Fixing Fiat 500 Abarth Suspension Clunk

[@donaldjosephsaberniakjr9446]

I was on the fence about spending the money to buy the CFP top mount until I watched this video. Thank you very much for helping me decide to go all-in on this. Money well spent!

[@ball123ball123ball]

Does this work for the Fiat 500 Pop I have a 2012 a year ago I spent $2,700 to have just about the entire front suspension replaced struts bearings bumpers and I've only put 8,000 miles on my car since that repair bill and now the knocking is back in the exact same spot I'm absolutely furious I literally want to sue somebody what is the part called again and does anybody know if it works on the Fiat 500 base model it is so so aggravating

[@donaldjosephsaberniakjr9446]

@@ball123ball123ball I did mine with less that 5,000 miles on the car (2017) so there wasn't a problem to begin with. I can, however, say I am very happy I spent the money and had the CFP top mounts installed. The care whips around "traffic circles" like an F1 car (Vogland 2" lowering springs / Koni "yellows" set at soft / ST rear anti-sway bar / 205/50x15 Nitto NeoGen)

[@ildesalinas3412]

Dude your video just saved me a lot of time browsing the forums. Thanks!!

[@VilThong]

"keep it from stripping" 😂 hahaha I'm going to use the line now.. good one!

[@Shoffty]

Gotta think about getting me a set of those top mounts now. I've had that clunk for a while now and really need to fix it asap

[@SteveDBallantyne]

"assembly is the reverse of disassembly" - I sense from the way that you say that is that you are poking fun at the ol' Haynes manuals. I spent many nights in my younger days spilling oil on those at 3am wondering if I was going to get my clunker to take me to work in the morning.

[@mnicrashSoren]

Thank you for sharing all of this information and keeping it entertaining.... I am picking up my abarth tomorrow afternoon...

[@Debowhiz]

Thank you soooo much for this. I added the aftermarket hats in anticipation of the clunk and it turned out they were causing the clunk instead of preventing it. The mfg and vendor are making good tho and am hopeful I can use the replacement parts. In the mean time I flipped the OEM units and reinstalled them, problem solved (running koni and madness springs on a 500e btw, not an Abarth). I would say with the CF replacements people need to be careful to not over tighten the nut and also keep the water off em so the bearings don’t rust (use the OEM rain covers).

[@jorged0712]

Same here. Bought them and the clunk is worse than before. How do I not overtighten it? Instructions say to turn one half to full turn once nut touches bearing but how can you even see when it touches?

[@ayasinsk]

I have 500e as well on stock struts with madness lowering springs. Ever since I lowered my 500e I have a clunking suspension. Did flipping the top washer over solve your issue? I'm trying to decided between 500 madness strut top mount kit for $69 or Anodized strut top mount for $169.

[@mariacifuentesmarrero8938]

thanks for this video I love my fiat 500 but that clunk had me on the brink of getting rid of it I will get the part and take it to my mechanic for install.

[@StalePhish]

Facing this exact issue now, on my white Fiat 500 Abarth. And you'll never guess this detail: today is my every other Friday off!

[@robertpryor7225]

Diagnostic tip: before you look at your suspension for clunking, look in the trunk see if there's someone trapped in there.

[@Shakeyman6]

I really enjoy your videos. I too am a fat middle aged man with an abarth. I would enjoy discussing your upgrades to see if they continue to help performance, ( preferably before I spend any money).

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Thank you. I've got a couple more mods to install and video, and then hopefully some racing when life returns to normal. All of this is hopefully leading to some sort of "This is what I did, this is what was good, this is what I messed up on, and this is what I didn't like" wrap up. So far I'd say swaybar and a tune are your best bang for buck mods (and really easy to do)

[@cocoyc495]

Thanks for the video. I had mine on the lift and when you shake the tire, the top mount moves with it.

