I have started looking at coil springs for our adventure rig. It is a 2006 XL with the 6.0L Diesel and seating like you might expect in public transit. Attached is a picture of our setup when we travel. I'm sure at 170K, the front springs have some wear, but bumps hit HARD. I am assuming I hit the bump stops with all of these bumps. If you have ever driven out I-70 east of Indianapolis, I thought the frontend was going to come apart. So I started doing some looking into available springs. I look at mine, Ford part number 9C2Z-5310-S. So my first step was looking at other factory options. My springs are listed as 1992-2009, so I checked a 1999 Ambulance with the 7.3L Diesel I found on Carfax. What I found there was why this got daunting. Spring options are 9C2Z-5310-S, G, P, U, V, J, M, N, T, and K. I did also check Moog, and like that their option is progressive. I think I can rule out any springs that are lighter than my current option. With our setup, I don't think I want to replace with stock since we have the weight of the bikes out front so far. I am at a loss of which way to go though since I can't afford to just try a bunch of options.

Other notes: My wife and I both like that these vans ride firm. We aren't worried about a little more stiffness, but I do want it to feel like it still has suspension. I will be replacing the current shocks with Bilsteins when I replace the coils, but see there are two options. One for Commercial HD use and one for RV. I want whichever is stiffer, but I can reach out to Bilstein on that. We run stock wheels with load range E tires. Currently Firestone Transforce HT2s, but need to replace those as well, which is another fun journey since Michelin doesn't make Defender MS2s in our size/weight rating.

 

Damn! I'm going to guess those bicycles are acting like leverage against your front suspension and frame! Can you put those on the roof? You probably need the heaviest duty springs for the rear (4k lbs) and the front (3.5k lbs?). Shocks won't help much if the springs are worn out and all that weight cantilevered out front plus a huge trailer that looks like 8k lbs.?

 

Rear springs I'm good. The PO put in airbags which I only keep inflated to 10psi. Not sure I actually need them, but also don't feel like removing them. Up top, I actually have two 14' kayaks we haul in addition to the bikes, so not enough room for additional bikes. It actually still hits bumps hard even without the bikes. I have weighed, and I'm not over capacity on any axles.

 

Looks like to me, it's doing pretty damn good with all that weight on there
those bikes alone would put the nose of my 1/2 ton on the ground
I'd leave it alone
There are no better springs than are on there
If you put new Moog Cargo Coils on it, you will have spring bind and some sagging straight away

 

I've got to think that either E350 ambulances are E450 chassis cabs would have stiffer springs.

I'm not sure I want the moogs since they are variable rate. I think once we hook up for the road, we'll be through the comfort portion.

Does anyone know where to find actual specs, like spring rate and weight capacity (?) for Ford's springs? Would the dealership parts department be able to look up that info?

 

I got my Heavy Duty springs from General Spring. 4k lbs rear and 3.5k lbs front. My 350 is carrying the Falcon 190 Camper build so it is quite heavy all the time.

$1,150 shipped just for the springs.
The Bilstein shocks are another $475 shipped.
Then the installation costs. I don't even want to say how much it cost me.

 

I'll look into them for the front springs. Thanks. I'll be self-installing, so that will save me some on it.

 

Try and find a truck scale and weigh the whole vehicle,front and rear. Check with a spring shop. they can build springs that are correct for the weight and lift

 

Not all coil springs are quality, my parts store set did not raise my van, my van still had the 40 year old stock coils with 1/2" clearance at the bump stop, brand new were the same clearance, and 2 years with my wheelchair lift the passenger side dropped 2", big shock, broke down lifting a light weight chair, I have bags inside my coils, they leaked, so the answer now is drive around with 70psi in the bags, the 89 E150 has only one set for all 3 engine options, pretty sure the inline weighs more than the v8 due to my lowrider stance. My 99 E350 ext weighed 8000 pounds, was stiff enough the wheelchair lift did not lean it in 22 years of service, obviously a half ton is a poor choice for wheelchair users, I towed a boat when I first purchased the van.
For my 89 they offer coil over shocks for the front, they are so weak not even they had any effect tho.
FYI I pulled the coils from my 99 E350 sitting in my wheelchair, didn't need to remove the shocks either, just have to lift the van high enough to let the I-beams drop down, remove the tires for extra, remove the tab at the top, it'll fall out to the side, lift it off, you may want a new rubber insulator on the beam where it rests, watch your brake lines too, don't want to stress it.

 

Same here
Replaced a whole bunch of springs that didn't change the ride height at all
Ford springs are pretty damn tough, I've only seen a handful break

 

I've a friend with a Falcon, and it is nice. He had heavier springs installed in the rear.

 

I will replace my coils with 3/4 ton set when the bags finally give out, rear leaf springs need replaced too, if I could get a long leaf set I'd rebuild my pack.


Getting high

 

Just installed all new suspension. HD coils up front and 4000 lbs. leaf springs (8 leaf). Van is completely empty (no water, cargo, food, nothing). Sitting a bit high at the rear but should level out when loaded for camping.

Untitled by Jordan Christopher, on Flickr

 

I need longer shocks, think they are topped out in the rear, would love to do the leaf springs, all the mechanics around here are retiring, big name shops won't touch these old vans either. I bet that thing is heavy.

 

It's a 350 so already has an additional 1k lbs. from the 1-ton chassis & 7.5L V8 compared to the 250 with 5.8 V8. The build from Intervec adds about 2k lbs. So I'm thinking it's a genuine 8k lbs. van. The HD springs handles it with capacity to spare. It has a firm ride when the van is empty yet it feels nice. Hard to explain because I thought it would rebound too much back there but it doesn't. I did find local mechanics willing to work on it but they had to earn it for sure. Some bolts didn't want to come out without aggressive persuasion.

My biggest challenge was getting today's mechanics to adjust the Camber on the Twin I-Beam. The ones in my area don't know about adjustable camber bolts for the Upper Ball Joint. The van has what looks like about 1 or 2 degrees negative camber. It tracks nice in corners that's for sure! But definitely needs a steering stabilizer because it has quite a bit of big bump steer at higher speeds.