need stronger spring for towing
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 425
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From: Norwalk, CA
need stronger spring for towing
The stock springs in the rear of my 99 4x4 Expedition are sagging. I towed a full car trailer with a 300zx to Vegas, ever since then the rear end is a lot lower than the front and it squeaks when i bounce on the back of the truck. I know there has to be a spring out there that are the same diameter and length as my stock spring, i just need to find one that can handle more weight so my rear end will come back up to height. Where can i get stronger springs that can be swapped with the stock springs? Ive searched 4wheelparts and a whole bunch of other sites, and all i can find are lowering springs.
Edit: Id like to add something just for interest. I have a 1990 Pathfinder that i put Jeep Grand Cherokee v8 front coil springs in the rear to give it 3" lift. They were almost the same length as the Nissan spring, just a lot stiffer/stronger. This is what im thinking about doing to the Expedition, i just need to find a superior spring from another truck.
Edit: Id like to add something just for interest. I have a 1990 Pathfinder that i put Jeep Grand Cherokee v8 front coil springs in the rear to give it 3" lift. They were almost the same length as the Nissan spring, just a lot stiffer/stronger. This is what im thinking about doing to the Expedition, i just need to find a superior spring from another truck.
Last edited by fun_suv; Jan 12, 2008 at 04:17 PM.
Senior User
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fun_suv,<O
</O
Did you ever find your new springs? I too tow with my Expe; I have a 2008 30' Outback TT that weighs 6000 lbs with a 745 lb tongue weight. In the past I towed a much smaller TT with my Honda Odyssey and I had to purchase new rear springs for it. Even with my weight distributing hitch I needed stronger springs in the Ody. I towed with the Ody and the stronger springs for several years and let me tell you, the springs made all the difference! I bought them from www.CoilSprings.com. They are a top notch coil springs company that really know their stuff. They custom make your springs that are within the factory spec. They actually ask you to give them the OEM spring part number so they can ensure the new stronger springs are safe for the vehicle. My ‘2000 4x4 Expe XLT 5.4L Factory Heavy Duty Tow Pkg’ has a rear spring part number of 5534-DA. I just ordered new rear springs for it today from www.CoilSprings.com and they were just as knowledgeable as they were a few years ago, in fact I talked to the same guy, Kevin. He asked me all the right questions like, what are you towing, what is the current OEM spring part number, vehicle specs, tongue weight of the trailer, do you want the vehicle height to be the same or would want the rear raised a little, etc. They really do a great job!! After giving him $345, ouch, my new spring will be here in 2-3 weeks. If you tow with heavy tongue weights they are worth every penny. BTW, with a trailer as heavy as yours, do you use a WDH (weight distributing hitch)? It distributes the tongue weight to the tow vehicle front wheels and the trailer's wheels. This is a must have for safety!! It really keeps those fronts steering in good contact with the road, especially during those emergency situations.<O</O
<O</O
Anyway, www.CoilSprings.com ... this IS your answer!!!<O</O
</ODid you ever find your new springs? I too tow with my Expe; I have a 2008 30' Outback TT that weighs 6000 lbs with a 745 lb tongue weight. In the past I towed a much smaller TT with my Honda Odyssey and I had to purchase new rear springs for it. Even with my weight distributing hitch I needed stronger springs in the Ody. I towed with the Ody and the stronger springs for several years and let me tell you, the springs made all the difference! I bought them from www.CoilSprings.com. They are a top notch coil springs company that really know their stuff. They custom make your springs that are within the factory spec. They actually ask you to give them the OEM spring part number so they can ensure the new stronger springs are safe for the vehicle. My ‘2000 4x4 Expe XLT 5.4L Factory Heavy Duty Tow Pkg’ has a rear spring part number of 5534-DA. I just ordered new rear springs for it today from www.CoilSprings.com and they were just as knowledgeable as they were a few years ago, in fact I talked to the same guy, Kevin. He asked me all the right questions like, what are you towing, what is the current OEM spring part number, vehicle specs, tongue weight of the trailer, do you want the vehicle height to be the same or would want the rear raised a little, etc. They really do a great job!! After giving him $345, ouch, my new spring will be here in 2-3 weeks. If you tow with heavy tongue weights they are worth every penny. BTW, with a trailer as heavy as yours, do you use a WDH (weight distributing hitch)? It distributes the tongue weight to the tow vehicle front wheels and the trailer's wheels. This is a must have for safety!! It really keeps those fronts steering in good contact with the road, especially during those emergency situations.<O
</O<O
</OAnyway, www.CoilSprings.com ... this IS your answer!!!<O
</O
Senior User
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We love it! We went to a local state park two weekends ago and we are taking a longer trip tomorrow morning...can't wait!!; the Expe did a great jop towing. I kept her at ~65-67 MPH with no problem, plenty of power from the 5.4. My only complaint, small complaint, is the 2" rear-end sag even with my WDH set up. I'll fix that with new rear springs from www.CoilSprings.com.
How is your Expe/Outback combination doing? Any words of widsom for me?
How is your Expe/Outback combination doing? Any words of widsom for me?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,634
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From: Lost in Pa.
Great, we went for a week long trip 1st week of Aug. towed the the old workhorse 97 did just fine for 192K, I don't to seem to have a sag problem but your TT is a tad larger, and your brave towing 65 to 67mph I say around 55 to 60 mph you don't want that to get away from you, bad things can happen, but hope not
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Good point! I am just so excited to actually have a 1/2 ton TV! with a real engine with real torque!!!!! I have been towing with a mini-Van (BTW..the Honda is an absolutely great TV for a 3000lb or less). I will slow it down though...thanks for the advice.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Great, we went for a week long trip 1st week of Aug. towed the the old workhorse 97 did just fine for 192K, I don't to seem to have a sag problem but your TT is a tad larger, and your brave towing 65 to 67mph I say around 55 to 60 mph you don't want that to get away from you, bad things can happen, but hope not
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Lost in Pa.
I have to control myself also when I tow and take some restraint and sometimes its the wife nagging me to slow down, yea I told her remind me when towing over 60mph, you know just sometimes its like Im not towing anything and besides these Expy's drive so nice for 1/2 ton trucks. But when not towing 70-75mph is the norm. on long trips
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If the sway control is built-in, meaning there is no addition add-on friction bar(s), then its probably an Equal-i-zer...probably the best other than a $5k Hensley.
If it has spring bars with chains and an add-on frinction sway bar then its probably a Reese or an Ea-Z-Lift....they work just fine, just a little more cumbersome to deal with.
If it has spring bars with chains and an add-on frinction sway bar then its probably a Reese or an Ea-Z-Lift....they work just fine, just a little more cumbersome to deal with.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,634
Likes: 37
From: Lost in Pa.
Yea it has spring bars with chains and add-on sway bar,and the friction bar is a Reese the name is still on it. I think the dealer charged me $600 installed and set up for my Expy, 97 & 01 pretty much same.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2008
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That sounds about right. I towed with that type of hitch for years...it worked great. I sprung for the Equal-i-zer, about $850, because they completely eliminate sway, even when the Big-Rigs fly past you in the left lane. I used to feel the TT get sucked over into the left lane a little when they passed by, that has almost been eliminated with the Equal-i-zer.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 20,634
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From: Lost in Pa.
Junebug, the Tekonsha P3 has the boost button on the front top left and both have the emergency swivel handle underneath, but the P3 has the color LCD display and more user friendly diagnostics display and don't misunderstand they both work well. Would you have info on your Equal-i-zer that you could pass on. BTW are you into NASCAR just asking because of you screen name