Fiat Ducato rear suspension

[wavetop]

I have an LMC A560 motorhome based on a FIAT Ducato chassis and need a replacement rear suspension coil, any suggestions on a source.

Thanks.

[Keithl]

What year and model of Fiat chassis? ie Maxi or Light and X244, X250, etc.

[Derek Uzzell]

Welcome to the Out&AboutLive forums, Wavetop.

It might be helpful to know when your LMC A560 was built and which motor it has. 

LMC has used the A560 model-reference from the early-1990s well into the into the 2000s and (I believe) continue to use it today.

This video on the link below is of a LMC Liberty A560 UK-registered on 1 September 2007, though it is plain that it was constructed on a Ducato chassis made by Fiat prior to mid-2006.

Coincidentally, on 9 March 2020, the vehicle failed the UK MOT test due to a Nearside Rear Coil spring fractured or broken, but as it passed the test the following day, it may be assumed that it had not been difficult to source a new spring.

As A560 models are relatively compact, I'm guessing that they were built on an ordinary Ducato non-Maxi 'ladder-frame' chassis. If you provide a Fiat Professional agent with your motorhome's VIN-number, they may be able to confirm which Ducato chassis it is on and identify the correct rear coil spring. (Having said that, if your motorhome is pre-2000, certain parts nowadays may well be unavailable from a Fiat agent.)

[wavetop]

Thanks for the video, my vehicle is identical in every way, including interior finish.

Manufacture 20/07/2005

NUOVO DUCATO (DUCATO RESTYL.BZ/DS (2001-2006)

Engine - 2.0  JTD DW 10 (MS)

Internet search of the VIN number describes the vehicle as CABINATO P.CORTO F.BASSA - translates as cabin cruiser/short/low, which is not helpful, but will check with FIAT agent, although I have already checked them for parts, which they don't have.

My problem is identical, nearside rear coil spring fractured and broken, can I ask who was able to fix this within a day ?

It looks like getting compatability with pre-2006 models is going to be the problem.

[Derek Uzzell]

When I re-thought your requirement and that you needed a COIL spring for the rear suspension, I could see that there could well be a sourcing problem.

The rear suspension of the standard Fiat Ducato chassis on which many coachbuilt motorhomes are constructed normally just has leaf springs. However, if the motorhome constructer considers that it would be beneficial (say the model's design has a long rear overhang and a large rear 'garage') the constructer may decide to fit coil-spring 'assisters' to supplement the leaf springs.

This 2012 forum thread discussed the breakage of a rear coil spring on a 2004 Fiat Ducato-based Knaus motorhome that had supplementary rear coil-spring as part of its specification.

A GOOGLE-search on fiat ducato rear coil springs indicates that these are available for Ducato X250/X290 vehicles (built from mid-2006 onwards), but the only (credible) online entry I can find relating to rear auxiliary coil springs for earlier Ducato vehicles like yours is on the Grayston Engineering website.

http://www.springassisters.co.uk/menu.htm

I'm doubtful that you will be able to source a single rear coil spring, but a possible alternative might be to remove both  of the present rear coil springs and fit 'semi-air' pneumatic air-bellows that would allow the strength of the rear springing to be adjusted according to the load being carried. This need not be very expensive if the installation is DIYed - GOOGLE-search on fiat ducato semi-air kit

[wavetop]

Thanks for the comments, I have had the same results from searches, all the providers have stock for 2006 onwards, which may fit a 2005, but I need to make sure.

I have thought that, as many of these kits are sold in pairs, it would be sensible to change both units, in case of the inevitable breakage of the other unit and for balance.

I have seen the 'air' option and if I cannot source the standard springs it may be a way out.

I am still following up on the contacts.

[Seth77]

Looks like replacing both springs or considering the air suspension option might be the best bet if sourcing the original coil is tricky.

[Derek Uzzell]

wavetop

This image shows coil-spring assisters designed to be fitted to the rear leaf springs of Ducato 1994-2006 models

and details of the UK company (Custom Campers UK) offering the 'kit' are here.

https://www.leafspringassister.co.uk/peugeot-boxer-relay-ducato/

There's also this related Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/leafspringassister/?locale=en_GB

Without seeing/knowing what the present rear coil-spring arrangement is on your LMC it's hard to know how best to proceed. I'm pretty sure that coil-spring assisters intended for Ducato X250/X290 models (built from mid-2006 onwards) would be unsuitable for earlier Ducatos as the chassis and rear axles are different.

The 'kit' advertised by Custom Campers UK is not cheap and, once the kit has been fitted, there's no certainty that the coil springs won't be too weak or too strong and - if that turns out to be the case - there would be no way to adjust the springs' strength.

I suggest you contact Custom Campers UK and see if they can advise. As your LMC already has rear coil springs they may be able to say where a replacement for the broken spring might be obtained. Or - if the unbroken spring were removed for comparison purposes - a specialist UK spring manufacturer might be able to fabricate a new pair or supply a new pair from stock matching the unbroken spring's dimensions and characteristics. For example

https://springcoil.co.uk/spring/suspension-springs/

There are plenty of 'semi-air' kits advertised online, some of them quite inexpensive (example here)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/326141754806?itmmeta=01J7N4ADV2K7QTB4EX6WGK85KS&hash=item4bef903db6:g:sOIAAOSwdzdmUcMu

and some less so. Fitting is generally straightforward for someone with reasonable DIY skills and appropriate workshop tools.

[wavetop]

I have ordered from Grayston Engineering, heavy duty set, should arrive today, see how it goes.  Thanks for the extra informantion, in case I need any further action.

[Derek Uzzell]

For Ducato X244 vehicles, I believe the Grayston kit includes four coil springs (two for each leaf spring). I THINK I recall four coil springs being fitted as standard by some motorhome manufacturers - is that what your LMC  has?