Fiat Panda 100HP - Electroclash grey

Fiat Panda 100HP - Electroclash grey

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Discussion

Spinakerr

1,164 posts

144 months

Thursday 29th December 2022
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This is a great thread and demonstrates great DIYability of the Panda.

How have the new shocks worked out for the ride quality, and how is it in, say, the dreaded 20 zones on bad UK potholes?

As I'm considering one of these for 2023 for tackling inner city noodling and tight country roads...

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Thursday 29th December 2022
quotequote all
Spinakerr said:
This is a great thread and demonstrates great DIYability of the Panda.

How have the new shocks worked out for the ride quality, and how is it in, say, the dreaded 20 zones on bad UK potholes?

As I'm considering one of these for 2023 for tackling inner city noodling and tight country roads...
Thanks,

The ride is on the firm side, i have however only replaced my rear shocks so cannot comment how a full refresh would affect the overall ride. It's firm, but no worse than my previous Honda Civic FN2 and doesnt bother me, it more than makes up for it with the handling - its great and very similar to my previous Clio 197 (which i thought handled better than the 1*2).

Mine is also on 45 profile tyres which is OEM spec, however some owners up these to 50 profile to help with the ride.

Get one, you wont regret it, simple/fun motoring and in my experience so far, easy to work on.

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Saturday 7th January 2023
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Tootling along today I was met with a check engine light and a distinct misfire sound.

Managed to go and get a replacement for £26

Got my cheap scanner on the job and it pointed to cylinder 3.



New one going in (cylinder 2 was replaced last year about 2k ago)



Fired it back up, problem fixed just before it started raining. That’s a win for me.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Sunday 8th January 2023
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Great thread op, lots of good work done. I'd be lost immediately.

I really like the 100hp, it looks like it has bags of character. My mum has owned 3 Panda's now. A 1983 MK1, a 2008 MK3 and now a 2012 mk4 after her MK3 was crashed into. Good little cars.

I'd really like a 100hp but when I was in the market for one, it didn't look like it would do great on the motorway and have the revs too high in 6th making it a bit noisy. I also wanted xenon headlights, so I ended up with a Mini Cooper S instead.

I-am-the-reverend

632 posts

34 months

Monday 23rd January 2023
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I ran one of these!

So: They are not a reincarnation of the Mark 1 Golf GTI like some say. They do need caning to get the best and in that respect they are like a 1.4 Fiesta.
The ride is nothing short of atrocious. I mean really, really poor. They are just too stiff for rubbish UK roads. Given how well a standard 1.1 Panda handles and rides it would be almost worth fitting standard springs.

They hum along the motorway at 80+ just fine in 6th. Not bad on fuel. averaging 35 ish. Nice steering, clutch and gearshift.

They are very easy to work on - I mean laughably easy. If you're used to working on VW crap where everything is an overcomplex nightmare, you will love this. The cambelt is super easy. The engine mount is a bit tight to remove but that apart, a piece of piss. No special tools, no German style over complication, just nice and simple.

Lots of specific 100HP trim and body parts were getting tricky to find a couple of years ago and Fiat/Alfa are buggers for discontinuing stuff after 10 years. I'd still have a Fiat over VW any day.

I'm not convinced they are worth the money they fetch now but they are a good honest little motor which is what Fiat do best. In many ways it reminded me of the 127 Sport from the seventies. I never saw another when I had mine.

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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Recently , I had noticed the front end becoming a bit boat-like and combined with a little dropped oil noticed when washing, i quickly realised the front left shock had given up.



With my MOT looming i had planned to have a good check over of things anyway, so set about finding a pair of replacement shocks, top mounts, dust cover. For some reason local motor factors were struggling to supply so turned to ebay for a pair with 3 year guarantee.

With replacement parts in hand, i set about with the following repairs

  • Front shock, dust boot and top mount replacement
  • Oil, oil & air filter change
  • Powerflex dogbone insert
  • Exhaust flexi clamp
Front shock, dust boot and top mount replacement
droplinks off no problem, the strut pinch bolts were tight and 'frozen' in position inside the hub, so help of an impact driver, lump hammer and punch was needed.




Both shock out, the dead shock on the left (lots of oil) - they both looked original too which was impressive for 17 years and 120+k



I decided to replace the suspension pinch bolts/nuts on both sides as they had taken a bit of abuse when being removed, as it was a Friday i didnt expect to receive them early the following week which gave me more time to dip in / out with the pre MOT jobs over the weekend. The majority of this was done in the dark on the drive so picture quality isnt the best, but i need to grab the time when i can!

The only replacement part i hadnt ordered were the springs as i wanted to inspect them once off the car, looking pretty crusty, but it was only surface rust so a clean up and coat of black underseal made them look better.




Whilst they were drying, focussed on other jobs, first one being the Powerflex dog bone insert as i had a little slack when backing off the throttle. Pretty straightforward to do, although i had to split the exhaust at the flexi




Second job was my flexi exhaust clamp had corroded away so a new one was fitted



With the springs now dry , i decided to build up my new shockers whilst i wait for the pinch bolts to arrive



i offered them up to the Panda, using an old bolt to secure them loosely in place, there was an issue with the drivers side shock, the brake link mount was fouling the bolt preventing it from going all the way home (buy cheap, buy twice) whereas the passenger side front fitted fine. I noticed they had slightly different markings and a difference in strut allen key size which could explain the slightly different design. Not ideal.



Contacted the seller who offered a refund on return of the shock, with my MOT booked for a few days time, i had no choice to switch back to using my old shock, thankfully it was the non leaky one.

Shocks in place with new pinch bolts/nuts



Oil & filter change
Nice and straightforward, went for a Mann filter this time coupled with some leftover 0w30 i had from my previous Volvo.




