Club126UK

Fiat 500 Chat => Fiat 500 Chat => Topic started by: cos124 on October 30, 2015, 09:26:09 AM

Title: 500 rear coil springs (suspension not engine mount)
Post by: cos124 on October 30, 2015, 09:26:09 AM

Are these the same as the 126?
Does anyone know?
I'm confused as some suppliers / specialist sell them for both and others have different part nos. so that indicates there must be different.
Look forward to your reply......

Title: Re: 500 rear coil springs (suspension not engine mount)
Post by: drcdb15 on October 30, 2015, 06:22:46 PM

I used to have a Giardiniera and being an estate I know that its rear suspension was uprated from the equivalent saloon. That is common to most manufacturers. I would imagine that making the 126 BIS with a rear loading facility they uprated the rear end slightly from the original air-cooled, but don't quote me.

Remember that although two springs may have the same physical fitting dimensions, their spring rate may well be different giving a harder or softer ride. Typically the steel used will be thicker for the harder spring, but it's possible to get the same effect using a different grade of material.

To be sure, why not check out the official documentation available in the Subscribers' Section of this forum ?

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Title: Re: 500 rear coil springs (suspension not engine mount)
Post by: cos124 on November 02, 2015, 08:07:50 AM

thank you, i'll do that!

Title: Re: 500 rear coil springs (suspension not engine mount)
Post by: tmf123 on November 02, 2015, 11:46:21 PM

From experience, I fitted a pair of 126 rear springs to a 1968 500 and the ride was terrible!!! The car wouldn't corner and the camber was all wrong. It felt like it was going to fall over when you took a turn.

I think the seating is different. 500 ones are more expensive to buy, but you could try Italian ebay, prices seem to be more reasonable.

Title: Re: 500 rear coil springs (suspension not engine mount)
Post by: cos124 on November 03, 2015, 12:03:36 PM

thanks for the input, obviously is not just the overall height of the spring but spring rate etc must be different.

Title: Re: 500 rear coil springs (suspension not engine mount)
Post by: 124cso on February 04, 2016, 04:18:12 AM

I do not normally look at this section so have only just seen the posting.
Comparing a 500F spring and a Gardinera spring, they are the same dimension / length but I suspect the car one is made of ever so thinner stock.
Comparing to a 126, the overall length on a 126 is shorter, but they are made / wound differently. I do not know what the tech term is but the 500 ones are closed at both ends whereas the 126 is open at one end (bottom?)
I.E a 500 spring will stand vertically on either end, where as a 126 will stand one way or fall over if inverted. if you can understand that ?