Recommended suspension parts manufacturer?

[dorkins]

Just had my elderly (98) MH mot'd with no problems, however, couple of usual advisories on front suspension (Ducato), these being perished rubber on bushes dust covers etc, being a glutton for punishment and always looking forward to lying under the van in rain, frost, snow whatever to prove I'm still alive

The question is, given the large choice of manufacturers, what experience have you had with and who would you recommend for the parts?

 

[Silver-Fox]

Personally I use GSF for my vehicle spares.

They do a cheap range ie Drivetech but also do oe or oe quality.

Never had an issue with this supplier.

 

[L' Hobo]

Just had my elderly (98) MH mot'd with no problems, however, couple of usual advisories on front suspension (Ducato), these being perished rubber on bushes dust covers etc, being a glutton for punishment and always looking forward to lying under the van in rain, frost, snow whatever to prove I'm still alive

The question is, given the large choice of manufacturers, what experience have you had with and who would you recommend for the parts?

As they are only advisory, why not wait until it gets warmer and do them before next MOT?
Perhaps you're younger than me?

 

[MichaelT]

Recently got an Hella LED light set from Autodoc very good price but came from Germany so took nearly a week but good service and answered queries quickly.

 

[dorkins]

Personally I use GSF for my vehicle spares.

They do a cheap range ie Drivetech but also do oe or oe quality.

Never had an issue with this supplier.

I do use GSF locally but still struggle with deciding on the actual manufacturer.

As they are only advisory, why not wait until it gets warmer and do them before next MOT?
Perhaps you're younger than me?

Common sense says wait, after all they are not that urgent and to be honest I think they would be advisories for another couple of MOT's I just like making life hard! I have semi retired but not at "retirement age" some time later but still in the "I'm not giving in" mode despite the pain!

Recently got an Hella LED light set from Autodoc very good price but came from Germany so took nearly a week but good service and answered queries quickly.

I have been trawling through Autodoc and have used them before, almost too much choice, for the parts I need there are 60? odd manufacturers listed! it will be a case of wittling things down.

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[oilrag]

i have just done a full refresh on my ducato 244 front end ,although its only done 38 k things were looking shabby and i noticed it wasnt as smooth as it used to be
Most of the parts i used were febi bilstein (german manufacture) .the list included top mounts and bearings with seals ,bottom ball joints,drop links,dust covers,arb bushes and top spring caps
All from autodoc, ,one parcel ,free postage.
I used uprated motorhome front springs 21mm wire diameter (std was 19mm)from a company called Killen ,via aceparts on ebay.
The dampers came from monroe off ebay.
The result is astounding ,no more crashing ,no nose down attitude (it was slightly down )
My moho now drives like new ,even on the horrid roads of uk,
The total cost of parts was around £475 and it took me 2 full days on my own.
Hope this helps
G

 

[Silver-Fox]

I do use GSF locally but still struggle with deciding on the actual manufacturer.

Along with the name and picture it will tell you if it’s oe or same quality.

Delphi parts are good

 

[Landy Andy]

I would get prices of original kit from costal motorhomes first. Rarely is aftermarket stuff better than OE.
I swapped front suspension on my X250. Original parts and ok prices. Stuff from GSF is shockingly poor quality.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Stuff from GSF is shockingly poor quality.

Really

Did you buy the cheap stuff then.
Really interested in which make you bought.

 

[Landy Andy]

Really

Did you buy the cheap stuff then.
Really interested in which make you bought.

Drive tech brake parts for wife’s VW. Utter rubbish, that I wouldn’t fit. Can’t see why it’s of interest to you though.

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[Silver-Fox]

Drive tech brake parts for wife’s VW. Utter rubbish, that I wouldn’t fit. Can’t see why it’s of interest to you though.

If you check my previous post I said don’t buy drivetech as they are cheap parts.

It’s of interest because you was slating GSF for parts when I recommended them.

Still buy cheap buy twice as they say

 

[Landy Andy]

If you check my previous post I said don’t buy drivetech as they are cheap parts.

It’s of interest because you was slating GSF for parts when I recommended them.

Still buy cheap buy twice as they say

Yes. Hence I recommend pricing up original equipment first. It’s not always as expensive as people think, and the quality is higher quality than most aftermarket.

