Abarth 500 / 595 / 695 Suspension Guide: Springs, Shocks & Coilovers Explained

Abarth 500 / 595 / 695 Suspension Guide: Lowering Springs, Shocks & Coilovers Explained

Suspension is one of the most common areas we get asked about when it comes to the Abarth 500, 595 and 695.

Some owners simply want to reduce the wheel arch gap and improve the stance. Others want a more planted car for fast road driving, while some are building something that will regularly see track use.

There isn't one suspension setup that's right for every Abarth.

Over the years we've supplied, fitted and driven on plenty of different combinations, and we regularly answer questions about lowering springs, Koni dampers, Bilstein shocks, bump stops, coilovers, drop links and everything in between.

So rather than answering the same questions individually, we've put together this guide to explain the different options and what we'd recommend depending on what you actually want from your car.

Lowering Springs or Coilovers?

This is normally the first decision to make.

If you're happy with the general behaviour of your Abarth but want it sitting a little lower with slightly sharper handling, lowering springs are usually enough.

They're relatively inexpensive, retain the simplicity of the factory suspension and, when paired with dampers in good condition, can make a noticeable difference to both appearance and handling.

Coilovers make more sense when you want greater control over the setup. Depending on the kit, you'll be able to adjust the ride height and, on more advanced systems, the damping as well.

As a rough guide:

  • Daily road car: Lowering springs are normally our first choice.

  • Fast road car: Quality lowering springs, upgraded dampers or a good road-focused coilover kit.

  • Fast road with occasional track use: Coilovers start to make much more sense.

  • Dedicated performance or track build: Look towards higher-end adjustable systems where suspension geometry and damping can be properly set up around the car.

Do I Need Shorter Rear Bump Stops?

This is probably one of the questions we're asked most often.

When you lower an Abarth using springs, you've reduced the amount of suspension travel available before the car reaches its bump stops.

On a particularly low setup, the rear suspension can therefore contact the original bump stops more frequently. You'll normally feel this as a fairly obvious thud over larger bumps or compressions, and it can make the rear of the car feel unnecessarily harsh.

Shorter rear bump stops can give the suspension more usable travel, which can improve both comfort and control on a lowered car.

They're not mandatory on every lowering spring installation, but they're something we'd certainly consider if you're going significantly lower or experiencing frequent contact with the standard bump stops.

You also don't necessarily need Genuine Abarth bump stops. Good-quality aftermarket alternatives are perfectly suitable.

Are All Abarth 500 / 595 / 695 Models the Same Height?

Not necessarily.

There are a huge number of factory suspension combinations across the Abarth 500, 595 and 695 range.

Model, production year, specification and factory suspension package can all affect the starting ride height.

This is important when looking at advertised lowering figures.

If a manufacturer quotes a 30mm drop, for example, that doesn't necessarily mean every Abarth will physically sit exactly 30mm lower than it does now. A car already fitted with a lower factory suspension setup may see a smaller visual difference than a standard model.

We therefore recommend treating advertised lowering figures as a guide rather than an exact measurement.

Which Abarth Lowering Springs Should I Choose?

We offer several options, but three of the most popular choices are TMC Motorsport by V-Maxx, Eibach and H&R.

TMC Motorsport by V-Maxx Lowering Springs

TMC Motorsport by V-Maxx Lowering Springs

Our TMC Motorsport by V-Maxx Lowering Springs are a good option for owners who want a noticeable improvement in stance without going straight to coilovers.

They're aimed primarily at road cars and offer a straightforward, cost-effective suspension upgrade.

For somebody who comes to us wanting their Abarth lower and a little sharper without building a dedicated track car, these are often where we'd start.

Eibach Pro-Kit

Eibach Pro Kit Lowering Springs for Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

The Eibach Pro-Kit is one of our favourite choices for a road-focused Abarth.

Eibach concentrates on maintaining a good balance between ride quality and improved handling rather than simply making the car as low or stiff as possible.

If your Abarth is used every day and you want a subtle drop with better body control while retaining sensible road manners, Eibach is difficult to fault.

H&R Performance Lowering Springs

H&R Lowering Springs for Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

H&R Performance Lowering Springs are another excellent option and tend to suit owners looking for a sportier suspension setup.

They're manufactured in Germany and designed to work with the factory dampers while reducing ride height and improving body control.

If handling and stance are higher priorities than retaining as much factory comfort as possible, we'd generally look towards H&R.

What If My Abarth Already Has Eibach Springs?

Some Abarth models were supplied from the factory with Abarth-branded suspension components manufactured by Eibach.

