Soft rear suspension.

[ken_374564897]

I use a 2007 vw passat sport est. to tow a lunar quasar and carry 2 dogs in the rear,the suspension goes down quite away so i am looking to improve the ride hieght,i cannot find self levelling shocks,but have come across M.A.D semi air assisters that are fitted inside the original rear spring and inflated to take some of the load.

Does anyone have any experience of these spring assisters or know of another solution?

thanks Ken.

 

[Rabfaetheblae]

Hi Ken

i had the same problem on my mondeo and used these

http://www.springassisters.co.uk/menu.htm
they worked a treat and were easy to fit.

Rab

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello ken,

If the ride height is too low, then either the vehicle is overloaded or something has broken.

There is never a technical reason to fit spring assistors as the car manufacture will have specified original equipment springs that are capable of maintaining and adequate ride height with all loads that are within the vehicles limits.

After market additions such as Self-levelling suspension or spring assistors to not increase the load margins of a vehicle.

 

[ken_374564897]

Hi Ken

i had the same problem on my mondeo and used these

http://www.springassisters.co.uk/menu.htm
they worked a treat and were easy to fit.

Rab

hiya Rab,thanks for the info,did you use the springs or the rubber collars?

 

[ken_374564897]

Hello ken,

If the ride height is too low, then either the vehicle is overloaded or something has broken.

There is never a technical reason to fit spring assistors as the car manufacture will have specified original equipment springs that are capable of maintaining and adequate ride height with all loads that are within the vehicles limits.

After market additions such as Self-levelling suspension or spring assistors to not increase the load margins of a vehicle.

hiya John,the problem is not so much the weight but where it is in the car,i carry 2 german shepherd dogs in the rear of the estate and thats all in the car.there weight is not over the rear wheels but behind them as the car has a large overhang at the rear and this is lowering the car even before i attach the caravan.thanks for the reply Ken.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Ken,

I appreciate what you are telling me, but my answer still stands.

Assuming the car is not broken or defective in any way, then if the rear end is too low, then it is is being over loaded. The crucial figure is the rear axle maximum load, regardless of how the car is loaded, if the rear axle load is greater than the limit specified by the manufacturer it is over loaded.

There is another possible explanation, and that is your expectations of the ride height are too great.

Providing you check that you are not overloaded, then you may fit assistors if you like, but it has no technical benefit to the car.

 

[ken_374564897]

Hello Ken,

I appreciate what you are telling me, but my answer still stands.

Assuming the car is not broken or defective in any way, then if the rear end is too low, then it is is being over loaded. The crucial figure is the rear axle maximum load, regardless of how the car is loaded, if the rear axle load is greater than the limit specified by the manufacturer it is over loaded.

There is another possible explanation, and that is your expectations of the ride height are too great.

Providing you check that you are not overloaded, then you may fit assistors if you like, but it has no technical benefit to the car.

Hiya John,yes i understand what you are saying,and will take the car to a weigh bridge to check the rear end load.thanks.Ken.

 

[Gareth_374543229]

Ken,

I have the same issue as you. I have an VX Insignia estate which has a large overhang. With my two Labs in the boot and the caravan running at 75kg Nose weight it does site quite low.

I am confident that nothing is broken as John suggests and I am sure that I am nowhere near the max rear axle limit either.

I have fitted some spring assisters as Rab mentioned, they have helped a bit but even after measuring them correctly etc I'm sure they are too small.

I may upgrade to the MAD-Suspension helper springs as I think they are a better engineering solution to rubber inserts which can put more stress on the rest of the spring.

 

[Lutz]

If you are nowhere near the rear axle load limit and the springs are definitely not worn or broken, then the only need to do any modifications to the rear springs would be in case of problems with inadequate spring travel when fully laden, i.e. the suspension is regularly hitting the bump stops on poor road surfaces.

 

[Gareth_374543229]

The car is only a 6 months old.

The suspension doesn't hit the bump stops just sits low. Looking at the outfit as a whole I would of though having it sit level would give a better quality of ride.

As well as the car sitting low, it means the rear of the 'van rides quite high and looks wrong.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Gareth,

Technically the "looks" are irrelevant, if the measured values are wrong, then that is the clearest indication that something is not right. If the car sits lower than the specification allows then no amount of spring assistance is going to correct the underlying cause or fault. You may actually do more damage.

 

[xtrailman]

KEN

I have fitted the rubber doenuts to a cavalier, a carina, and two primeras, all the cars were new, and the car's was not overloaded.

The rubbers while not ideal reduce the drop at the back end with the caravan on, from 1.5" approx, to a more acceptable 1".

