VB-Airsuspension Front/Comfort Coil Springs for Fiat Ducato X290

[suffolk man]

Hi, just wondering if anybody has fitted these and if so did it improve the ride (less front end crashing and banging basically)? We have dunlop air assist on the back which has civilised the back end but the front is a bit agricultural....

 

[SD j]

When I spoke to a uk suppler they told me that those springs would lift the front end to match the rear VB air as it raises the back by a good 25mm , they also said that they were stiffer than the original ones.
I could not therefore see how they would improve the ride .
Better dampers would be a solution.
Maybe someone will be able to answer

 

[Landy Andy]

This is a screen shot which I took from here that may be of interest.

 

[suffolk man]

Thanks, that's very interesting. I don't need to raise the front and the van doesn't roll on the bends at the front too much, just slightly soften up the banging and crashing on rough roads. I must admit I was pretty horrified at the price for the VB when I looked . If anybody else has any advice on replacement coils/dampers I would be very grateful

 

[Steve and Denise]

Thanks, that's very interesting. I don't need to raise the front and the van doesn't roll on the bends at the front too much, just slightly soften up the banging and crashing on rough roads. I must admit I was pretty horrified at the price for the VB when I looked . If anybody else has any advice on replacement coils/dampers I would be very grateful

If you want to avoid crashing and banging keep off Lincolnshire roads we have some of the worst in the UK

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[suffolk man]

Just got back from Northumberland, makes Lincolnshire roads drive like floating on air! the only good bit of road we encountered was the two miles of road leading up to Chillingham castle which belongs to Dominic Cummings father in law. It was recently blacktopped, concrete spillways off to drains, the works. I'm sure it's just a coincidence............NOT

 

[meanders]

If you want to avoid crashing and banging keep off Lincolnshire roads we have some of the worst in the UK

You obviously have not been on Suffolk roads recently. I suspect other counties will also lay claim to the title.

 

[suffolk man]

Regretably we have as we live here. The A14 up to Ipswich and beyond is more like an endurance test than a main road. The concrete sections are truly terrible

 

[meanders]

Regretably we have as we live here. The A14 up to Ipswich and beyond is more like an endurance test than a main road. The concrete sections are truly terrible

Totally agree. Add that to Copdock, the Suffolk section of Android he A140, and the awful B roads and we are well served by Highways England and Suffolk CC... Not!

 

[SD j]

Thanks, that's very interesting. I don't need to raise the front and the van doesn't roll on the bends at the front too much, just slightly soften up the banging and crashing on rough roads. I must admit I was pretty horrified at the price for the VB when I looked . If anybody else has any advice on replacement coils/dampers I would be very grateful

There’s definitely a market for improved dampers / shock absorbers for the Ducato,
I think the OG ones are still oil filled as opposed to Gas .
There’s gas options available for most other vehicles but I’ve not come across any for the Ducato

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[wildstar]

had vb semi air fitted to the alko rear axel made a big difference. so decided to do the front springs my self as the dealer wanted to much. vb had an ebay page so was able to buy direct from them. the springs came with all new nuts to replace the one you have to undo along with a reasonable instruction sheet showing step by step instruction. i did it over two days. the pasenger side first then had to do the driver side this is abit harder to do as it involves removing the main fuse board to be able to get to the top mounting bolts on the damper.if you have not got the right spring compresser take to local garage and get them to swap them for you. result you get a lot better ride no bottoming out in pot holes feels alot lighter on steering lift. about 50mm betwen wheel and body work.

 

[WESTY66]

If only Ohlins did. van suspension

 

[G7UXG]

Fitted the VB comfort springs on a 4250kg Alko chassis. Had VB semi air on the rear at the same time.

Didn’t rate the front springs at all. Lifted the front of the van too much and instead of bottoming out, they felt like they ‘topped out’ at times. I wouldn’t waste my money on them again.

No noticeable improvement in ride either. Probably worse actually.

 

[SD j]

Fitted the VB comfort springs on a 4250kg Alko chassis. Had VB semi air on the rear at the same time.

Didn’t rate the front springs at all. Lifted the front of the van too much and instead of bottoming out, they felt like they ‘topped out’ at times. I wouldn’t waste my money on them again.

No noticeable improvement in ride either. Probably worse actually.

Fitting 50mm longer springs will reduce travel of the dampers by 50mm , dampers don't generally have much more upward travel than that anyway.
Therefore ,unless anyone knows any differently longer springs cannot give an improved ride. Longer travel dampers would need to be fitted at the same time.
The only way to reduce body roll would be to fit stiffer springs but this would neither improve the ride nor keep the front of the vehicle level with the back to match the VB Semi Air 50mm rise.
The VB semi air seems a poor design as It does not maintain the standard ride height, this gives a nose down stance to PVCs in particular , it could affect the braking characteristics , and does result in the headlights being miss aligned.
Strange how some VB air specialist don't mention any of this whilst you shell out your hard earned, then leave you to find out you headlights don't work correctly on your first ride out in the dark, or MOT

Solutions I can think of include shorter air bags or brackets/ modification to chassis to allow the bags to sit 50mm lower in the first place .