If you're replacing a broken factory spring, don't automatically assume you need to buy the most expensive Genuine Abarth replacement available.

Depending on the vehicle and what you're trying to achieve, an Eibach Pro-Kit may be a more sensible option.

However, we'd recommend checking the exact vehicle specification first rather than assuming an aftermarket spring is identical to the original Abarth component.

One rule we strongly recommend following is:

Always replace suspension springs in axle pairs.

If one rear spring has broken, replace both rears. If one front spring has failed, replace both fronts.

Springs settle and wear over time, so fitting one new spring alongside an older one can result in differences in ride height and suspension behaviour.

What About Shock Absorbers?

Lowering springs are only part of the suspension.

If your Abarth has covered a reasonable mileage and is still running its original dampers, it's worth considering their condition before fitting new springs.

Putting brand-new performance springs onto tired shock absorbers isn't going to give you the result you're hoping for.

Various Abarth models were fitted from the factory with Koni-developed suspension, including the well-known Koni FSD setup found on a number of models.

Genuine Abarth Koni FSD Suspension Kit - 500 Abarth

Genuine Abarth replacement dampers and suspension kits are still available for certain applications, although availability can vary. These parts remain extremely popular and aren't something we're always able to keep on the shelf, with some kits supplied to us as a factory order directly through Genuine Abarth.

If a Genuine Koni/Abarth suspension product is showing as unavailable on our website, it's always worth contacting us before assuming it has been discontinued. We can check current factory availability and estimated lead times.

If your existing shocks are leaking, knocking or simply no longer controlling the car properly, we'd deal with that before worrying about making the car lower.

Which Bilstein Shock Absorbers Should I Choose: B4, B6 or B8?

Bilstein offers several replacement shock absorber options for the Abarth 500 / 595 / 695, but they're designed for quite different types of driver.

Bilstein B4

Bilstein B4 Front Gas Pressure Shock Absorber Pair – Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

Bilstein B4 Rear Gas Pressure Shock Absorber Pair – Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

The Bilstein B4 is the option we'd recommend primarily for a daily-driven Abarth where comfort and value for money are the main priorities.

They're a softer, more road-focused option and can provide a more compliant ride than some of the firmer factory Abarth suspension setups.

For somebody using their Abarth predominantly for commuting, town driving and normal everyday road use, the B4 represents fantastic value for money.

However, they're not an option we'd recommend for spirited driving, fast road use or track use. If you regularly enjoy driving the car hard, we'd move towards the B6 or B8 instead.

Bilstein B6 and Bilstein B8 

Bilstein B8 Front Gas Pressure Shock Absorber Pair – Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

Bilstein B6 Rear Gas Pressure Shock Absorber Pair – Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

For the Abarth 500 / 595 / 695, the current Bilstein performance damper setup is slightly different between the front and rear.

Bilstein B6 rear shock absorbers are available as a performance-focused replacement, offering improved body control and handling compared with the more comfort-focused B4.

For the front, Bilstein previously offered a B6 application for the Abarth, but this has since been replaced by the Bilstein B8 front shock absorber. As a result, the current performance combination is B8 at the front and B6 at the rear.

This combination is a much better choice than the B4 for an Abarth that's regularly driven enthusiastically, offering improved control while still being perfectly suitable for road use.

The Bilstein B8 front dampers use a shortened design, making them particularly well suited to cars running lowering springs where reduced suspension travel needs to be taken into consideration.

If you're replacing the dampers on a lowered Abarth or putting together a more performance-focused road setup, the B8 front and B6 rear combination is the setup we'd generally look towards.

In simple terms:

B4 Front & Rear: Daily driving, comfort and excellent value for money.

B8 Front & B6 Rear: Sportier road driving, improved body control and suitable for use with performance lowering springs.

If you're unsure which combination is right for your car, contact us with your vehicle details, current suspension setup and how you use the car and we'll be happy to advise.

When Should I Move to Coilovers?

If you want more control over ride height than a fixed lowering spring can provide, coilovers are the logical next step.

They replace the conventional spring and damper arrangement with a suspension package designed to work together.

The biggest advantage is adjustability.

Instead of accepting whatever ride height a lowering spring gives you, you can set the car up around your wheels, tyres, intended use and personal preference.

But there's an important distinction between different coilover systems.

Height Adjustable vs Damping Adjustable Coilovers

Not all coilovers offer the same adjustment.

Bilstein B14

Bilstein B14 Coilover Suspension Kit – Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

The Bilstein B14 allows you to adjust the vehicle's ride height while the damping characteristics are engineered and preset by Bilstein.