All the cars had a nose weight limit of 75kg, by using 65kg you will help things along.

Normal road cars with standard springs, and long rear overhangs often need assistance.

When i had the audi it came with stiffer suspension, sports suspension, this only dropped 0.5", so wasn't a problem.

Moving to the xtrail, i couldn't see any drop at the rear when loading the van.

I suspect also that people carriers would perform the same.

So i wouldn't worry about fitting a suspension aid.

 

[xtrailman]

KEN

I have fitted the rubber doenuts to a cavalier, a carina, and two primeras, all the cars were new, and the car's was not overloaded.

The rubbers while not ideal reduce the drop at the back end with the caravan on, from 1.5" approx, to a more acceptable 1".

All the cars had a nose weight limit of 75kg, by using 65kg you will help things along.

Normal road cars with standard springs, and long rear overhangs often need assistance.

When i had the audi it came with stiffer suspension, sports suspension, this only dropped 0.5", so wasn't a problem.

Moving to the xtrail, i couldn't see any drop at the rear when loading the van.

I suspect also that people carriers would perform the same.

So i wouldn't worry about fitting a suspension aid.

 

[ken_374564897]

Ken,

I have the same issue as you. I have an VX Insignia estate which has a large overhang. With my two Labs in the boot and the caravan running at 75kg Nose weight it does site quite low.

I am confident that nothing is broken as John suggests and I am sure that I am nowhere near the max rear axle limit either.

I have fitted some spring assisters as Rab mentioned, they have helped a bit but even after measuring them correctly etc I'm sure they are too small.

I may upgrade to the MAD-Suspension helper springs as I think they are a better engineering solution to rubber inserts which can put more stress on the rest of the spring.

hiya Gareth,sounds like you have same problem as me,not overloaded,but down at the rear which lifts the rear of the carvan.i may go for the mad air assistors as they can be adjusted . thanks Ken.

 

[ken_374564897]

KEN

I have fitted the rubber doenuts to a cavalier, a carina, and two primeras, all the cars were new, and the car's was not overloaded.

The rubbers while not ideal reduce the drop at the back end with the caravan on, from 1.5" approx, to a more acceptable 1".

All the cars had a nose weight limit of 75kg, by using 65kg you will help things along.

Normal road cars with standard springs, and long rear overhangs often need assistance.

When i had the audi it came with stiffer suspension, sports suspension, this only dropped 0.5", so wasn't a problem.

Moving to the xtrail, i couldn't see any drop at the rear when loading the van.

I suspect also that people carriers would perform the same.

So i wouldn't worry about fitting a suspension aid.

Thanks for the info.i see from the forum that quite a few cars suffer in some way of rear end going down.Ken

 

[WatsonJohnG]

This comes up a lot and I have used MAD spring assisters to good effect on several cars

I recently posted about towbars with 2 sets of holes and this was discussed and some thought it not available on cars but imagine my joy when considering the Ford Kuga to see this towbar on offer!!!!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

This comes up a lot and I have used MAD spring assisters to good effect on several cars

I recently posted about towbars with 2 sets of holes and this was discussed and some thought it not available on cars but imagine my joy when considering the Ford Kuga to see this towbar on offer!!!!

http://www.4x4x4.com/accessories/ford/kuga_accessories_towbar.htm

 

[Lutz]

If the Kuga fulfils the requirements of an off-road vehicle, then there is no problem with the two alternative positions. Otherwise it would be difficult to imagine that the design shown would be homologated and therefore legal.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Alas my joy was short lived

The Witter towbar on the Witter site does not look like that!!!

 

[mauron]

Hi Ken,

We also have a VW Passat Estate together with a Lunar Lexon - but only one dog (retriever).

We load the car within the maximum rear axle weight and I have never had any problem with the ride height at the back.

It might be worth getting the rear suspension checked out on your car.

Ron.

 

[Philspadders]

the problem with spring assisters ,especially eh rubber onbes is that actually reduce spring travel. Spring design is basedon the distance compressed x the load, ie 20kg/mm. Fitting a stop between the coils does nothing to increase the rate of the springs. All it does is stop 2 coils from working and increasing the load on the other coils.. bad for the other coils.

MAD type spring assissters,where we fit another spring inside the OEM coil woud be better, but , when in normal driving conditions if the extra spring is being used your handling and ride height could be adversley affected to the detriment of the safety of the vehicle.

This may also affect the way the shock absorbers work ,and the shocks are vital to handling,and braking ability.

If you have a a car that is still under warranty

Also ,check that if your vehicle is still under manufacturers warranty ,will the warranty be void.