Technical Suspension Help

[MrHooty]

Hi All

My first post and I'm asking for help!
I have a 2011 Panda MyLife 1.2 bought with 10k miles on the clock now showing 65k.
At 40k miles the rear shocks started to clunk as the rubber bushes had begun to fail, I had these replaced with genuine Fiat shocks but now the bushes have gone again.
Can anyone recommend a better shock than those made by Fiat?
Bilstein, Koni etc are these better then the OEM equipment?

Thanks

Dave

 

[koalar]

not tightening the bolts while the car is of the ground is the most common cause of premature wear regardless of make. Followed by not tightening to the correct torque


Having said that 20K isn't bad if you have to regularly have to go over speed humps or farm tracks

 

[DaveMcT]

Fit the shock with top mounting bolt loose. Drop the axle ends onto axle stands then do up the bolts. This puts less twist on the rubber bushes.

You might be able to find a suitable bush. Fit with red rubber grease or tyre soap.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=rubber+bush+shock+absorber&_sacat=0

 

[timmycm850]

Hi Guys

we have had a 2005 1.2 since new and we are on our second set of shocks, the first original ones had the bushes go after about 6 years but the shocks worked fine so i shortened the sleeve that fits over the top bolt, then i fitted one large washer either side of the shock such that the washers gripped the remaining bush, this removed the bumping from the back for a further 3 years until the shocks finally started leaking at 9 years old, at this point i put new shocks on and used the washers to spread the load, these shocks are still good with the car now nearly 15 years old,

i also have always bolted up the bushes when at normal use position and under less strain.

now just turned 90k miles

Tim

 

[dac69er]

my girlfriends 100hp has had 3 sets of shocks. the originals, a set of the cheapest i could find on ebay and then another set. car is on about 130k miles


the orignals had done about 75k miles. the second set were perfectly fine, but when cold, they would creak. this started after about 20-30k miles.

i replaced these again and they have been fine since.

never had the bushes go apart from the original set, and these werent that bad tbh.

always done the bolts up when under load (on the ground or jacked up to simulate this).

 

[Muddur]

I don't know about better than original.
I Bought a Panda 2005 this summer and replaced all springs and dampers (as well as all joint (swing arms) and rubber mounting on top and bumpstops).

I bought Monroe dampers and springs becourse they have been doing this many years. I bought all the connecting parts from the same brand to ensure that they fit and to avoid squaking.

Replacing the rubber and bearing on the top was done to reduce road noice and make sure that I can go the next 100.000 km without going in again.

BTW: Be sure to order the bolts which hold the springs and the pillar (50703700) together.

The bolts and nuts will often break during replacement.

Bolts/Screws: 7676615
Nut: 50701630

 

[The Panda Nut]

The bushes on Bilsteins are wrong size for the bolts, great damping but a royal pain in the butt to sort out. Avoid.

 

[DaveMcT]

The bushes on Bilsteins are wrong size for the bolts, great damping but a royal pain in the butt to sort out. Avoid.

If going larger, you could push out the central sleeves and fit new ones cut from tube. For going smaller get some tube to sleeve it down e.g. 12mm OD x 1mm wall to take it down to 10mm. A faff of course but not impossible.

 

[The Panda Nut]

If going larger, you could push out the central sleeves and fit new ones cut from tube. For going smaller get some tube to sleeve it down e.g. 12mm OD x 1mm wall to take it down to 10mm. A faff of course but not impossible.

The holes are too big, I am still looking for tubes but do now have some of the correct gauge steel. Just need the time to make some sleeves. You would think Bilstein would know better. The ride is however exceptional. and stability now also much improved.

 

[DaveMcT]

The holes are too big, I am still looking for tubes but do now have some of the correct gauge steel. Just need the time to make some sleeves. You would think Bilstein would know better. The ride is however exceptional. and stability now also much improved.

These are the tubes I was talking about.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mild-Steel-Precision-Round-Tube-Pipe-Many-sizes-lengths-Metal-Bar-Rod-Strip-1/253136715957?hash=item3af01fc0b5:m:mZCQlOFX3eOFu853tnTJfvA

Strangely, brass is a little cheaper. A careful search might find thinner walls.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brass-Tube-Pipe-Round-Outer-6-8-10-12-14-16-18-20mm-Long-500mm-Wall-1mm/174107969588?var=472967853869&hash=item2889a4c834:m:mZQOFSVJvqWPdCLY4lyI2QQ