For the Abarth 500 / 595 / 695, the B14 offers approximately 30–50mm of lowering front and rear, with around 20mm of adjustment at each axle.

This is actually one of the reasons we like the B14.

There are no damping settings to endlessly fiddle with. Bilstein has already developed the damper and spring combination to work together. You set the ride height correctly, get the geometry aligned and drive the car.

For a fast road Abarth, that's very appealing.

H&R Coilover Kit

H&R Coilover Suspension Kit – Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

H&R now offers its own entry-level height-adjustable coilover kit for the Abarth 500 / 595 / 695.

It occupies a similar position in the range to the Bilstein B14, giving you control over ride height while the spring and damper characteristics are already matched by H&R.

The kit offers approximately 20–50mm of lowering at the front and rear, giving plenty of adjustment to achieve the stance you're looking for while retaining a suspension setup designed primarily around road and performance driving.

It's an especially attractive option for owners who already know and trust H&R suspension and want a straightforward height-adjustable setup without the additional complexity of adjustable damping.

Height & Damping Adjustable Coilovers

Other systems allow you to adjust both ride height and damping.

That gives you considerably more control over how the car behaves and allows the suspension to be tailored for different road conditions, tyres and driving styles.

Examples within our range include BC Racing, Yellow Speed, DNA Racing and Öhlins, depending on the particular kit.

More adjustment isn't automatically better.

It gives you more potential to optimise the suspension, but it also gives you more opportunity to set it up badly. If you're investing in a highly adjustable suspension system, having the car properly set up is money well spent.

Bilstein B14, H&R or BC Racing?

We get asked about coilover choices a lot, and these three kits cover slightly different types of customer.

Both the Bilstein B14 and H&R Coilover Kit are ideal if you want adjustable ride height without needing to adjust damping. BC Racing takes things a step further by giving you control over damping as well.

Bilstein B14

We'd choose the B14 for somebody who wants:

  • Excellent fast-road handling

  • Adjustable ride height

  • Proven Bilstein damper technology

  • A relatively fit-and-forget setup

  • Good road manners

  • Occasional track use without needing endless adjustment

Bilstein develops and tests the B14 as a complete spring and damper package, and that's one of its biggest strengths.

H&R Coilover Kit

The H&R kit is aimed at a very similar customer.

You get adjustable ride height with the spring and damper combination already developed by H&R. It's an excellent alternative for anyone who prefers H&R suspension or wants a straightforward fast-road coilover setup.

For owners who have previously used H&R springs and like the characteristics of the brand, it's a very natural next step.

BC Racing BR Series

Abarth 500 / 595 / 695 BC Racing BR RN Series Coilovers

We'd lean towards BC Racing when somebody wants:

  • Adjustable ride height

  • Adjustable damping

  • Greater freedom to fine-tune the car

  • Regular fast-road or track use

  • More control over the final suspension setup

We've supplied BC Racing kits for Abarths for years and they've proven to be a very good all-round option.

If you want a quality height-adjustable suspension that you can set up and enjoy without worrying about damping adjustments, we'd look towards Bilstein B14 or H&R.

If you specifically want control over damping as well as ride height, we'd move towards BC Racing.

What About DNA Racing and Öhlins?

Once you start building a more serious fast-road or track-focused Abarth, there are more advanced options available.

DNA Racing WRS

Abarth 500 / 595 / 695 & Fiat 500 Abarth USA WRS Coilover Kit - DNA Racing

DNA Racing WRS suspension offers considerably more scope for setting the car up around performance driving and works particularly well alongside other suspension and geometry upgrades.

For a serious fast-road or track-focused build, it's a substantial step up from a basic height-adjustable coilover.

Öhlins Road & Track

Ohlins Road & Track Coilover Kit for Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

At the higher end, Öhlins Road & Track sits firmly in premium suspension territory.

Öhlins is aimed at the owner who genuinely wants high-end damper performance and adjustability rather than simply wanting their Abarth to sit lower.

For most road cars, you don't need suspension at this level.

For the right build, though, it's very difficult to argue with.

BC Racing or Yellow Speed?

Another regular question.

Yellow Speed Racing YSR Dynamic Pro Sport Coilovers - Abarth 500 / 595 / 695

Both offer adjustable suspension systems at broadly similar points in the market.

We've supplied both brands, but our preference tends to be BC Racing for an all-round fast-road Abarth.

That's based on our own experience with the products and the feedback we've received from customers over the years.

That doesn't make Yellow Speed a bad suspension system. We simply tend to favour BC when a customer asks us to choose between the two.

