I am looking for something to use on the new Nissan XT and it seems that money isn't enough and that only the rubber spring inserts are available
Do people find that they are Ok and does it make the ride harder
I can't see that they pose a risk to life as mooted above
I fitted the rubber inserts, which worked fine and just raised the height at the rear end.
Never noticed any difference with the ride either.
I've just forgotten they are there any more.
It's a toyota Estima though, what difference that makes, I don't know.
I beleive the theory is they dont afferct normally, because the springs dont get compressed enough to sit on the assistors.
Anyway, I have a 406 estate, and yes it seems to sit low when towing (probably due to the HUGE overhang at the back) but never had any problems bottoming the sspension, I have once or twice caught the stabiliser bracket when going over very large speedbumps, but once i figured that no problems,
When i go away, the nose is about 65Kgs, boot with awning, some food, and full baby kit( pram, bags etc)
you can get these wot towsure sell from Halfords. I put them on a rover 2000, when we first started caravaning then i fitted them on another rover 600 series, only cos the back end sat low, not that there was anything wrong with the car, u dont need knew springs and coils as folk have said! they just stop the car from bottoming out, and makes the back end sit up a little. little harder of a ride though over the bumps, when the car is empty.
And these are SAFE why fit shockers???? they have nothing to do with the height, or the hardnest of the ride.
Post last edited on 01/03/2008 21:45:18
------------- Roughing it in style at Calloose caravan and camping holiday park nr St Ives.(seasonal pitch)
Its not a hangover, its wine flu!
There doesn't seem to be either shock absorbers or M A D units available
I am waiting for a reply about M A D but it doesn't look hopeful after a week!!
The suspension is really good but its set up for a smooth ride and the car drops an inch under the equipment I carry (a few tools!) and if weight is taken from the caravan into the car to reduce noseweight it is still compressing the rear suspension
I will need to carry my wife's invalid buggy as well sometimes
The shocks are at 45deg to the suspension and the Nissan mechanic didn't advise spring assisted ones as it could affect the angle of the tyre to the road he thought
And they aren't available anyway
I have fitted M A D spring assisters and variable rate springs on previous vehicles but none seem to be available yet which is why I asked for comments on the Grayson type.
If you need to fit these to your car you want to change your vehicle as its not up to the job or you're overloading the nose weight and/or car or its a combination of both!
If you really must boost the suspension then the ONLY safe modification is to fit unprated springs and shock absorbers. Are your families lives not worth the extra cost?
Sorry but thats my opinion as an ex motor trade professional.
Bob
Wow!! Talk about a party political broadcast! I was thinking of slipping these harmless looking rubber inserts into the rear springs of my mondeo, just to 'beef up' the back end. But now i know the true horror that awaits me.... WILL SOMEONE PLEASE TELL HALFORDS AND TOWSURE TO STOP STOCKING THESE THINGS, ITS'S OUR FAMILIES LIVES THEY'RE PLAYING WITH!!
Cheers Folks - Jamie ;)
------------- The futures bright the futures podding!!!!
John, kep an eye on the springs as IMO with the assister inserts you are putting more stress on the bits of the coil that the assister is at.
was chatting to my trusty mechanic Wullie who said that he has fitted a few of the MAD units and they do work well, for me will wait and see how the easter trip goes, might fit them to the almera. good thing is that I have virtuallt no overhang on the back of the car and with the heavy kit (trolley jack and awning 13kg each) in the rear footwells that weight is basically in the centre of the car only mum's wheelchair in the boot (14kg) with a few bits and bobs. plus on the shakedown I couldnt get the noseweight of the van above 50kg adding another gas bottle will take that to 60 so i should be okay. limit is 75kg
We just had our ageing but trusty Vectra M.O.T.ed and it failed on back tyres. I said a colourful swear word and said thy had done only about 8k (premium brand Dunlops) The tester noticed and said if you tow a caravan thats whats done your tyres in. The tyres were fine on the outside rim but very worn on the inside rim. Fit spring assister's to it he said solve your problem. Van weights about a 1000klgs loaded.
Spring assistance is what it is, not spring replacement, although you can have upgraded springs fitted to your car specially for carrying more weight or towing.
The chances of spring assistors affecting the car to the extent that it becomes dangerous are very remote, the british standard institute are there to try and test all manner of things and when you see the bs kite mark you can be assured the safety of a product before you buy it.
Considering there are professional mechanics on here posting you would have thought they would know better about this sort of information and I also believe the likes of Halfords would not want to be linked to a product that may endanger life.
MAD springs are the ones we have on our Volvo 940 and they have made the world of difference to us, I can't really speak good or bad of others as I haven't tried them out but as you say they actually improve the handling on the car.
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Topic: Spring Assisters
