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Rear Leaf Springs on a 35S12 2004
Topic Started: May 13 2011, 10:31 AM (10,421 Views)
f1ack2
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I have just purchased a 35S12 LWB 2004 model, and the rear suspension has 2-3cm clearance before it will bottom out when the van is empty. I have read the other post on the forum about bump stops and in there it mentions about the rear axle being either above of below the springs. How do I find out if mine should be above or below the spirngs? At present it is above the springs, and are wondering if this is causing the issue? The springs look a good shape still.
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knighty
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if the spring is above the axle then there's as much clearance as you're going to get....

2 to 3cm of clearance is tiny.... you'll bottom out on the bump stops every time you go over the bump....
(especially when you're loaded)

you either need new springs or some helper springs in here....


(it is a van and not a camper right? - camper weight could explain some of it)
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Spooky_b329
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2-3 cms is the clearance my van had unladen. Now laden, I have 1cm clearance. so I'd say its normal.
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f1ack2
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It isn't a camper, and loaded it sits on the bump stops and drives like a pig!! So I am going to get new springs, the question is, standard replacements or heavy duty replacements? Has anyone got any experience with the heavy duty ones? Do they raise the ride height more? or are they just firmer and how much? My van is normally driven around the 3.3-3.4 ton level.
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marktheherald
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I bought a pair of heavy duty springs from these people when I uprated my 2nd gen. Daily. http://www.midlandmotorsprings.co.uk/ Very helpful and well priced.
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f1ack2
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How much difference did it make moving onto uprated springs?
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knighty
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haven't changed the springs on my iveco

but I added an extra helper spring to my sprinter... it made a massive difference... the back of the van is higher when it's empty, but it looks much better loaded... a small load used to drop it down onto the bump stops before I added them.... not I can put a decent weight in the back and the van looks unloaded !

you really have 3 options...

you can change the springs out for new ones (normal or heavy duty)

you can add an extra leaf to the springs you have

or you can get a flat spring added instead.... (it goes just under the original springs) these are quite good because they don;t alter the load hight much (if at all) but as you add extra weight the leaf springs above it flatten out a bit and rest on it :-)


I think you'd be best either getting new heavy duty springs (because you run with a decent load) or just adding an extra leaf spring onto what you already have.... there's not much difference between the 2 options... but adding an extra leaf is probably the cheapest way to do it :-)

(or replace the springs and add an extra leaf if you run with overloaded sometimes....)
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f1ack2
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Thanks for the advice, Heavy Duty springs it is. Time to get my hands dirty :D
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f1ack2
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New springs now fitted, and the rear now has around 6 inches of travel when the van is half loaded. The ride is also a lot better, and a lot less bouncy. In my opinion heavy duty springs should have been fitted from the factory.
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Spooky_b329
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Thanks for the update. 6" of travel to the bumpstops, or 6cm?

Exactly what springs did you get fitted, from where, and how much?

Do you think its a DIYable or a garage job only?

Finally, I assume this has raised the height of the van? I would still like to raise the height of my towball and this would solve that without buying a huge £80 adjustable coupling.

P.S If you are in regular contact with the garage, they are welcome to post themselves an advert in the tradespace section.
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kernowjon
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Couple of points.

1. I noticed a vehicle leasing company advertising their Ivecos came with heavy duty springs fitted.

2. Effect on rear brakes - If the ride height has been raised so dramatically - Rear Brakes may not operate properly -
The problem as I see it - the brake compensator will need to be readjusted to allow for this, after all it is thought part of tthe rear brake / handbrake problem is caused by being unloaded and the rear brakes not operating to their full extent.

Jon
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Spooky_b329
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Good point, thanks Jon :)
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f1ack2
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Spooky_b329
May 25 2011, 01:45 PM
Thanks for the update. 6" of travel to the bumpstops, or 6cm?

Exactly what springs did you get fitted, from where, and how much?

Do you think its a DIYable or a garage job only?

Finally, I assume this has raised the height of the van? I would still like to raise the height of my towball and this would solve that without buying a huge £80 adjustable coupling.

P.S If you are in regular contact with the garage, they are welcome to post themselves an advert in the tradespace section.
6" of clearance, the wheel arch gaps front and back are now nice and equal (It was basically sat on the bump stops previously).

I got the srings from MRS, £125+VAT each plus 4 new clamps £10+VAT each, and ordered at 3.30PM and got 10.00AM the next morning (Although the courier wasn't best please as they had been packaged together so were very heavy).

It is a DIY job if you have a jack and stands that can raise the vehicle high enough, in the end mine were fitted by a mobile mechanic for £50, as he charged by the hour and took 45 mins a side.

It has raised the height of the van, but it is just now level rather than sagging at the rear.

Not sure if he adjusted the brake compensator, however the brakes and handbrake all worked fine on the test drive.
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Spooky_b329
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Sorry...just to confirm, you have 6" of clearance at the bumpstops, or is it 6" between the top of the rear tyre to the wheelarch?
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f1ack2
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It is 6" between the plate on the axle and the plate on the chassis. Fully loaded at 3.5T it is 4" of clearance.
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