Air filter change
Last service i decided to defer changing the air filter as it looked new, replaced it this time.



Gave it a good check over , MOT day is Saturday.

Will be keeping my eye out for some decent shocks as i don't like the idea of having a mix of new/old on the front - although it drives much better now.






motomk

2,148 posts

243 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
Great read, redandwhite. We didn't get the 100hp version over here. frown
I remember changing the front shocks on a Fiat 500 for some Konis. Owner was trying to improve the ride or handing. We didn't half butcher the top of the shocks doing that. Let's say we were trying to undo the wrong section with an allen key!
Anyway in the latest Car Mechanics Magazines, they have been running one of those, a Panda 100HP. Nearly all the same jobs that you have done already, including the front shocks which they had trouble finding until they cross referenced them to a 1.3 Multijet diesel. I don't know my Fiats so no idea which one that is.
Same brand (Amtex?) that you have used already on the back.

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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Nice update. I can't remember I saw a 100Hp on the road.
Apart from the rear beam, do they rust? Just wondering what would kill them...

Didge3

55 posts

79 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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Cambs_Stuart said:
just wondering what would kill them...
Enthusiastic 17 year olds running out of talent

InitialDave

11,856 posts

118 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
redandwhite said:
Will be keeping my eye out for some decent shocks as i don't like the idea of having a mix of new/old on the front - although it drives much better now.
Bilstein make some. B6s and also B4s, I believe.

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
quotequote all
motomk said:
Great read, redandwhite. We didn't get the 100hp version over here. frown
I remember changing the front shocks on a Fiat 500 for some Konis. Owner was trying to improve the ride or handing. We didn't half butcher the top of the shocks doing that. Let's say we were trying to undo the wrong section with an allen key!
Anyway in the latest Car Mechanics Magazines, they have been running one of those, a Panda 100HP. Nearly all the same jobs that you have done already, including the front shocks which they had trouble finding until they cross referenced them to a 1.3 Multijet diesel. I don't know my Fiats so no idea which one that is.
Same brand (Amtex?) that you have used already on the back.
Nice bit of info there, will have to have a look at Car Mechanics - cheers

Cambs_Stuart said:
Nice update. I can't remember I saw a 100Hp on the road.
Apart from the rear beam, do they rust? Just wondering what would kill them...
Not sure about rust, but Electric steering rack can be a few hundred quid i think. Rear beam can be replaced with a non 100HP one with a few modifications according to the owners clubs - although that may be too much hassle for some.

InitialDave said:
Bilstein make some. B6s and also B4s, I believe.
Thanks

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Saturday 25th March 2023
quotequote all
MOT passed today, happy with that.

Advisories:
• Offside Front Shocker corroded but not weakened
• Offside Rear Coil spring worn (5.3.1 (b) (i))
• Rear Exhaust back box deteriorated
• Front Play in steering rack inner joint(s) ()
• Nearside Rear Coil spring worn (5.3.1 (b) (i))

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Sunday 26th March 2023
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Sounds like a decent pass and a solid excuse for a suspension refresh.

df76

3,615 posts

277 months

Friday 31st March 2023
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Not sure if you've looked at Koni suspension upgrade options? I did that with mine when the SRT.T shocks became available and it was a decent change (I did a thread on the Fiat Forum.. not the PH one). I recall there being two different specs of drop links and mounting points, something to check and I guess it depends on the age of the car.

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Saturday 22nd April 2023
quotequote all
After replacing front shocks (well, just one in the end), my steering wheel was knocked off centre. A trip to a local tyre place and the news "your wishbones gone mate" which i found surprising given the recent MOT pass. However getting the panda up in the air and the N/S was showing a little side to side movement which was being caused by the rear wishbone bush, and given the advisory for the inner track rods possibly those too.

The internet was awash with issues around 100HP wishbones, the fact that they are different for the 100HP with a stronger rear bush. Further inspection on mine and the N/S was infact for a regular panda and the drivers side was the correct reinforced version.

With this in mind, i ordered N/S wishbone and inner and outer tie rods to sort the issue. I ordered the correct N/S wishbone ordered from alfashop - delivered in 24 hours which i thought was great, will use them again, especially as i noted they have TRW front shocks for £75 which if i had known would have ordered rather than go via eBay with the palava of having to return an incorrect fitting shock!

Old versus new, the rear bush is more beefy in the new wishbone


New wisbone in place which was a bit tricky but a little lubricant helped


Haynes specifies the wishbones should be 187mm from the top of the subframe so getting the height right here


Torqueing to 120nm


Next, attention turned to the inner/outer tie rods
.

N/S tie rod end came off no trouble, then dug out the Laser inner tie rod tool to sort the inner


Old versus new, washer was swapped over to the new inner before refitting


Old versus new tie rod end, thankfully the measurements of inner/outer matches the ones removed


N/S job complete


O/S was pretty straighforward apart from a spinning nut on the tie rod end, messed about for a while trying to get some downward pressure on the top of the bolt to hopefully allow nut removal but in the end i sliced the nut with a dremel and opened up with a chisel and it was removed easily.


Road test and the steering has reverted back to rough centre but it will get a laser alignment tomorrow to be sure.

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Monday 24th April 2023
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Alignment sorted

whytheory

750 posts

145 months

Monday 24th April 2023
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Doing that transformed mine

Cambs_Stuart

2,833 posts

83 months

Monday 24th April 2023
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How does it drive now?

redandwhite

Original Poster:

473 posts

128 months

Monday 24th April 2023
quotequote all
After wishbone and inner / outer tie rods no different really. Much happier to have a centralised steering wheel now though.