MAD Springs Insurance issues

[heysidays]

I have a Skoda Superb estate towing a Swift Eccles 560.
The back end of the Superb is sagging a bit lately when fully ladened and I have have been thinking of fitting MAD springs to beef up the back end when under load.
Due to it being a modification to the car it should technically be declared.
My current provider won't insure this modification and having now spoken to another 6/7 providers none of them will either.
Has anyone fitted them, and declared them successfully to their insurers and if so could you tell me who you where insured with.

Its a bit frustrating as its a positive safety modification and as per usual idiot insurance companies don't get it.

 

[Hutch]

I fitted them to a 2008 Santa Fe, I think the insurance company was Aviva, not a problem , but it was 15 years ago.
The MADs springs helped, when the caravan was on the back.
I suppose you could call MADs and ask for advice about insurance company's.

 

[heysidays]

Aviva is one of the companies I have tried but they don’t want to insure

 

[heysidays]

I fitted them to a 2008 Santa Fe, I think the insurance company was Aviva, not a problem , but it was 15 years ago.
The MADs springs helped, when the caravan was on the back.
I suppose you could call MADs and ask for advice about insurance company's.

That is one avenue I am going to explore tomorrow

 

[ProfJohnL]

What you may not appreciate, is that many modern cars have stability control systems which monitor ride height or suspension compliance. By fitting any sort of spring assistors you will modify the the motion of the suspension and will compromise the ride height sensors, which could feed inaccurate values to the stability control system, which in turn might send inappropriate signals to the control systems in the car actually compromising the the cars safety.

On a pure engineering perspective, you can be certain the car manufacturer will have specified spring rates to provide maximum safety for the car. There should never be any need to adjust them in normal usage.

If at any time you suspect your ride height or vehicle level is not correct, look for and correct the cause, such possible over loading, incorrect tyre inflation, or worn suspension components which should be replaced with OEM specification parts. All modifications, including tow bars should be declared to your insurers.

 

[Oscarmax]

What you may not appreciate, is that many modern cars have stability control systems which monitor ride height or suspension compliance. By fitting any sort of spring assistors you will modify the the motion of the suspension and will compromise the ride height sensors, which could feed inaccurate values to the stability control system, which in turn might send inappropriate signals to the control systems in the car actually compromising the the cars safety.

On a pure engineering perspective, you can be certain the car manufacturer will have specified spring rates to provide maximum safety for the car. There should never be any need to adjust them in normal usage.

If at any time you suspect your ride height or vehicle level is not correct, look for and correct the cause, such possible over loading, incorrect tyre inflation, or worn suspension components which should be replaced with OEM specification parts. All modifications, including tow bars should be declared to your insurers.

100% agree

 

[birdman101]

Besides the weight you are carrying in your car you need to check the noseweight on your tow ball is not over specified by the car specification. if all these weights are OK maybe rear springs need replacing.

 

[woodsieboy]

While I agree that manufacturers specify spring rates to meet their ideas of comfort and safety, I am not sure they specify spring rates for towing caravans,hence I have had 2 tow cars fitted with MAD equipment, both improved the towing experience and the solo ride.
IMO the manufacturers set their suspensions based on compromise and inevitably there will be some cars more suited to towing than others.
I can see nothing wrong with fitting the MAD springs, I wonder if the insurance companies you approached understand what they are and how they work, may be try a broker.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Besides the weight you are carrying in your car you need to check the noseweight on your tow ball is not over specified by the car specification. if all these weights are OK maybe rear springs need replacing.

Totally agree, and its important to know that the tow ball nose load has to be accounted as part of the cars total loading . You cant load a car to its limit and then hitch up trailer as that will likely exceed the cars rear load limits.

 

[JTQ]

Its a bit frustrating as its a positive safety modification and as per usual idiot insurance companies don't get it.

I would very much doubt they are idiots, they employ people to do all the facets of risk assessment and have actuaries to churn the numbers, then the underwriters have to be prepared to accept the risk. Anything but idiots.

The statement, "The back end of the Superb is sagging a bit lately when fully ladened --" rather points straight at the problem, the springs have gone out of spec.

 

[Oscarmax]

Or you are overloading the rear axle

 

[RogerL]

I would very much doubt they are idiots, they employ people to do all the facets of risk assessment and have actuaries to churn the numbers, then the underwriters have to be prepared to accept the risk. Anything but idiots.

All insurers target a certain demographic - if the owner or the car don't fit that demographic the insurer will either not quote or quote a silly high price - best to use a broker for anything out of the ordinary, which this is.

 

[littlebasher]

Probably a case that the insurance agent doesn't have a category for spring assisters, so just puts it into a 'suspension modification' category that lumps you in with all the boy racers.

I'm with Prof anyway when it comes to modern cars and their ride height sensors

 

[Lutz]

While I agree that manufacturers specify spring rates to meet their ideas of comfort and safety, I am not sure they specify spring rates for towing caravans,hence I have had 2 tow cars fitted with MAD equipment, both improved the towing experience and the solo ride.
IMO the manufacturers set their suspensions based on compromise and inevitably there will be some cars more suited to towing than others.

The maximum allowable rear axle load is no different when towing the caravan than without it, so there is nothing specific regarding load limits for towing.