Mito Suspension Springs?

[Jimmy587]

Hi all,

Have recently bought a 2010 Alfa Mito which has been put on Eibach springs (by the previous owner). The ride is absolutely horrible in all honesty and you can feel every bump in the road and the less said about speed bumps the better...!

I've already contacted my local specialist to get the springs swapped out for something a bit more comfortable and he's quoted me £300 approx all in for labour + parts which seems pretty reasonable to me (?).

I suppose what I'm asking for is information as to if the price I was quoted as above is good and how other's find the ride of the Mito on normal springs. I did drive a few before buying them but I probably didn't spend enough time on each drive as I'm struggling to remember how those ones felt...

[Oilchange]

Sounds about right, what I’d say also is to ensure the top hat bearings are changed too. My daughters car had vague steering and a broken spring, top hats fell apart and rusty ball bearings fell out of both fronts when they were removed

Eta, Mitos ride quite firmly, duaghters car is a bit jittery but I’m an old fart so what do I know.
Not sure what brand of spring my mech put in but I would expect Eibachs to be better than standard unless its completely slammed!

Edited by Oilchange on Thursday 24th June 09:45

[xyyman]

Price quoted sounds about right. Have you checked the dampers? That may be the cause of the harsh ride if they are worn or after market.

I ran a Mito on Eibachs and it rode very well, the dampers were standard though.

[Jimmy587]

Thanks both, I'll have a look at the dampers as well then. I don't know too much about suspension but the car has been lowered on the Eibachs, is it possible to raise the car on the same springs? If I could keep the same springs but raise the car up I assume that would help the ride? Is that even possible?

[Oilchange]

Jimmy587 said:

Thanks both, I'll have a look at the dampers as well then. I don't know too much about suspension but the car has been lowered on the Eibachs, is it possible to raise the car on the same springs? If I could keep the same springs but raise the car up I assume that would help the ride? Is that even possible?

Lowered? The ride must have been bone jarring. Returning it to standard is probably the way to go if you ask me.

[Jimmy587]

Oilchange said:

Lowered? The ride must have been bone jarring. Returning it to standard is probably the way to go if you ask me.

Oh mate it really is horrible . Going over speed bumps feels like climbing everest.

Sounds like I should just get it back on the original springs then? (And maybe try and shift the eibachs on if they're in decent enough nick )

[Oilchange]

It's what I would do. Don't forget new top mount bearings on the front too.

Edited by Oilchange on Thursday 24th June 13:40

[Jimmy587]

Oilchange said:

It's what I would do. Don't forget new top hat bearings on the front too.

Sound, I'll mention it when I take it down to my local specialist in just under a couple of weeks from now. Will probably avoid driving it too much until then Lol!

Thanks for the advice btw

[Oilchange]

[GTVOX]

The price for changing out springs is pretty good. The rears are straight forward but the fronts are more involved. The Eibachs are ok I didn't find them too hard at all but I changed them for some made to my own specification.
Your Mito is over 10 years old and it may be the shocks and bushes that need sorting rather than the springs.

[smokey mow]

I ran an 2009 Mito for 3years as my daily. It was a completely stock 1.4 lusso and as standard even in the softest of the DNA settings the ride was harsh and choppy.

The ride comfort, combined with the front overhang that always seemed to catch speed bumps was what made me sell it in the end.

[MikeM6]

Ours is a 2009 Veloce 155 so assume it's a little harder than other models. It's not that bad standard, not overly comfortable but not terrible.

It's the seat that causes most discomfort on a long trip.

[Jimmy587]

Thanks all, I'll ask them to take a look at the shocks too then. Hopefully the bill won't start to add up too much

[CobolMan]

smokey mow said:

I ran an 2009 Mito for 3years as my daily. It was a completely stock 1.4 lusso and as standard even in the softest of the DNA settings the ride was harsh and choppy.

The ride comfort, combined with the front overhang that always seemed to catch speed bumps was what made me sell it in the end.

I'm pretty sure the QV was the only one that came with the adjustable suspension. It rode and handled better in D than N although the dampers weren't cheap at over £600 each and I had to replace both rear ones at the same time...

[smokey mow]

CobolMan said:

smokey mow said:

I ran an 2009 Mito for 3years as my daily. It was a completely stock 1.4 lusso and as standard even in the softest of the DNA settings the ride was harsh and choppy.

The ride comfort, combined with the front overhang that always seemed to catch speed bumps was what made me sell it in the end.

I'm pretty sure the QV was the only one that came with the adjustable suspension. It rode and handled better in D than N although the dampers weren't cheap at over £600 each and I had to replace both rear ones at the same time...

Mine wasn’t a QV, it was a lusso and definitely had the Alfa DNA switch for adjusting the ride. I drove it for 3 years so I am very certain of that

[MikeM6]

smokey mow said:

CobolMan said:

smokey mow said:

I ran an 2009 Mito for 3years as my daily. It was a completely stock 1.4 lusso and as standard even in the softest of the DNA settings the ride was harsh and choppy.

The ride comfort, combined with the front overhang that always seemed to catch speed bumps was what made me sell it in the end.

I'm pretty sure the QV was the only one that came with the adjustable suspension. It rode and handled better in D than N although the dampers weren't cheap at over £600 each and I had to replace both rear ones at the same time...

Mine wasn’t a QV, it was a lusso and definitely had the Alfa DNA switch for adjusting the ride. I drove it for 3 years so I am very certain of that

All MiTos (except maybe the Junior spec?) have the DNA switch. It adjusts throttle response, overboost and steering weight but not damper stiffness unless you have the adjustable ones.

I think some MiTos came with adaptive suspension (Koni FSD) and others with the adjustable set up (SDC) which did change depending on DNA mode, but only if SDC was an option on the car which I though was only on the Cloverleaf or QV.

[CobolMan]

smokey mow said:

Mine wasn’t a QV, it was a lusso and definitely had the Alfa DNA switch for adjusting the ride. I drove it for 3 years so I am very certain of that

The DNA switch only altered the suspension settings on the QV/Green Cloverleaf - it did alter the steering weight and throttle response in the other models though. I had a Green Cloverleaf for 4 years and the adjustable suspension was one of the reasons why I didn't buy the Lusso or Veloce. I miss that car.

[viggyp]

I know the MiTo is basically a Fiat Grande Punto disguised as an Alfa but I'm not sure how much of the suspension is shared to be honest.

I had a '56 plate Grande Punto 1.2 Multijet and I had issues with the front springs breaking (one under warranty, the other just outside of warranty) and as the standard springs were known to break and were £80+VAT, I ended up getting a set of Eibach springs for less than £200.

It looked slightly lowered, had nicer handling and rode better than standard so I'd suggest looking at the dampers as others have said.

I've been in many cars which have had Eibach aftermarket springs and standard dampers and all rode better than standard.

Also, the MiTo doesn't have the greatest ride quality out of the factory.