Suggestions for Leveling Out Suspension?

[vt_maverick]

I still have my cut ones there for now. Regardless, reinstalling the OEM stops/helpers might eliminate the sag but they'll do so by resting the entire rear of the vehicle DIRECTLY on the rear axle. I have a feeling the girls and dog won't appreciate the ride quality. I was thinking that the OEM stops might help relieve the pressure the air bags experience after hitting a bump.

[JoFotoz]

I cant help thinking that we have gone in a huge circle....

...and a set of heavy duty OME springs is the way to go.

Simple swap in & out...
.....and no worry about damage to/ or the additional
add-ons needed for air bags.

Its the KISS premise IMO.

jo

[blacksambo]

What kind of weight are we talking about here? The rear axel is officially designed to handle 2475lbs gross, with stock spring helpers, and ride well.

You probably could 10% more without over doing anything, taking into account the safety margin.

I still have my cut ones there for now. Regardless, reinstalling the OEM stops/helpers might eliminate the sag but they'll do so by resting the entire rear of the vehicle DIRECTLY on the rear axle. I have a feeling the girls and dog won't appreciate the ride quality. I was thinking that the OEM stops might help relieve the pressure the air bags experience after hitting a bump.

[vt_maverick]

I would not characterize the factory backseat ride quality as "well."

Kids probably weigh 70 lbs with their car seats, dog's another 40 lbs., roof basket is 40 lbs., spare tire/rim is probably pushing 60 lbs., rear cargo carrier weighs 150 lbs. unloaded, then another 100+ lbs. in the carrier itself. With all that weight I'd be permanently riding on the stops/helpers which is surely not their intended purpose.

I need stiffer springs or a supplemental system of some kind.

[blacksambo]

You have less than the specified 475lbs of rear-axel load the truck was designed for (you are at 460lbs , if I added right), and there is a safety margin of ata least 10% (unless the weight of the gas throws something off?). I'd guess you've got enough stock suspension to handle it. Try the OEM spring helpers in place with your load at home first. It only takes 15 minutes to install them. (Maybe get a new set from Merlin if your's are older/ tired.) If this doesn't work, get some air bags. But on paper the OEM set up should really work. At any rate, I'd have to award you the die-hard super VX'er of the year award for all your enthusiastic use of your vehicle.

[vt_maverick]

Might have found a snag in the air bag plan... my VX is in the shop getting some new O2 sensors so I can't go look at this myself. What does the spring seat look like on our VX's? Is there a hole for the valve to stick down through? Take a look at the instructions here:

http://www.catalograck.com/imgVD/AIL/MN-131.pdf

I know they say Escort/Lynx/Tracker/Sidekick/X90/Vitara/Grand Vitara/XL-7 but this is the same part # they have listed for our VX's. As you can see in the diagrams, if there isn't already a hole in our coil spring seat we'd be required to drill a 3/4" hole to allow the valve stem to stick down through. Can anybody verify what our coil spring seats look like?

[JoFotoz]

Mav...there is a hole.

Its about the size of a nickel.....I run coil retainers through it.


There is also clearance fore and aft of the seat above the axle.

Jo

[vt_maverick]

Thanks Jo!

[PK]

You need to remember that it is not necessarily the total load here, but where that load is placed.
That hitch mounted carrier puts the load way back outside the suspension, so as well as the load, it has a multipierer effect as a lever arm.
Get rid of the hitch mounted carrier and buy a trailer, and the problem goes away.
Replace the OEM spring helpers, and the problem is reduced, but still not good.
Upgrade the rear suspension to accept the load and it will be okay loaded, but crap unloaded.

From my personal point of view it is an easy decision - buy a trailer.
But I can back a trailer so it is no big deal - others might want to avoid that.

PK

[Ldub]

Get rid of the hitch mounted carrier and buy a trailer, and the problem goes away.
Replace the OEM spring helpers, and the problem is reduced, but still not good.
Upgrade the rear suspension to accept the load and it will be okay loaded, but crap unloaded.

DING.DING.DING...

For a little bit more, you can get something you can use for other purposes...

From my personal point of view it is an easy decision - buy a trailer.
But I can back a trailer so it is no big deal - others might want to avoid that.

PK

I'm bring'n the trailer nex yr bro...

Wether I've got a load or not...

We'll give ya a go in the "short-short" category...

[VXorado]

You could always get 919 coil springs and chop em' shorter. That's what I did to reduce lift but keep the stiffer springs. The shorter 919s work great but I need retainers to keep them seated on the trails.

On that note...

Mav...there is a hole.

Its about the size of a nickel.....I run coil retainers through it.

Jo

Do you have the retainers from indy and if so, how well do they work? I'm thinking about ordering a set today.

[JoFotoz]

By "retainers" I mean......

Do you have the retainers from indy and if so, how well do they work? I'm thinking about ordering a set today.

...a modified coil restraining system.

And by "modified coil restraining system" I mean.....

...big arse ZIP TIES!

Obviously not from Indy...and they work GREAT!
(Cheap too... )

I spat a coil out the back a few years ago, and this was a 'field fix'...

...that has never needed upgrading


Jo

[VXorado]

By "retainers" I mean......



...a modified coil restraining system.

And by "modified coil restraining system" I mean.....

...big arse ZIP TIES!

Obviously not from Indy...and they work GREAT!
(Cheap too... )

I spat a coil out the back a few years ago, and this was a 'field fix'...

...that has never needed upgrading


Jo

I was just thinking... $40 for a piece of bent metal. Zip ties are definitely a cheaper alternative.

[JoFotoz]

Exactly...

I was just thinking... $40 for a piece of bent metal. Zip ties are definitely a cheaper alternative.

I have a couple of them on the bottom of each coil.....
.....and they do the job just fine.

And as you say..$40...or $0.40.

jo

[blacksambo]

I don't know what kind of shocks you're running but the do make over the shock type coils? Just a thought.