. Cast is nice and easy to machine as it doesn't grab like mild steel.
If you had a steady hand, you could do it with a hand drill.

Would better to get someone with access to a pillar drill to do it in a more controlled and accurate way though