Ducato Leaf Springs (1 Viewer)

[Gromett]

A question for my mechanically minded friends

My van has gotten lower over the last year and the spring are now pretty much flat. It passed the MOT but I am still thinking of replacing them. 1 reason is so I can fit the waste hog underneath again... The other is so that I don't look overloaded...

I have a 53 Ducato. How do I tell if these are the right ones please?

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Thanks

 

[Gromett]

Just thought. Look at the log book. Mine is an 18.

So I think I need this one?

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Model 18. 2002 - 2006?

 

[DESCO]

Hi

While not the answer to your question, have you ever thought of fitting Air-ride or one of the similar air suspension units to your van. These can be adjusted to raise or lower the rear end when parked up and will take some of the weight off the springs, making them last longer, and possibly improving your ride as a side effect. I fitted a pair to a van and the handling improved beyond my wildest dreams.

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[Gromett]

I just have a really cheap and nasty panel van. Not wasting good money on panel van for air ride. Thanks tho...

 

[DP+JAY]

I agree with Desco, unless your springs are broken you'd be better of with Air suspension. Try a kit from Marcle Leisure, very easy to fit & no dearer than the springs by the time youve bought all the bolts etc.

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[N&K]

I agree with Desco, unless your springs are broken you'd be better of with Air suspension. Try a kit from Marcle Leisure, very easy to fit & no dearer than the springs by the time youve bought all the bolts etc.

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Also get Air Suspension fitted in St Albans, fully recommend Watlings, they are great:
http://www.watling-towbars.co.uk/motorhome_air_suspension.html

Our previous motorhome has leaf springs which were almost totally flat (not curved), so when we changed our motorhome I got the air suspension fitted before they went flat. When we researched this some years ago, some people thought that the air suspension puts a very heavy single point of force on the chasis if the leaf springs are totally shot (not supporting any weight from the vehicle). Worth chatting to an expert before fitting air suspension on a vehicle with totally shot leaf springs.

We also spoke to a place in Brum which did re-tension on your current leaf spring instead of buying replacements - another option we didnt go for in the end, although a cheaper option I seem to rememeber.

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[Gromett]

I know a lot of people swear by these kits but I am just not prepared to spend the extra on this van. I paid £2,000 for it and it is a shed.

I just want to know if these are the right springs for my van. If so it is £300 plus 2 hours at a garage to fit them so less than £400.

The cheapest I have been quoted for the air suspension (on my previous ducato) was £450 fitted.

I will have to get new leaf springs if I wanted the air suspension anyway as these are pretty much flat now... So probably talking £800+ to get both.

Thanks tho...

 

[Gromett]

I just got underneath to have a look and the spring is curved the wrong way and resting on the bump stop. Last time I looked I had a few inches...

 

[wivvy's dad]

That's FUBAR'd...................

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[Gromett]

That's FUBAR'd...................

The MOT guy says its fine though... failed on a small hole in the sill because it is [HI]next[/HI] to a load bearing member apparently.....

I thought that was back to front. My judgement which is obviously not worth anything when it comes to these things is that the suspension should have been a fail and the hole should have been a notification.

Can no one advise me if the leaf spring I linked to is the right one please?

 

[vwalan]

hi .try ringing the supplier that way they tell yoiu if its the one you need.

 

[jhorsf]

its not a bump stop its part of some suspension systems I am not sure about your year of van but later ones do bend that way from new and do sit on the bump stop/assister
where is Geo when you need him he is sure to know

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[Gromett]

Nope, These definitely are bending the wrong way. When I got the van they bent the other way and there was a good 6 inches gap...

 

[Gromett]

Also from what I can make out the assisters are fitted after market by motorhome manufacturers. this is definately a bump stop as it is a solid block of rubber as opposed to the hollow or cone shaped block...

Thanks for the suggestion though. i definitely want new springs.

Sorry: I sit corrected. On the X250 model they are suspension assisters not bump stops.

 

[Gromett]

I have just been looking around for pictures of the difference.
I want to see what bump stops looked like vs assisters.

Guess what?????

Mine look like assisters..... Thanks jhorsf.

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[Techno]

did you see my Dunlop air suspension fitting guide?

 

[TheBig1]

how about assister springs? this guy may be helpful

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[spannermanwigan]

1) Contact your local fiat dealer and ask for part number of springs fitted to your
chassis/vin number.

Armed with the above,contact the supplier and ask them to cross reference your part number with their own.This should in theory ensure you get the right parts.

Alternatively you could ask the supplier which is the highest load rated spring suitable for your vehicle, and fit that.

One thought a six inch drop in spring height over a year would suggest you have added considerable weight to the vehicle, have you tried weighing your rear axle to see what weight you are now imposing on those springs,and compare this with your permitted axle loads,if in fact excessive you could be creating further problems for yourself, such as wheel bearing failure ,apart from the legal point should you be stopped and weighed.

Regards
Steve

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[vwalan]

also adding helper springs or air suspension lowers your payload . as its extra weight . unless you up grade the gvw or axle weights . but i agree with spanner seems like you have the wrong vehicle . adding air suspension etc might make it look better but get it weighed by vosa and you could be spending far more than the costs of air suspension on a fine.

 

[stcyr]

Why not fit Grayston spring assisters as we did on our Dethleffs. A simple 1 hour diy job. Restores to original ride height and transforms handling. Cost about £150/160. Google Grayston spring assisters... :thumb:

Grayston Engineering Ltd
115, Roebuck Rd.,
Chessington,
Surrey,
KT9 1JZ

020 8974 1122
email: sales@springassisters.co.uk

 

[aba]

i agree with steve before spending your hard earned on new springs just run on to a weigh bridge most scrap yards and council tips have them or find a public one locally and get the weights of the 2 axles just to be sure.

i was quite surprised to find that when i weighed ours after we had loaded it as we fulltime that with empty water tanks we were 300kg over weight on the rear axles but still 250kg under max permitted vehicle weight needless to say when i got home i repacked the van moving heavier stuff forwards.

you on the other hand may not have the luxury of being able to shift a couple of hundred kilos towards the front.

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[artona]

http://www.jones-springs.co.uk/ thats who supplied my double springs, cheaper than the email link and about £100 to have fitted

 

[bigfoot]

Why not go to a road spring specialist and have them re-tempered,some do it onsite.