Do I Need Adjustable Drop Links?

Not automatically, but they're worth understanding.

Lowering the vehicle changes the position of the anti-roll bar relative to the suspension. Depending on the amount of lowering and the coilover design, adjustable drop links allow the anti-roll bar connection to be corrected and can help remove unwanted preload.

V Maxx Abarth 500 / 595 / 695 V-Maxx Drop Links

We offer V-Maxx Adjustable Drop Links, and despite the name, they aren't restricted to V-Maxx suspension.

For mildly lowered road cars they may not be necessary, but on coilover installations or cars running significantly different ride heights, they're a relatively inexpensive component worth considering.

If your existing drop links are old anyway, replacing them while everything is apart also makes considerably more sense than discovering a worn one shortly afterwards.

Don't Forget the Rest of the Suspension

One of the biggest mistakes we see is concentrating entirely on springs and dampers while ignoring everything attached to them.

If you're fitting suspension to an older Abarth, take the opportunity to inspect:

  • Front top mounts

  • Top mount bearings

  • Bump stops

  • Drop links

  • Suspension bushes

  • Ball joints

  • Track rod ends

  • Rear spring seats

A £1,000 suspension kit can't compensate for worn bushes, tired mounts or play elsewhere in the suspension.

Replacing worn components at the same time can completely change how the finished car feels.

Do I Need an Alignment After Lowering My Abarth?

Yes.

Once the ride height has changed, the suspension geometry changes with it.

After fitting lowering springs or coilovers, we recommend allowing the suspension to settle and then having the vehicle's alignment checked and adjusted.

For a normal road car, a sensible road alignment is generally all that's required.

For more serious fast-road or track builds, geometry becomes considerably more important. Camber, toe and other settings can be tailored around the way the car is being used.

This is also where components such as adjustable top mounts and other geometry upgrades start becoming worthwhile.

Adjustable Top Mounts / Suspension Geometry Products

So, Which Suspension Setup Would We Choose?

If we had to simplify everything:

Comfort-focused daily driver:
Bilstein B4 shock absorbers, particularly where value and everyday comfort are the priorities.

Daily-driven Abarth:
Eibach Pro-Kit or TMC Motorsport by V-Maxx lowering springs.

Sportier road car:
H&R lowering springs or Bilstein B8 front / B6 rear dampers.

Height-adjustable fast road setup:
Bilstein B14 or H&R Coilover Kit.

Fast road with occasional track use:
Bilstein B14, H&R or BC Racing BR Series.

Adjustable fast-road / track setup:
BC Racing or DNA Racing.

High-end performance build:
DNA Racing WRS or Öhlins Road & Track.

There will always be exceptions because suspension is incredibly subjective. One person's "firm but comfortable" is another person's reason to complain about every pothole between Belfast and Birmingham.

The important thing is choosing suspension around how you actually use the car, rather than simply buying whichever kit gives the biggest advertised drop or the longest list of adjustments.

A Note on Product Availability

Some of the suspension products linked within this guide may not always be available to order directly from stock.

This is particularly relevant to certain Genuine Abarth suspension components and kits, including Genuine Koni FSD suspension kits. These components were fitted from the factory to many Abarth models and remain extremely popular as replacement and upgrade options.

Because of the demand for these parts and availability from Abarth, they aren't products we're always able to keep on the shelf. Some kits are supplied as a factory order directly through Genuine Abarth, which means an item showing as out of stock on our website doesn't necessarily mean it is unavailable.

If you're interested in a Genuine Abarth suspension component or kit that's currently showing as unavailable, please contact us. We can check the latest factory availability, pricing and estimated lead time.

Availability of all products mentioned in this guide can change over time, so please check the individual product listing for the latest information.

Final Thoughts

A good suspension setup can completely change an Abarth 500, 595 or 695.

Lowering springs can give a road car a better stance and sharpen things up without spending a fortune. Upgraded dampers can refresh a tired factory suspension or provide considerably better control, while a properly chosen coilover kit gives you much more control over the vehicle.

At the other end of the scale, higher-end adjustable suspension can transform a serious fast-road or track build.

But the most expensive option isn't automatically the best one.

Think about how often you drive the car, the roads you normally use, whether you intend to take it on track and how much ride comfort you're willing to sacrifice.

If you're unsure which setup suits your Abarth, contact the TMC Motorsport team with your vehicle details and what you're trying to achieve. We've supplied, fitted and worked with these suspension setups for years and can help you put together a combination that actually suits your car and how you use it.

Artículos más antiguos volver al Información útil