My 147 floats like a boat

[wade]

Hey everyone, new to the forum

I am a bit of a car enthusiast, needed a four door runabout for the ex and kids and therefore purchased quite a nice 74k 147.

I love the car, but I have a couple of issues with the handling

It points in very nicely, but as per the topic, it floats like a boat.

Are they all like this stock? The shocks seem ok, but the springs just seem very soft

Any suggestions for best cheap improvement to the stock suspension?

It also has a lot of play in the driveline, suggesting to me that perhaps the gearbox or engine mounts have gone..... Is this common?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Craig_m67]

Year, model, wheel size, tyre size??

The suspension on these cars (front wishbones, ARB bushes etc) are very prone to wearing out around this mileage.  Although they usually knock and squeak a bit making this obvious.  Have you tried pumping up the tyres?  I run mine quite firm (225x45x17)

There are some low mileage, second hand KW shocks on eBay at the moment.  Pretty sure they will fit and they absolutely will fix and firm up the ride.  Although a new set of standard B4 shocks are probably around the $ame.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231275011430?redirect=mobile

** I have no connection with the seller

[Garibaldi]

I don't know what you mean when you say "it floats like a boat" and what are you comparing it to. Can you also explain the play in the driveline.

[wade]

Thanks for the responses guys

Sorry i should have been more specific.

It's a 2007 146 twin spark

16" rims

The wishbones feel fine. The problem is that there is a lot of body roll on turn in.

The play in the driveline is when you are on and off the throttle the is a jolt

[colcol]

The jolt in the car when you are on or off the throttle could be a gearbox or engine mount, when you cycle through the engine revs, the motor moves back and forth, so with a knackered engine mount, you could have metal to metal contact, get under the car and check all the mounts and check the dogbone engine steady on the offside of the car at the top.
It could also be an exhaust mount, while you are under the car rattle the exhaust and see if there is something loose and banging on the body, Colin.

[wade]

Thanks Colin, that's what I was thinking.

Are they easy to change out?

[Garibaldi]

In regard to the body roll on turn in, this is quite normal in these cars. Even with this body roll the level of grip is very good. If you push very hard then you will get the usual FWD understeer but backing off the the throttle a little will tuck it back in line. I'm not sure that I would put stiffer springs in the car as the suspension in these Series 1 147's does tend to crash over uneven surfaces. Alfa addressed this issue in the Series 2 2005 facelift cars.

[colcol]

Wade, i have never changed them, but they seem not to bad, just looking at them they are the new type of engine mounts, that run a bracket off the power train and plonk the engine mount where you can get at it, unlike the older cars that ran the engine mounts directly off the engine straight onto the chassis where they are hard to get at, Colin.

[wade]

Thanks for the feedback garibaldi

I actually find mine very compliant over bumps.... Maybe the dampers are toast ....

How did they fix the issues in the later model?

[Garibaldi]

This is Alfa Romeo's explanation of the new suspension setup in the facelift 147.

"Another major new feature on the New Alfa 147 is the introduction of a Comfort suspension system. The new configuration combines a double wishbone front suspension with an advanced MacPherson layout at the rear. These particular suspension layouts achieve greater levels of comfort without affecting handling. The front shock absorbers have therefore been improved and even more changes have been made to the rear suspension system. Differences compared to a conventional MacPherson configuration include the lengths of the differential transverse arms, the position of the points where the arms are attached to the body and the specific bushing stiffness settings. As far as customers are concerned, all these mean smooth, pinpoint steering and steering wheel load, prompt responses, great stability and ease of control even at the limit of grip. Steering box movements are very smooth and balanced and great comfort is assured under all service and road surface conditions."

I believe that they also fitted softer springs.

[poohbah]

Wade, your description of a floaty 147 could just as easily apply to the stock 2.0 156 "loaner" I have used when my 156 has been out of action in the workshop. I was shocked at just how different and wallowy it felt compared my V6 156, which has been lowered and has much stiffer springs.

I can't see any reason why you couldn't go for a similar set up on your 147. Mine is certainly harsher over big bumps, but I reckon it's a fair trade for the tauter feel. I'm sure someone on here can give you technical advice on what options to go for.

[wade]

Thanks poobah.

When you say your 156 is lowered is that a factory spec difference between the 2.0 and v6 or is it an after market mod?

If aftermarket do you know what springs and shocks you are running ?

Do 156 springs and shocks for a 147?

I am willing to sacrifice some comfort for less roll.

[poohbah]

I believe mine was a factory fitted option (I think there was a sport pack option for both 2.0 and V6 models).

I'm not technically minded, but as the 156 and 147 have the same underpinnings, I don't see why the same setup couldn't fit a 147. Go to an Alfa specialist workshop (not a dealer though - they are hopeless), and I'm sure they will be able to help you out.

There is a guy on here, Krysraw, who has posted a fair bit about his suspension upgrades for his 156. He might be able to help.

[pep105]

There's a few options to improve the handling. If you don't
want to lower it you can use Koni FSD with the standard springs
or Bilsteins. A great option is the Eibach pro kit which has the springs matched
to the shocks and lowers the 147 by about 30mm.

The OE shocks are pretty crappy and lack durability as well.

Type Eibach 147 Pro Kit into google and there's plenty of feedback
on Ausalfa.com and the UK Forum alfaowner.com

I was never really happy with the suspension setup on my old 147 and
was planning to upgrade. Having driven a few 156s on Eibachs and Bilsteins
and a 147 on Eibachs there's substantial improvements to be made
to the way they handle.

Good luck and let us know how you go.

[pep105]

Oops - Pro system is the Eibach springs & dampers

Pro kit is just the 30mm lowered springs

Try this link for a thread on the pro system for a 147.


http://www.ausalfa.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&p=76482

Cheers