Well that’s sorted out my drooping front end what a difference. (1 Viewer)

Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
New front coil springs, struts & strut top mounts, on my Hymer B664 ducato X250 based, can’t believe the difference it makes now sits fairly level, hopefully this will make it much more user friendly when setting up level on sites & hopefully won’t knock my teeth out when hitting potholes in the road, the first 2 photos are from before it was done the second 2 are from just now with the new suspension components It’s lifted it nearly 4 inches from the ground.
 

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OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
Blimey.. that has made a difference.
yes having hit a few pot holes with it i decided that something needed doing, very pleased with the result, as its fairly labour intensive that why i replaced the struts & top mounts at the same time so hopefully wont have to worry about the front suspension ever again.

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May 26, 2016
1,205
3,531
north wales
Funster No
43,304
MH
low profile
Exp
moderate
That 1st photo -on the left - definitely does not look right. I would have thought that the tyre would be hitting the top of the wheel arch when going over a speed-bump.
 
OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
That 1st photo -on the left - definitely does not look right. I would have thought that the tyre would be hitting the top of the wheel arch when going over a speed-bump.
the suspension had hardly any travel nearly on the bump stops the image is decieving but the top of the tyre is well inside of the wheel arch moulding tho.
 
May 10, 2018
424
673
Bucks
Funster No
53,818
MH
Autocruise Augusta
Exp
MH newbie but we owned a caravan previously.
Did ours a few months back. Unbelievable difference.
 
Apr 12, 2022
4
2
Funster No
88,047
MH
VW t6
Have you done the rear? I contacted Marquart who do a heavy duty shock but I don't want to pay the import charges so I'm waiting till I go to France next month.
 
OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
Have you done the rear? I contacted Marquart who do a heavy duty shock but I don't want to pay the import charges so I'm waiting till I go to France next month.
No only the front as the rear is the ducato heavy chassis with double leaf springs so it handles well on the back end.

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Nov 13, 2011
1,451
3,293
Lincolnshire
Funster No
18,889
MH
PVC
Exp
30 years
What springs did you use, are they just new standard or uprated? If so which supplier.

Geoff
 
OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
What springs did you use, are they just new standard or uprated? If so which supplier.

Geoff
Geoff, I used Kilen springs I think the part number is 12205 but I can check for you, they are reinforced motorhome springs the coils are approx 22 mm diameter as opposed to the originals that were 19 mm the Kilen springs are also longer than the original Fiat ones, I used KYB struts & top mounts, the bump stops and the strut protector covers I got genuine Fiat ones but afterwards discovered that KYB also do them at a fraction of the price, if you need any more details let me know, just to let you know my mechanic hated the job he said the worst bit of the job was getting access to the top mount nuts.
 
Jun 19, 2014
322
506
Wimborne
Funster No
32,031
MH
Adria Coral+ 670SL
Exp
No longer a newbie
I've always been irritated by the nose-down attitude of my X-290. Is that because the amount of weight at the front compresses the original springs a lot, and stronger (longer?) replacements make the vehicle ride higher at the front wheels?

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OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
I've always been irritated by the nose-down attitude of my X-290. Is that because the amount of weight at the front compresses the original springs a lot, and stronger (longer?) replacements make the vehicle ride higher at the front wheels?
I think that only normal chassis cab springs are fitted as standard when the motorhome body is fitted they really need uprated springs on the fiats, this is the first Fiat based one that I have owned all the others have been Mercedes based & never had that problem with them, but see lots of droopy fiat based ones about.
 

Minxy

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 22, 2007
31,919
63,386
E Yorks
Funster No
149
MH
Carthago Compactline
Exp
Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
I'm not surprised it's made a difference as the photos of it before look like they springs were well and truly shot. :oops:
 
Feb 2, 2019
1,034
2,407
Norfolk
Funster No
58,334
MH
Pilote G740C
Exp
2018
Did you have to strip the dashboard to access the top mounts?

