front end lowering?

[Gadge]

what is the best/easyest way of lowering the front end of a bis?

i've been going though the forum and reading up and it seems there are 3 ways of doing it, some more expensive and some more affective than others. they are as follows.......... :roll:


1. the cheapest... shave those alloy blocks down about 6-8mm and keep the original leaf...or....

2. the most expensive... fork out for a lowerd leaf from ricambi ( or someone of the like ) ...OR....

3. the craftiest.... i heard from a pollish fella on the forum that you can fit early air cooled shocks on the front as they are the same but shorter and also harder thus lowering the car and stiffening it up ( if that is possible )

i dont really mind the expensive route but would also like to save the readys as well so has anyone got any advice cos im gonna have to do this soon?

ta

[meuton]

Hi

1 and 2 are fine but 3 is slightly off as shorter shocks will not lower the car as only the spring set up can control this, however if your seriously lowering the car you require shorter front shocks to stop the damper rod inside them bottoming out during stroke,

cheers Doug

[Dom]

I have Bis Shocks on my 500 and am sure that this has affected the ride height a little. It could be down to a number of things, but I have not altered the spring at all, and yet my ride height is about twice the height.

I, changed the stub axle assemble, fitted disc brakes, 13" wheels + 155 x 65 tyres and put oj new, gas 126 bis shocks. I was sure that they couldn't affect the ride height, but am beggining to wonder, as If the shocks are too long, they would affect the springs travel me thinks? Any ides?
Or could it just be a by product of the larger wheels, icreased positive camber on the front?

[meuton]

Dom

It could be the case that the new shocks are in some way increasing the ride height as if they are to long in the body then it is possible they could be bottoming out when you lower the car before the spring has fully taken the load of the front end, but if that is happening the shocks wont last long as they would now be taking the weight of the car instead of mearly damping the spring action.  

one way of checking it could be to simply remove the shocks and lower the car back down and see if does in fact sit lower?

cheers Doug

[Dom]

I will try this when I get a moment.

[Gadge]

it also could be down to the bis being heavier maybe?

[Gadge]

if i went for a new leaf? which would be the best? i'm not after a mega drop, about 15-20mm max?

[stuey]

buy this-

http://fiat500.cc/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=284

take a leaf out, get this-



(rear end lowering free thanks to mr angle grinder )

thats what I'd do....

Can be done in a day

I choose these guys cos they are UK based so you can call and talk to them easy whereas I had nothing but hassle elsewhere....

[bis13]

i have used a reverse eye leaf spring and the rear dampers on the front and it drives fine , even when i drive it like a complete moron ( which is most times).

[Gadge]

stuey, which leaf did you remove? is it a ball ache to take apart?

[stuey]

stuey, which leaf did you remove? is it a ball ache to take apart?

I used the diagram on the site below as a guide but to be honest the only reason I removed a leaf was because I couldnt cut down the alloy isolater blocks between the body and the leaf as one was stuck you could do this instead if you want

http://www.fiat-furious.pl/html/tuning_a/zawieszenie_126/zawieszenie_126.htm

[Gadge]

cheers mate probably easier to take a leaf out?

[stuey]

Id go for the block if you can they normally should come off quite easily, if youremove the leaf if will "slightly" affect the stiffness of the spring choice is yours the leaf removal is a bit of a pain to be fair....but only take basic tools..

[Gadge]

how easy do u think the blocks can be cut and how much do u think i can take off?

[stuey]

you can safely take 11mm off but with the lowered spring you may not want to take so much off.