Spring/damper recommendations

[dekhelia]

After a fairly comprehensive MOT fail, I've had to get busy with the brakes on my camper. The garage guy said that he could tweak certain items and fettle other things to get it through ... and it would cost a grand. He pretty much did this last year (for £500 that time, the recession was still in full downswing then; whereas it isn't now ... right?), and now he reckons it all needs doing again.

So I thought, you know what, maybe I need to do things properly. I've bought, and am in the process of fitting, new discs, drums, backplates, pads, shoes, cylinders, and front and rear bearings. Also top front wishbone balljoints. After advice from CovKid and others, I won't be doing the trailing arm bushes.

The thing is, while I've been doing this work I've noticed the poor condition of the springs and dampers, both front and rear (the springs actually came up in the MOT advisory section, as being corroded), and I'm figuring that since I'm into the job for five hundred quid anyway, I might as well bite the bullet and give the old girl a set of new suspenders.

Does anyone have any recommendations as to what would be best? It's a Mescalero camper, so similar weight and arrangement as a Westfalia, so do I need uprated or heavy-duty rear springs? What about dampers - would heavy-duty be best at the back? I don't want any of the lowering stuff, I'm happy with the ride height as it is.

What makes are good?

Thanks for any suggestions

[waltraud]

Standard springs with blue marks from Brickwerks and Bilstein B4 dampers imo

[dekhelia]

Cheers for the reply. I've actually been looking at the damper set from GSF, not sure if this is false economy ... but they are cheap.

Have you used veedubmachine.co.uk? Their prices seem ok ... any clues as to their reputation? With mine being a camper, and therefore heavy especially at the back, I was thinking of going for their heavy duty rear springs.

Thing is with all this stuff, there are so many avenues to go down, and not much in the way of pointers. I was thinking, HD springs and dampers at the rear, and standard at the front. There are loads of bundle deals available, but they all seem to be lowering kits. I like my camper at the ride height it is already, can't see much reason to make it lower.

Hey ho.

[CovKid]

Dampers on mine are from GSF. Had no issues and ride is comfortable. Nowt wrong with stock setup unless you're considering haring across the dunes. Adjustables - used them in the past and concluded they were a total waste of time.

Also, these vehicles were expected to carry weight around and will happily accomodate chipboard interiors but you could upgrade springs if you really feel yours might benefit from them.

[ghost123uk]

Just popped in to give my thoughts on dampers and springs.

Our Tin-Top camper has standard springs and shocks and a fairly light interior. A while back I had to collect about 10 or 12 3ft X 2ft concrete paving slabs and drive 25 miles back on mostly B roads with them. I don't know how much they weighed, but quite a lot if my back was any judge ! On the way back, you could certainly feel the extra weight when accelerating, but the handling seemed much much better ! It seemed to actually corner better and the steering felt more precise. The brakes handled it ok too.

This lead me to thinking, these vans were not designed as campers, they were designed as load haulers for brickies and builders and delivery vans etc, so the suspension is designed for carrying a fair bit of weight (what is the load capacity of a T25?) so, bearing in mind a camper is lighter than your average fully laden T25 delivery van, perhaps "heavy duty" springs and shocks is actually going the wrong way and we should be looking at softer springs (and maybe dampers)

The above paragraph is probably cobblers, just my random thinking...

[CovKid]

No its about right. My Caravelle for instance, which was originally for hauling passengers, has very high springs - most people notice how much higher it sits compared to others. And I've noticed if I drive around too light (ie not much weight in there), I get all kinds of clonks and creaks. I honestly think stock shocks & springs (new) are fine. With most campers the only issues tend to be around leaning to one side.

[corkyboy76]

I've noticed if I drive around too light (ie not much weight in there), I get all kinds of clonks and creaks. I honestly think stock shocks & springs (new) are fine. With most campers the only issues tend to be around leaning to one side.

Hi Covkid, how does this fit in with your thoughts for a more lightweight interior in your van, wouldnt your advice on springs ^ give you a little more leeway for a heftier internal layout, perhaps your van is telling you something.
( sorry if i've diverted the thread).

[CovKid]

Hmm, yes thats correct although I found with even just the few items I carry onboard (and no hefty roof remember), its enough to shut up the squeaks etc. Its only when I run with a completely stripped out van that it becomes very evident. The replacement of suspension and steering bushes helps quite a bit though. I always think my springs are too high though - until I have to drive over a speed hump or similar and then I forget about it.

[dekhelia]

Interesting thoughts fellas, thanks. What I ended up doing was getting a full spring and damper set from veedubmachine, standard springs but 'heavy duty' shocks ... for £200 all in, which I thought was very reasonable.

The van's getting the treatment this year, alright: new springs, shocks, discs, pads, drums, cylinders, backplates, shoes, balljoints ... I'd love to do the sills and rear arch panels, but I think funds probably won't allow it and it'll have to wait a year for the cosmetic stuff. I figured it was better to spend the money on the 'spine' of the van, so to speak.