Uprating front coils on Fiat Ducato

[Happy Jack]

Worth bearing in mind both would be ok as the total axle weight would be at least 3998Kgs, more than enough for your van.
Is it worth checking which one gives most extra ride height?

 

[MichaelT]

Got Killen on current and had them on last van about 500 fitted.

 

[Happy Jack]

If you do the work yourself the only real awkward bit is levering the lower arm down far enough after removing the bottom ball joint and loosening off totally the anti-roll bar fastening.
Did it myself but a second pair of hands would make life easier and you would avoid the possibility of the drive popping out of the gearbox and losing the oil.

 

[MisterB]

Got Killen on current and had them on last van about 500 fitted.

thanks, its working out around that price now - using OVS in Weeley - they have done a few jobs on our vehicles now for about three years, so happy with their service so dont really want to shop around too widely, though it was important to get a few prices to get an idea of ball park figures.

 

[MisterB]

If you do the work yourself the only real awkward bit is levering the lower arm down far enough after removing the bottom ball joint and loosening off totally the anti-roll bar fastening.
Did it myself but a second pair of hands would make life easier and you would avoid the possibility of the drive popping out of the gearbox and losing the oil.

if it was summer then i would def have a go but i need it doing asap and the weather and timing gods are not with me !!!!

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[MichaelT]

thanks, its working out around that price now - using OVS in Weeley - they have done a few jobs on our vehicles now for about three years, so happy with their service so dont really want to shop around too widely, though it was important to get a few prices to get an idea of ball park figures.

Could try halfway garage on A133 where salmons use for mot

 

[raysalaugh]

Could try halfway garage on A133 where salmons use for mot

I'm not taking the bait.

 

[MisterB]

Happy Jack
MichaelT

just had this message from a supplier ----

In that case I would suggest going for part number 12205, they are approximately 40% stiffer than the standard van springs and 20% stiffer than Kilen 12181 springs.

 

[MichaelT]

Happy Jack
MichaelT

just had this message from a supplier ----

In that case I would suggest going for part number 12205, they are approximately 40% stiffer than the standard van springs and 20% stiffer than Kilen 12181 springs.

Not sure what mine are tbh.

 

[Landy Andy]

12181s fitted to mine. Got them on eBay.

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[Drexl]

In October last year I fitted Kilen 12181 coil springs when I replaced the standard suspension with Bilstein B6 Camper Advanced dampers. This is on my 2020 Boxer heavy chassis panel van conversion.
The 12181 springs are rated for front axle weight up to 2000kg - my weigh bridge front axle weight was 1800kg. The spring comparison pic is the 12181 next to the standard maxi chassis spring. The ride height after fitting is plus 54mm.
Removing and replacing the struts is possible without removing the driveshafts or bottom ball joint. As others have said - need to be careful not to pull out the passenger side driveshaft when removing and replacing the damper unit from the hub. I didnt lose oil but did have a container underneath as a precaution. A helper is recommended for reinstalling the struts to line up the 3 strut top bolts as the struts are heavy. The trickiest bit was accessing the drivers side strut top - see photo. There are 2 security bolts (the type with sheared off heads) that need to be removed that hold on the cage round the BCM. Compared to the original suspension the improved ride quality, stability in cross winds and reduced noise has been very impressive. Probably the best mod I have done to the van.

BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced - BILSTEIN Camper

Thanks to our DampMatic technology, the BILSTEIN B6 Camper Advanced always offers the optimum suspension setting.

camper.bilstein.com

 

[DerryW]

The only thing to be careful of with Autodoc is, they’re not the fastest for delivery (that’s has been my experience anyway). Nothing wrong with product or customer service, just the slow delivery which can be a pain if your desperate for a part.

 

[MisterB]

Thanks, I'm not getting them from autodoc, I'm getting them from the company that actually spent some time researching for me AND returned my phone calls. It seems the right thing to do albeit is costing me about £20 more than the cheapest I can find.

 

[MisterB]

Ordered the Kilen 12205 Coil Springs (2000kg +) to collect tomorrow, I could have them posted but I need to guarantee they are here for Monday as I've booked it in at a local garage to fit them. It will take me a couple of hours to drive to collect but it's peace of mind !!

 

[MisterB]

Ordered the Kilen 12205 Coil Springs (2000kg +) to collect tomorrow, I could have them posted but I need to guarantee they are here for Monday as I've booked it in at a local garage to fit them. It will take me a couple of hours to drive to collect but it's peace of mind !!

Had a quick message from SV Tech, they suggested I get the 12205 springs instead of the 12181, not that there's anything wrong with the 12181, it's just that the 12205 offer more weight carrying capacity

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[Lenny HB]

Got Killen on current and had them on last van about 500 fitted.

What is the van like in Gale force crosswinds and overtaking arctics?
We have VB front struts and springs, it handles in those conditions like the van was running on full air.

 

[Happy Jack]

What is the van like in Gale force crosswinds and overtaking arctics?
We have VB front struts and springs, it handles in those conditions like the van was running on full air.

My Ducato on Kilen 12205 is superb both in high winds and overtaking, whether it is me or the artik doing the overtaking.

 

[MichaelT]

What is the van like in Gale force crosswinds and overtaking arctics?
We have VB front struts and springs, it handles in those conditions like the van was running on full air.

It's good also have vb rear air like you.