 

[Wingingit#1]

Suspension bits i normally go for bilstein or meyle

 

[dorkins]

i have just done a full refresh on my ducato 244 front end ,although its only done 38 k things were looking shabby and i noticed it wasnt as smooth as it used to be
Most of the parts i used were febi bilstein (german manufacture) .the list included top mounts and bearings with seals ,bottom ball joints,drop links,dust covers,arb bushes and top spring caps
All from autodoc, ,one parcel ,free postage.
I used uprated motorhome front springs 21mm wire diameter (std was 19mm)from a company called Killen ,via aceparts on ebay.
The dampers came from monroe off ebay.
The result is astounding ,no more crashing ,no nose down attitude (it was slightly down )
My moho now drives like new ,even on the horrid roads of uk,
The total cost of parts was around £475 and it took me 2 full days on my own.
Hope this helps
G

FB are one of the manufacturers on the short list at Autodoc, have had good service from them in the past

Along with the name and picture it will tell you if it’s oe or same quality.

Delphi parts are good

Delphi have come up elsewhere as recommended

I would get prices of original kit from costal motorhomes first. Rarely is aftermarket stuff better than OE.
I swapped front suspension on my X250. Original parts and ok prices. Stuff from GSF is shockingly poor quality.

thanks for that, certainly worth pricing

Suspension bits i normally go for bilstein or meyle

Will look at Meyle, they have been recommended particularly for up market cars.

Thanks to all, its shortened the list somewhat and given me some comparisons.

 

[dorkins]

Have had a look at CM and the prices are very good for oe parts, some that are not I would need to check out. Decided that I may do a front suspension refurb and leave it until next years warmer weather - you know it makes sense (me talking to myself) or I may just replace it with this:

2008 Scania R Series White Automatic Left Hand Drive in A...

2008 Scania R Series White Automatic Left Hand Drive in Antwerpen, Belgium - For Sale | Car & Classic, €350,000 SCANIA R480 LB 6X2 KETTER...

www.carandclassic.com

Used to have a Scania

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[L' Hobo]

Have had a look at CM and the prices are very good for oe parts, some that are not I would need to check out. Decided that I may do a front suspension refurb and leave it until next years warmer weather - you know it makes sense (me talking to myself) or I may just replace it with this:

2008 Scania R Series White Automatic Left Hand Drive in A...

2008 Scania R Series White Automatic Left Hand Drive in Antwerpen, Belgium - For Sale | Car & Classic, €350,000 SCANIA R480 LB 6X2 KETTER...

www.carandclassic.com

Used to have a Scania

I'd go for the Scania!

 

[TheBig1]

The OEM parts are supplied by Febi Bilstein and easily available. If you feel rich, upgraded parts from Goldschmidt are available, especially better front struts. Rear leaf springs, I always recommend Jones springs as better than OEM. Alko torsion bar suspension, there is no beating Frazer Brown engineering to refurb the axle

 

[L' Hobo]

The OEM parts are supplied by Febi Bilstein and easily available. If you feel rich, upgraded parts from Goldschmidt are available, especially better front struts. Rear leaf springs, I always recommend Jones springs as better than OEM. Alko torsion bar suspension, there is no beating Frazer Brown engineering to refurb the axle

When I did my fronts a few years ago in 2019, Fiat sent me some called 'Ricambi Originall' from Italy for my X250 Ducato?

 

[Silver-Fox]

Have had a look at CM and the prices are very good for oe parts,

Being a bit dim here so who are CM

 

[dorkins]

Being a bit dim here so who are CM

Sorry, being clever - Coastal Motorhomes comes of posting in a hurry!

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[dorkins]

The OEM parts are supplied by Febi Bilstein and easily available. If you feel rich, upgraded parts from Goldschmidt are available, especially better front struts. Rear leaf springs, I always recommend Jones springs as better than OEM. Alko torsion bar suspension, there is no beating Frazer Brown to refurb the axle

Thanks for that, interesting, need to look at this properly, I tend to get carried away in refurbishing and need to take a reality check.

 

[Jev88]

Coastal Motorhomes were very helpful with my Ducato front end suspension replacement and very knowledgeable about the different chassis numbers/maxi model etc....