Coil Springs

Coil springs are the things that decide the height of standard suspension, not shock absorbers, anti-roll bars or anything else.  

Springs can cause the suspension to sink over time as they tire and they also naturally rust but that doesn't necessarily mean they need replacing.  However they can fracture unnoticed usually at the top or bottom where the coils are bunched up.  The first thing you might know about this is if you have an MOT failure or a phone call when your van is being serviced.

 

If you want to check the springs yourself, jack up the van on one side at a time using a hydraulic jack under the dedicated jacking point on the sill panel.  Don't do this on on sloping or soft ground and don't even think about doing this without using good axle stands as a back up.

  

You'll need a decent modern bright light.  There should be be no fractures or parts of the tails (either top or bottom) of the spring missing.  Sometimes these will be hard to see and you will have to rely on feel or a mirror.  Don't worry about sections of lifted rusted paint on the spring but be prepared to peel these off to examine for fractures on the metal underneath.  From an MOT point of view no part of a spring can be missing of fractured.  

Much over 100k miles and the springs are likely to be a bit tired, however, if they are not broken and the suspension doesn't appear low, it’s up to you.  Bear in mind the van’s history and what weight you might be carrying in the future. 

 

You may hear banging/clicking noises over bumps if a spring is fractured but a broken spring can be symptomless.

 

On T5’s the rear springs are pretty easy to replace, it’s just a matter of undoing the lower shock absorber bolt and then jacking the body up so the suspension hangs down and then you can take out the expanded coil springs.  You may have to lever down the rear arms a bit to get them out.

 

The front springs are completely different.  You have to first remove the complete suspension leg and then compress the spring in order to do anything.  You cannot change the top mount, bearing or the spring itself without special tools.  A pair of basic spring clamps that will reasonably safely compress a spring on an old Ford Fiesta MK 3 are bonkers on a vehicle of this weight.  My advice is to speak nicely in advance to your local garage and ask them if you can bring in the removed suspension legs and pay them to fit your supplied new top mountings/bearings/springs.  This way you will have more chance of seeing (but not scaring!) your Grandchildren!  A local garage should charge you about an hour a side or perhaps a little less for two.

 

The new springs themselves are often paint marked with colours.  The marks usually denote differences in stiffness.  A spring that will physically fit your van might leave it looking like a jacked up 70’s funny-car in an extreme case.  Generally it’s best to stick to the identical paint colours to be completely safe.  Having said that, I took a risk with the rear springs on my van recently and bought two, as new, (slightly mud splashed) genuine VW T5 rear springs from a camper converter company at an amazing price but with different markings on ebay.  Do your own research.   

Coil springs should always be changed in pairs for obvious reasons.