[@davidwood8837]

Decided to bite the bullet and buy these after watching your video. Hello from the UK and thanks

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Thanks. Be aware, while our unibodies are I think identical, for some reason our strut tops are different. So I can’t really speak beyond the North American model

[@davidwood8837]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff yes I noticed they look different but supposedly will still fit European models. Thanks for the heads up

[@davidwood8837]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff just to update these do fit European models and make such a difference. Thanks again would not of taken the plunge without your video

[@carlos02966]

Did these fit your UK?

[@davidwood8837]

@@carlos02966 yes they did

[@Tactical300]

Because we're friends in real life, and I've made money on weld-repairing street-car chassis after their owners took them to the track with bolt-on/stiffer mounting systems (specifically an 2003-ish M3 and 1992 Porsche 911 GT2)... Take the time to clean and visually inspect the top of the shock towers, and the nearest spot/welds & chassis seams WITH a flash light, once a month, or after each competitive event. The space-frames are all designed for daily driving and mass production. Adding stiffer suspension components (as you know) raises the local chassis stresses considerably. The germen cars I mentioned certainly are heavier, being tracked by guys aggressively in competition over VIR's particularly harsh kerbing, banging doors, on race compound slicks, and were older (perhaps with shorter life expectations), so my gut doesn't think you will have a problem (at least not for a long long time), but I thought I'd share the experience anyway.

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Andrew Spencer Good call. Lock down 1 thing, you have added force somewhere else. It’s weird (or entirely predictable based on how little room is available) that I haven’t found a true aftermarket strut brace. There are strut brace looking products that bolt up in the neighborhood of the towers. I’ve kind of dismissed them as fakery, but maybe something is better than nothing. Regardless, the car is covered in awesome scorpions, therefore it’s unbreakable

[@billwilson6096]

From Canada 🇨🇦 thanks for the good information

[@NGENCustomsandPerformance]

Nice job! Glad you were able to figure it out

[@richardtodorov]

The previous hats instructed that at least 3-4 threads were visible after the install. How is this version allowing for the opposite?

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Sorry, I didn't see your question because it was directed at another comment (so I didn't get notified). The previous version shipped with 2 different angular contact bearings so I guess you could choose a bearing to give you leftover threads. The new version comes with 1 spherical. With the Vogtlands, there aren't a lot of threads left over. Looking at the European top hats (shorter), I think they are more meant for that. Regardless, seems to be working fine. Mechanically, leftover thread should have zero effect on the joint strength

[@Milnoc]

Installed these on my Abarth a couple of weekends ago when I replaced the OEM shocks and struts with KYB Excel-G shocks and struts. Got rid of both the rough ride and the clunk at the same time! 😁 Didn't use any little washers on mine. The struts, strut mounts and CFP hats didn't include any new washers. Everything's holding together nicely. The old struts did include washers between the mount and the locking nut, but I didn't know if they were suppose to be there considering the mechanic who last replaced my strut mounts didn't do a good job and the clunk returned after just a few months. Heck, the left strut was completely loose and bouncing up and down like a pogo stick! Anyway, problems gone. Suspension now stable and more comfy.

[@2lazeblue]

Did the same, those Excel make a better ride.

[@stiltongruyere9691]

I installed a Neuf Front Sway Bar on Monday, and immediately got a concerning noise by the driver’s side footwell. Ordered some beefy, adjustable sway bar end links that I’m hoping will help. Zip tied my old phone down there to take a video, but didn’t recreate the sound while recording. My concern is that I goofed during the swaybar install, and something is colliding with something else. My coworker says it sounds like a bolt isn’t torqued down all the way. We’ll see.

[@Syltibob]

Oh, so this is what I´ve been hearing for years on my 2013 Abarth. Hot diggity.

[@BlatentlyFakeName]

I have a sudden new clunk coming from the front of mine, but it's on standard suspension. Seems to only appear when going over bumps and braking.

[@carlos02966]

Me too just ordered these see what happens!

[@blank-9873]

Mine does the same thing 😕

[@Surestick88]

I don't drive mine in the winter and it always clunks for a few weeks in the spring then stops. I don't know if it's use softening the rubber or warmer weather that "fixes" it though. It is freaking annoying when it's happening.

