General Anti-roll bars

[Makarintosh]

Rather!

Anyway I've attached a picture which shows the various suspension components on my 500's suspension and steering. The panda will be more or less the same. I've labelled the various components.

1 Rack end
2 Anti-Roll bar
3 Tie rod end
4 Droplink

Absolutely jealous of your suspension system. barely any rust, what so ever. My Panda suspension is crazy rusted even the CV Axle is in bad shape. Wish I had the money to redo the whole system...and time heh

 

[fpan]

I think i'd rather spend money on petrol to enjoy driving my 100hp than add on trinkets that'll make little real world difference to the experience.

Judging by the difference a stiffer rear ARB has made in my previous cars I don't think the effect will be minimal in the Panda.

Has anyone tried it?

 

[fpan]

Pressed the reply button too early there!

Results are:
-Rear end a touch lower (I wouldn't have chosen this but it's not an issue in practice, not so much lower that it looks odd).
-Softer springing/better damping has transformed the stiff, bouncy ride at all speeds.
-Could possibly do with some more progressive bump stops as that end of travel is a bit abrupt (the car goes on some challenging roads!).
-The track is now a touch wider than that at the front. This doesn't seem to have any negative effects, contrary to my expectations.

On the road, the car is much more positive in feel. You can throw the car around with a feeling of having control over the rear, similar to a torsion bar suspended Peugeot (think 205, 306, my current Partner).

On the current cheap tyres the car came with I can provoke the rear into lift-off oversteer on damp, sharp bends and then (luckily!) catch it without much drama.

May not be quite so interesting once the Michelin Alpins go on. I went for 165/70R14 rather than 65s on the standard alloy wheels as these will offer a bit more ride comfort, more progressive breakaway and are still very close to the bog standard 155/80R13 in rolling radius. Should actually render the speedo accurate as it under-reads by about the same margin as the tyres will increase in RR).

Overall, very happy. I've used the car to do two recent 800 mile trips and it's solid and planted, with much more comfort than previously. Fitting was just a case of remove old and fit new with no messing about. The handbrake cables from the 500 fitted perfectly.

The same should be the case from a mk2 Ka. Ford really did do a great job of improving the setup.

Next job is to transfer the struts, hub carriers, anti-roll bar/drop links, steering tie rods/ends and driveshafts from a 2013 500 and brand new 500 bottom arms to the car once I get a chance. Fingers crossed this will go well....

Any pics of the underside with the current setup?

 

[Jimbo11]

No pics to hand, however, it just looks exactly as per the the 500 (lookup Fiat500usa suspension on Google for great pics of the later 500 setup). I'll get some and post them soon.

 

[dastardly2023]

Some people have never experienced a car that handles well or has very little body roll. Always makes me laugh when people talk about cars like the Panda and 500 and say that they're

A Fast
or
B Handle well

OK 1980 Donnington GT champion here 78 years young and still a capable driver . My 2021 Fiat Panda A is slow . and B After relocating the insane anti roll bar links from the macpherson struts onto the lower wishbones . like they should be . It handles really well .with the new set up . no more weird fidgety steering and over sensitive response to every steering input . It now drives in a relaxed manner with a much softer turn in . Gone is the nightmarish battle to maintain a composed drive on level main roads . removing the front bodywork to gain access to the front wishbone securing bolt . revealed a badly accident damaged lower front cross member . Obviously the front panel had been replaced but the damaged steel cross member had not been replaced .The garage I bought it from in November 2022 agreed to supply the damaged cross member free of any charge . Note the two 5mm thick steel lugs welded to the lower wishbones ..Now self etch primed and corrostop black synthetic painted .