1980 spider sitting high in back, rough ride

[Smittyspider]

I'm new to Fiat Spiders... mine is an injected '80 that I've owned for 2 weeks. Appears to have recently installed upper trailing arms in back. It seems to sit high in back, and it feels like the rear suspension is extremely stiff. Is there a common issue that causes this? Could those new arms be over tightened? Maybe gas pressurized shocks? It seriously rides like a brick truck right now... I test drove it on some smooth roads, but all of the SE Michigan roads around me are awful. I was planning to either customers the springs a little or install lowering springs, but if it rides any rougher than this...

[So Cal Mark]

if the car has been sitting for awhile, it's common for the hydraulic shocks to seize. It makes driving impossible

[TStark]

additionally, maybe someone torqued the trailing arms with the axle drooped and the body on stands.

Consider loosening all eight trailing arm bolts and let the bushings relax with car weight on the axle, then torque them with the car on ground or at least with the axle on the stands.

[Smittyspider]

Did some investigating today. Found that the rear suspension is completely locked up, which is what it feels like to drive it. I thought I found a smoking gun, as one of the new short arms had almost completely come off of its bushing and was binding badly. Loosened both sides, fixed the bushing, and still no suspension movement so I guess its the shocks.

What are the best reasonably priced shocks for a 1" drop spring? Looks like the springs have to be removed to get the shocks out? Since I was going to do springs anyway, might as well do it all in one shot.

[Schock00]

Did replacing the shocks fix your issue? I got my 81 fiat back from the paint shop in the back suspension is completely locked up. I can't imagine both shocks going bad at the same time .

[So Cal Mark]

it's really common to find the oem shocks seized after the car sits for a long period