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OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
Did you have to strip the dashboard to access the top mounts?
i did not do the job myself my mechanic i use did this for me but from what he said he had to remove the dash end sections & drop the fuse box to gain access, he hated the job & said he never wanted to do another one tho, i did see the scratches to his arms when i collected the van from him.
 
Feb 2, 2019
1,034
2,407
Norfolk
Funster No
58,334
MH
Pilote G740C
Exp
2018
i did not do the job myself my mechanic i use did this for me but from what he said he had to remove the dash end sections & drop the fuse box to gain access, he hated the job & said he never wanted to do another one tho, i did see the scratches to his arms when i collected the van from him.
Mmm, doesn't sound a nice job. I want to do the same though so it might be an idea if I strip out the interior parts rather than a mechanic struggling?
 
OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
Mmm, doesn't sound a nice job. I want to do the same though so it might be an idea if I strip out the interior parts rather than a mechanic struggling?
I believe once the access is gained it’s a fairly straight forward job with the correct tools to compress the springs etc, good luck with yours it really has transformed the drive ability of the van even over just a few miles as yet, hopefully will get to give it a good run of a couple of hundred miles in a couple of weeks time.

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Sep 23, 2007
1,655
1,795
Leicestershire
Funster No
347
MH
A Class
Exp
4 and many as a tugger
Mmm, doesn't sound a nice job. I want to do the same though so it might be an idea if I strip out the interior parts rather than a mechanic struggling?
It’s not a bad job. i watch a mate do mine, took 4 hours including replacing the front pads.
No need to take the fuse box out as access can be had over the top of the fuse box. It is tight though, just be careful you don’t snap any of the bolts holding the leg on. They corrode in the suspension top, lots of lube and patience.
 
Apr 22, 2018
6,536
12,038
Herts.
Funster No
53,503
MH
Adria Coral lowline
As said above. It’s not a difficult job, just fiddly. The fuse box needs removing for the drivers side, and the glove box for passenger side. The lower arms do take a lot of leverage to out of the strut, and you need to be brave with the spring clamps. They are under some serious force. I gained 50mm at the front with the standard dampers.
 

WynandJean

LIFE MEMBER
Mar 23, 2010
6,666
3,306
West Midlands
Funster No
10,746
MH
Bailey Autograph 682
Exp
Since 2010
Oh dear, I was hoping to get some idea how I might improve my drooping front!!! 😄

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Feb 2, 2019
1,034
2,407
Norfolk
Funster No
58,334
MH
Pilote G740C
Exp
2018
As said above. It’s not a difficult job, just fiddly. The fuse box needs removing for the drivers side, and the glove box for passenger side. The lower arms do take a lot of leverage to out of the strut, and you need to be brave with the spring clamps. They are under some serious force. I gained 50mm at the front with the standard dampers.
So did you just uprate the springs rather than changing the whole strut?
 
Jun 19, 2014
322
506
Wimborne
Funster No
32,031
MH
Adria Coral+ 670SL
Exp
No longer a newbie
Sorry to be a pain, Martin, but if I were to have this done, is there a spec or part number I could give our local garage so that they can give me an estimate?
 
OP
OP
M
Jul 5, 2022
65
108
Bridport, Dorset, UK
Funster No
89,700
MH
Hymer B664 CL
Exp
30 years
Sorry to be a pain, Martin, but if I were to have this done, is there a spec or part number I could give our local garage so that they can give me an estimate?
If yours is a X250 ducato the springs are Kilen 12205 the struts & top mounts are KYB if you want part numbers of them I can let you have them next week when I am at work as the invoice for them is at work, the springs I got from e bay for approx £130 the pair including delivery.

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May 10, 2018
424
673
Bucks
Funster No
53,818
MH
Autocruise Augusta
Exp
MH newbie but we owned a caravan previously.
What springs did you use, are they just new standard or uprated? If so which supplier.

Geoff
We got our +50mm springs and shocks from Koni so worth shopping around. But as already posted the difference is amazing.
 

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