[@KUINOVAPEADORLuisSantana]

Thanks for the video

[@suziuki2316]

Thanks for the video! I haven't upgraded any other suspension bits, but ordered the CFP top hats. The photos on their website show the conical nuts, two washers , spherical bushings and the hats. I didn't get washers. The instructions don't mention the washers, nor to the instructions(on website, not in the box) Any insight ? Thanks! EDIT: I went back and read through the entire installation document and it mentions the washers in the sentence after Step 4)... DOH!!!

[@romanpiso23]

Where did you get it!

[@gregralston5874]

I found this video extremely helpful if fixing the same issue on my 2015 500 Pop w/ automatic trans. Question for you. Under moderate to heavy acceleration load, I get this super annoying vibration / rattling sound coming from the front of the car at the top end of each gear just as its about to shift. Have you heard of this and or have any idea what it might be? I tried recording the audio, but not successful. Thank you for your thoughts.

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Sorry, I’ve got no insight on that one. Good luck

[@gregralston5874]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff OK, thank you.

[@UncopyrightableMuzik]

Mine's done the same thing since purchase, only owner, so it's been like that off the line. My guess is it's somewhere behind the instrument cluster. Gets worse around 3500-4000 rpm.

[@johnsantiago7836]

Greg, mine had a similar sound at that 3500 RPM range - turned out to be a resonance issue that made the downpipe shake just enough to make contact with the subframe cross member - my cross member had been slightly bent previously running over something and was sitting too high. Easy fix for me, I just pulled the brace down (prybar) to its correct position. No more noise

[@eviltango]

Thanks for sharing! Due to my wallet I'm forced to go the KYB rte. hopefully it will still reduce the clunking

[@BrockGrimes]

Nice vid, but I have concern. The threads of the strut don't extend past the nut, which they should by at least a couple threads.

[@G_Ozare]

AWESOME, thanks for this.

[@RobMoses]

Great video. Thank you making it.

[@JorrC86]

Nice vid! Do you see an opportunity to include the part of placing the bridge on the correct "jack" points please... :D

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Sorry, I didn't see how it fit in. Would this answer your questions? www.fiat500usaforum.com/showthread.php?27913-How-to-Jack-Up-a-Fiat-500-and-500-Abarth IF not, I'll try to put one on facebook at the Abarth Worldwide owners and enthusiasts club

[@mnicrashSoren]

Bought them and thsnk you for sharing

[@Karatekid161]

Great video, what headlights are you running?

[@tonyj9502]

I get a clunk noise from the rear body

[@mariacifuentesmarrero8938]

Hi I hope you are well. I ordered the parts. How long did it take you to get them. I have been waiting for over a month and nothing. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

[@josealbreyes]

Did you have a loud popping noise when making turns? Im trying to track down the source of a loud popping when I make sharp turns. Tie rods, sway bar links and ball joints all seem good.

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

No, I didn’t. Sharp low speed turning pops is usually the intermediate steering shaft, worth a google

[@jorged0712]

that my friend, is the steering intermediate shaft. Another major design flaw in this car. Supposedly those made before march 2015.

[@ChrisPBacon9]

Mine did that when i had my car incredibly low to the ground on Megan racing coilovers. I raised it up a bit all the way around and it went away

[@thedonfranz]

got this same exact sound, but im already using the BC BR pillowball mount. :(

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Check that your sway bar end links are tight, very similar sound

[@thedonfranz]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff already changed my stabilizer links/sway bar end links. still has this sound. same side, passenger side and hearing it from the top.

[@umiami80]

@@thedonfranz Any Update??

[@rahmitanir]

What is the circular material at the bottom side of the CPF strut top mount? Is it just a simple rubber?

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Yep, just a rubber washer basically

[@rahmitanir]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff thanks a lot

[@coldmountainshadeofficial363]

Did the rear side also clunk ? Because i also got a coilover set and it is on a alfa romeo mito.. on the front i have to adjust it but the rear side is a different story

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

No issues in the back for me. Have you checked the sway bar?

