Technical Seicento front suspension struts and springs (compatability)

[SeiAbarth99]

Hi,

I'm new to this site so soz if this is posted on the wrong forum. Basically, recently some negative vibe merchant ran into the front wing of my 1999 Seicento Sporting 1.1 Abarth. There wasn't much damage to the wing itself, but on inspection it looked like a bent suspension strut and a slightly bent lower wishbone arm.

So a quick look for parts on a well known web-based auction site and I ordered a new wishbone arm for £23 and a used suspension strut (complete with springs, etc) for about £40. All good and well so far. However, after removing the strut from my Sei (using the helpful guide on this site) it was clear that the replacement doesn't quite match up with the one from my car.

Although the strut itself looks almost exactly the same and the lower section measures up, the spring on my strut was around 60mm shorter. The spring is around 175mm compressed on mine and around 235mm on the replacement.

So my question is basically:

Is it possible to swap the spring from my old strut onto the replacement and use the resulting suspension leg, or are the two struts different somehow?

Cheers,

(NB - I'd post some pics of the struts to show what I mean but I haven't made enough posts yet)

 

[fingers99]

Difficult to say. The extended length of the strut(s) will be the giveaway, I think.

But all good sense says that springs and struts are replaced as pairs.

 

[rallycinq]

And standard struts are so cheap new its not worth getting second hand with unknown mileage. Anything over 20K miles will be done.

Cheers

D

 

[blu73]

as above, get a pair of new front shocks. Fit your current springs to them so long as they are ok and not cracked or anything from the impact (if spring needs replacing as before, get a pair and do both sides).

Try one of the Micks at Eurocarcare.net - you can call or skype or use their website, google will find

 

[SeiAbarth99]

Ok, thanks for the replies. I think I will probably get a pair of new struts and springs at some point soon, but at the moment I just want to see if I can get it back on the road with the parts I've got in hand.

I've seen that you can get a lot of kits online quite cheap, but I want to keep the same ride height that I have at the moment.

Does anyone have any cheap suggestions for springs/strut kits that have the same ride hide/spec as the standard Abarth ones?

Also, does anyone have suggestions for coil spring compressors that can cope with the shorter springs on the Abarth (around 175mm mounted on the strut)?

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[blu73]

again, ring/skype Eurocarcare.net with your VIN number - the Micks sort you out with decent stuff at a decent price and have it with you really quickly. Mention you were sent from fiatforum to them you may even get a little discount

 

[fingers99]

The coil spring compressors Machine Mart do should cope just fine. For cheapish struts, I like the Monroe reflex ones, but check how much -- look at the height of the springs on your two, uncompressed -- yours is dropped.

Otherwise, the Spax kit is pretty good unless you want to (eeek!) go for cheap coilovers.