Author Topic: Bis suspension on a B road in the country. (Read 3780 times)

banjomandolin · « **on:** October 21, 2006, 11:08:05 PM »

Hi all. in a recent article on Fiat 126s in Classic Car Weekly the author stated that "in a 126 is not the place to be on a B road in the country". I agree. Has anybody found that renewing the front leaf spring or rear shock absorbers makes for an improvement ?. Are there any softer shock absorbers available ?. If this caused the car to lean over on corners (like my 2CV) I would not mind.

Chris Lakin · « **Reply #1 on:** October 22, 2006, 01:09:24 AM »

John, Peter (pedro126) has just had his leaf suspension modified by a company im still waiting for some pics to post along with details.

but, there is nowt wrong with a 126 on a B road, and the person who said it should be shot!!

picture italian and polish roads, everyroad is like a B road there!

John do yous till have this article? i missed that one, would be great if i could get a copy off you somehow, i have an article some months back about a bloke buying a BIS not the same one?

regards

Chris

126dave · « **Reply #2 on:** October 22, 2006, 09:16:02 AM »

i have brand new all round,lowered by 30mm with new shocks,i find the ride ok in jersey where the roads are not brilliant....it is a bit hard tho and is fantastic on smooth fast curved roads.

i would think the best way to go forward would be the coil over conversion for the front end.expensive tho

fiatfsm · « **Reply #3 on:** October 22, 2006, 09:16:36 AM »

I agree, the B er the better, they are superb on little back roads.

Pete126 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 22, 2006, 02:30:19 PM »

What a load of twoddle, i think some motor journalist have lost the thread when writing a report on classic cars
and fail to appreciate the age and concept of the car, cheap affordable transport with no frills for momma pappa and there bambino's to get from the outlining hill top villages to the cities,
the suspension used on the fiat 126 goes back to 1957 as used on the fiat 500 and had changed very little since it went out a production,
we are all spoilt these days when the new generation of superminis ride and handle like sports cars with new types of bushing and computer designed suspension systems
there are lots of after market products at a cost, but it does'nt alter the fact that the concept and design of the car is fifty years old,
if i got out of a 2006 car and got into a 126 i could have said the same thing, but he should have taken into account what was available at that price, age, and what the car was built for.

Gadge · « **Reply #5 on:** October 22, 2006, 05:00:12 PM »

dave, how did u lower yours? did you use lowering shocks or lowered spings?

126dave · « **Reply #6 on:** October 22, 2006, 05:47:05 PM »

lowered springs and shorter shocks,and i cut the front blocks down,then re welded the top links to get some neg camber...its all there posted in the tuning section,but feel free to pm me for more info if you want mate. :cool:

126dave · « **Reply #7 on:** October 22, 2006, 06:15:42 PM »

i agree pete,but,wth that coil over kit you do get real independant suspension.......its a race set up tho,so prob a bit hard......if you want comfort stick with the 2cv.....................or a range rover :smt003
we use our classic when we get fed up with the bits falling off the 126 or the hard ride :smt048

banjomandolin · « **Reply #8 on:** October 22, 2006, 11:34:43 PM »

Thanks for all your helpfull comments. I wouldn't give up the Bis just because of it's suspension. All cars have their fors and againsts. The Bis scores over the 2CV for parking ability and vice versa for suspension. Chris, I will try to find the offending article.

Chris Lakin · « **Reply #9 on:** October 23, 2006, 12:08:15 AM »

nice one john!!

The journalist will find a stern letter coming his way

also pointing him to this thread so he can be correctly educated

thanks again John,

regards

Chris

darrel · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2006, 08:39:31 AM »

Ive not found anything wrong with my Bis. Its a little go cart. I actually find the handling very neutral.
Journalists talk rubbish anyway. 9 times out of 10 they know sod all about cars. I remember they slagged off the SJ410 Jeep because it leaned loads. I could powerslide them perfectly. Same as a 2cv and volvo 343. The suspension used to lean around corners and the journalists used to overcompensate with the steering and then make them very unsteady.
Also look at the Mini 850 when it came out, the journalists said it handled terrible,was too sluggish and would never catch on. The guys at Morris was so angry when they read it they invited them back and drove the cars themselves with the journalists as passengers. They then re wrote the article