[@scotspie501douglas7]

great video from Uk

[@donaldjosephsaberniakjr9446]

Do you use a strut "bump stop"? I just bought the Koni "yellow" but there were no bump stops included...

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

The vogtland set came with new bump stops. You definitely need them. Check out the NGEN customs channel, he has a Koni install video. Possibly the originals are re-used?

[@tobysuniverse]

I think this is the same sound on my 500e.. Where did you get the parts?

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

I believe I found corsa forza’s website, good luck

[@carlos02966]

Can someone please confirm that these will fit a UK model!

[@LeviNci203]

How has these been working. I’ve been wanting to order them for my car to prevent anything but I don’t understand why they say not to use with coilovers.

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

No problems here

[@LeviNci203]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff awesome good to know ! Never understood why they said not for use with coilovers but I’m about to go order set. Thanks for the reply

[@umiami80]

Man I am about to drive to Virginia so you can help me with my 2013 Abarth. I am getting his clunk now. Very annoying. You anywhere near Fredericksburg?

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

I’m not super talented but I make up for it by being massively overpriced! Good luck.

[@umiami80]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff I'm gong t order the CFP thingys and se what happens.

[@stephenspiteri_zunkus]

I own the twin-air 500 sport. Same clunk so will this mod apply to my car as well you think?

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Sorry, I’ve really got no idea. I would think so, but I’m not certain

[@88cayenne]

Is the CFP top mount still working well, or perhaps you have now found an even better solution? Thank you! :)

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

I went back to stock piece, a lot of people have had struts break. This locks down the top end too much

[@88cayenne]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff oh no...sorry to hear this. So does this mean the clunk continues? and that it will return after some say 3-5k kms on new top mount? Something we can live with? Appreciate your reply, I am considering getting one as a fun car but dont want to be bogged down by such a basic flaw in design...

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

@@88cayenne I do have to frequently retighten everything, especially after a bumpy race. Especially the sway bar end links. But I’m clunk free when everything is tight

[@88cayenne]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff thank you so much for your generosity in replying to me. Have a good week ahead.

[@luisb8111]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff May I ask if you were able to buy the top rubber washer only? If so, could you post a link? Ive checked rockauto and they only sell it as a set with the mounts.

[@ball123ball123ball]

What is this part called again meaning the name of it because I desperately need it I didn't catch it in the video either I don't spelling it wrong? I desperately need this part of you guys or anybody can get back to me as soon as possible I'd be very appreciative!!! Please help to give you an idea 18 months ago and only about 10,000 mi ago I had the entire front suspension fix at the dealership for a little over 2,600 the only thing they didn't do was one of the bearings on the left side but even after I paid all that money it was still a small clunk they said that was normal well obviously it was not now I desperately need to fix it it just keeps getting louder and louder and it's so annoying and every time it clunks it reminds me of the money I spent to get it fixed and I have a feeling half of that stuff didn't need to be replaced because at the time my car only had 41,000 miles on it and I drive good meaning I avoid as many bumps as possible.

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

I think you are looking for strut top mount. NGEN performance has them

[@2lazeblue]

You're video do you remove the stock mount or leave it and place the CFP on top, video cuts out on a critical part

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Remove the stock part

[@therealtea9786]

I went for 42 years without all this madness huh?😆

[@hugolafhugolaf]

I’m also cheap and stubborn. Can we be friends?

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Depends, whats it cost?

[@hugolafhugolaf]

@@EveryOtherFridayOff Well, since I'm cheap, I ain't paying a dime. And since I'm stubborn, this is not negotiable. Deal? Joking aside, I love your vids. No-nonsense, straight to the point, no shitty music. The way it should be. Incidentally, just like NGEN's vids, which you praised.

[@EveryOtherFridayOff]

Deal! And thanks alot.

[@robertpryor7225]

Aww