hmmmnz Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 as you know i have the old merc camper, now this old bus must be at its limits for suspension design, having what i can only assume is the max weight on it at all times, any way needless to say it rocks around in the back, there are air bag systems out there, even extra coil springs that sit between the chassis and the leaf, is the any reason i couldnt use a coil over unit to replace my existing standard dampeners/shocks? ok fuck knows what the dampening rates would be or the spring rates added to leafs, but apart from the obvious would it make a difference, worth buy a cheap set the right-ish size and giving it ago, i did look at the air bellow suspension but they are about $1000, and thats not even fitted, a quarter of my van budget!! no thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Look up air helpers - they are little airbags that sit in the coil spring - I believe Spence has some in his Buick.. edit - this kind of thing.. http://www.suspensionconnection.com/cgi-bin/suscon/60789-eurovan-air-springs.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmmmnz Posted April 30, 2013 Author Share Posted April 30, 2013 i have leafs in the rear, coil springs pffft thats strictly new school Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Oh that's easy then - put some extra leaves in.. Someone local to you must be able to make up an extra leaf or two to fit in there - here it wouldn't be than $200 for both sides.. most probably even less.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spencer Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Haha plenty of old cars with coil springs out back, I guess the cheapest band-aid option is probably air shocks? other than yea chuck moar leaf at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock-Lee Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 $50 for a new leaf last time I checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmmmnz Posted April 30, 2013 Author Share Posted April 30, 2013 i was thinking of another leaf, i did it to the old velox with great results (mazda bongo spring) i like the idea of the airbag, but they seem to be massively over priced here in the uk, the us site has them listed for under a quarter the price, not that they have them for the merc, but i can adapt something, thats if they'll ship it to the uk, any way, any reason i couldnt use a coil over?? in replacement for the standard shock? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
durty Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Shock mounts wouldn't be designed to take the extra weight/pressure I would think. Would need reinforcing at least 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KKtrips Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 This ^ the mounts would not be made to hold weight and the mounts will pull out or snap off fairly promptly. TBH going coil overs is MUCH more complicated and expensive than just throwing another leaf or two in each side.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My name is Russell Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Adding some turret mounts for coils should be piece of cake on a truck frame. Weld on some plates & gussets. Got decent quality shock absorbers? That would probably do more than increasing spring rate wouldn't it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muncie Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 Hey got a bit of second hand knowledge for you that may be useful the company i work for uses merc vans we also have a v8 supercar mechanic working for us he's fitted the sway bars from the longest heaviest merc in the same series his van is shall we say terrifying to be a passenger in it grips insanely well and doesnt roll. if you beefed up your bars and maybe some quality shocks in the back to tame the bounce you should be pretty happy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmmmnz Posted April 30, 2013 Author Share Posted April 30, 2013 that might be an idea, so something off a 608d might be the go, i wonder what the difference is suspension wise between the vans, as far as i can tell they all use the same chassis but have different weight classes, (apart from the dual wheels) mucho thanks guys, extra leaf and some super heavy duty shocks and possible sway bar might be just the ticket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaMpylobacter Posted April 30, 2013 Share Posted April 30, 2013 drag some helper bags in from the states. jokers on pirate4x4.com slam them in as assist springs on their tow vehicles heaps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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