 

[MisterB]

My Ducato on Kilen 12205 is superb both in high winds and overtaking, whether it is me or the artik doing the overtaking.

have you got the original single leaf springs on the back or the double heavy duty ones?

i am considering at some point changing the single leaf springs to doubles, especially as i will be running at around 3950kg ?

 

[Happy Jack]

have you got the original single leaf springs on the back or the double heavy duty ones?

i am considering at some point changing the single leaf springs to doubles, especially as i will be running at around 3950kg ?

I did fit double leaf springs & KYB gas shocks but found I was oversprung,  really hard ride.
MOT tester even remarked on it when he drove it over the slight ramp up into the workshop.
It was Sanderson double springs I fitted, was able to remove one on each side, now much better.
Improved even further when I fitted semi-air.
They also do single springs, might be worth messaging them to see if they are uprated, they are in Shropshire.

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[MisterB]

I did fit double leaf springs & KYB gas shocks but found I was oversprung,  really hard ride.
MOT tester even remarked on it when he drove it over the slight ramp up into the workshop.
It was Sanderson double springs I fitted, was able to remove one on each side, now much better.
Improved even further when I fitted semi-air.
They also do single springs, might be worth messaging them to see if they are uprated, they are in Shropshire.

Thanks, im sure i dont really need double leaf springs now that i have air assist. i just didnt want the uprated front springs to offset the weight towards the rear springs - did you keep the upgraded gas shocks?

 

[Happy Jack]

Thanks, im sure i dont really need double leaf springs now that i have air assist. i just didnt want the uprated front springs to offset the weight towards the rear springs - did you keep the upgraded gas shocks?

Yes I did, they only "dampen"; but I suppose good ones give superior performance.
It might be worth you getting upgraded single leaf springs, if you are running near to max load.

 

[MisterB]

Yes I did, they only "dampen"; but I suppose good ones give superior performance.
It might be worth you getting upgraded single leaf springs, if you are running near to max load.

can you get upgraded rear single leaf springs? where did you get the uprated gas shocks/struts from?

i am tempted to replace the gas shocks so might look at replacing the springs at the same time.

 

[Happy Jack]

can you get upgraded rear single leaf springs? where did you get the uprated gas shocks/struts from?

i am tempted to replace the gas shocks so might look at replacing the springs at the same time.

Got the struts and rear shocks from E-bay.
Will check out my order history and get back to you with part numbers.
Think you can get uprated single springs but not sure where from.
As I said in an earlier post it might be worth checking out Sanderson springs website and then message them to find out if the single spring they do is standard or uprated.

 

[Happy Jack]

Got the struts and rear shocks from E-bay.
Will check out my order history and get back to you with part numbers.
Think you can get uprated single springs but not sure where from.
As I said in an earlier post it might be worth checking out Sanderson springs website and then message them to find out if the single spring they do is standard or uprated.

Just checked.
(For my van 2016 Ducato 2.3).
E-bay seller carpartsinmotion.
Front struts 335827KYB, £194.58 a pair.
Rear shocks. 345701KYB, £138.92 a pair.
Just checked e-bay and the seller have the fronts at £20 cheaper than I paid and £13 cheaper for the rears.!!!!!!!!!.
And I bought them n 2023 !!!!!

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[MisterB]

Just checked.
(For my van 2016 Ducato 2.3).
E-bay seller carpartsinmotion.
Front struts 335827KYB, £194.58 a pair.
Rear shocks. 345701KYB, £138.92 a pair.
Just checked e-bay and the seller have the fronts at £20 cheaper than I paid and £13 cheaper for the rears.!!!!!!!!!.
And I bought them n 2023 !!!!!

Thanks, just collected the motorhome, front springs now replaced with Kilen 12205 HD springs! All good so far! I really should just check everything out really before looking to do something that might not actually need doing !

 

[Happy Jack]

Just reviewed the post.
See your van is 2018 Fiat ducato 3500Kg.
But you say the wheel stud pitch is 130.
I thought that was only on the heavy chassis ???

 

[Lenny HB]

Just reviewed the post.
See your van is 2018 Fiat ducato 3500Kg.
But you say the wheel stud pitch is 130.
I thought that was only on the heavy chassis ???

I don't know about 2018 vans but with 9 speed auto on the light chassis you get the Maxi running gear, brakes, hubs & wheels. Our van is 2024 with 180hp with 9 speed and that's what we have.
Order the auto on the Maxi heavy chassis it's 15kg extra weight on the light chassis it's 55kg.

 

[Happy Jack]

I don't know about 2018 vans but with 9 speed auto on the light chassis you get the Maxi running gear, brakes, hubs & wheels. Our van is 2024 with 180hp with 9 speed and that's what we have.
Order the auto on the Maxi heavy chassis it's 15kg extra weight on the light chassis it's 55kg.

OK, understood.

 

[Happy Jack]

I don't know about 2018 vans but with 9 speed auto on the light chassis you get the Maxi running gear, brakes, hubs & wheels. Our van is 2024 with 180hp with 9 speed and that's what we have.
Order the auto on the Maxi heavy chassis it's 15kg extra weight on the light chassis it's 55kg.

Are the struts any different on the 9 speed auto.
Was just thinking that if the struts and rear shocks were specd for 3500 chassis, then it could be advisable to go to higher duty damping as Mister B needs to be uprated to 4000Kg ?
May have been worth the extra £180 to get uprated gas struts since all the work was being done anyway to fit new coil springs.

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