Coil Springs Failing

[Skewif]

One word of warning here.

I had a set of H+R lowering spring fitted to my van about 4 years ago. Last year just before we were about to go away I needed to get some clanks coming from the suspension sorted.

As time was short the only booking I could get was at my local HWCV dealer. However, they would not look at the van because the suspension was 'non standard'. With the help of the Service Manager I got round the problem and made the ferry, but not before replacing the H+R springs for a set of VW Ebach lowering springs, which were in stock, and new anti-roll bar drop arms, which were seized causing the noise.

The edict from VWUK is that VW dealers are not allowed to work on anything that is not standard VW supplied kit. For Health and Safety reasons according the sympathetic Service Manager.

Alan

No doubt using (brightly painted) aftermarket performance parts can cause issues with your warrantee and VW doing any future works. But there are lots of options for the suspension components, springs, shocks, ARB's and bushes that can be swapped in to make a very sweet handling / more comfortable camper using only VW Std parts. The Sachs HD shocks for example are fitted by VW to T5 variants inc the Cali (though not a current UK option). They are also black and look the same as Std so very unlikely to cause a problem IMO.

 

[mountainman]

Many thanks to all for help on this. I fit the new springs and shockers on Wednesday, then head off for 1000miles over the following 10 days. I'll let you know if i notice any difference.

 

[sprout99]

We just had a spring snap.

The oem part is 7H5511115M which doesn't seem to help the motor factors.

So we went with advice and fitted some kyb rear springs. I'm a little hacked off that using vehicle reg they decided it needed heavy duty spring because it was a california and 4motion

Now the rear sits 30mm higher than front. And i dont like it.

When analysing the oem number there is no mention of whether it's related to 2wd or 4wd.

 

[rod_vw]

No the related PR codes that apply to 7H5 511 115M don't mention 2WD or 4WD they translate as follows...

K4J = Window van Plus
A9A = California "Beach"
1BA = Standard suspension/shock absorption
0YD = Weight range 4 installation control only, no requirement forecast

Should have just one white paint mark to identify them.

 

[sprout99]

No the related PR codes that apply to 7H5 511 115M don't mention 2WD or 4WD they translate as follows...

K4J = Window van Plus
A9A = California "Beach"
1BA = Standard suspension/shock absorption
0YD = Weight range 4 installation control only, no requirement forecast

Should have just one white paint mark to identify them.

Yes the oem ones did.

Basically I need the correct springs. I'm really not happy with the look.

Top is now. Bottom is how it was

 

[Sandyvan]

I now have four sets of standard ride height coil springs with delivery mileage, after my mate and me picked our new vans up last week.

 

[sprout99]

thanks for the offer

The 7H5-511-115-M that broke is apparently a factory lowered sports spring
hence the problem i have

 

[Sandyvan]

I now have four sets of standard ride height coil springs with delivery mileage, after my mate and me picked our new vans up last week.

Thanks for the welcome WelshGas, its my third Cali and been on here since 2014 I think, but as said

 

[sprout99]

i can now confirm the 'hot-rod' van is back to normal

Reverted back to factory parts to save any ambiguity

 

[willwander]

Just found another bust rear spring, offside this time. 2011 SE
So am I right in thinking California is a T32 with T28 rear springs? That’s a bit weird.

 

[Sandyvan]

Cali to my knowledge is a T30.

 

[Sandyvan]

As said if your running standard ride height springs I have three sets of T6 and one set of T5.1 with delivery mileage on them. Boxed and would bring to the club shop event tomorrow.

I would take a donation to the RNLI or Help for Hero's, or British Legion or even your choice.

 

[willwander]

As said if your running standard ride height springs I have three sets of T6 and one set of T5.1 with delivery mileage on them. Boxed and would bring to the club shop event tomorrow.

I would take a donation to the RNLI or Help for Hero's, or British Legion or even your choice.

Kind offer. Thank you.
Unfortunately I've already sourced some.

 

[willwander]

Cali to my knowledge is a T30.

Mix maybe?, depending upon model, engine etc, mine has a T32 badge on back.

 

[Skewif]

Just found another bust rear spring, offside this time. 2011 SE
So am I right in thinking California is a T32 with T28 rear springs? That’s a bit weird.

Bit of a parts bin mash up. More a T30 front with a T28 rear to keep the bed level.

 

[Larkrise]

Just had a broken rear spring identified by VW at service...so will get a local garage to replace both rear springs. I need to decide on the best replacement (and lots of thoughts/advice in this thread)...but we have a short trip planned before they can be fitted-: so is it dangerous to drive until fixed?

 

[TripleBee]

Mine are already a couple of years going rusty. The black paint is falling off.
As you can see in the pictures, the coil is, due to the extra weight of 600 kgs, compressed up to the second twist in the coil. If I feel mine, they are already flattened to where the print is in the rubber.
If I measure the space in the wheel arche and compare front to back, the back is at least 3 cm lower than the front. So if you pack up for holidays, use a bike rack (doesn't matter on the towing bar or boot lid) and drive over speed bumps, I don't want to know what happens down there.
Every speed bump I come across, I pass at 20 km/h or less. You just hear from the suspension that you have a very heavy car with quite soft springs.

left......................................right

 

[TripleBee]

Just had a broken rear spring identified by VW at service...so will get a local garage to replace both rear springs. I need to decide on the best replacement (and lots of thoughts/advice in this thread)...but we have a short trip planned before they can be fitted-: so is it dangerous to drive until fixed?

It's hard to tell if it is dangerous. It all depends on how much of the spring has gone.
I would not really feel secure because the beginning and end of the springs are smaller diameter to keep the spring in place.
If that small part has gone, there might be a possibility that the spring is moving around while taking a bump, and in worst case, when the back is lifted up, the spring might even (in WORST case) find it's way out of it's place completely, making it dangerous to drive on.
Look at my pictures above.

 

[Larkrise]

Many thanks TripleBee. We had a few days away taking it easy and all was well..actually totally normal.

I wonder if anyone has experience of spring options? We don't want to raise or lower the van; I have ordered SACHS shocks (313 031) and the garage say they are ordering SACHS springs. Do I need to be careful about the spring specification? This is our first move away from VW servicing so I feel the need to take more responsibility.

 

[Sandyvan]

Many thanks TripleBee. We had a few days away taking it easy and all was well..actually totally normal.

I wonder if anyone has experience of spring options? We don't want to raise or lower the van; I have ordered SACHS shocks (313 031) and the garage say they are ordering SACHS springs. Do I need to be careful about the spring specification? This is our first move away from VW servicing so I feel the need to take more responsibility.

Shame your not closer I have four complete sets of standard Cali coil springs with delivery mileage on them.

 

[TripleBee]

Each spring has its own characteristics. The 4 pink painted dots on the springs stand for a certain weight class. If you go softer (other colors) or stiffer (again other colors) the behaviour of the van may change.
I would also like some springs that lift de back from the California up to 'normal' level. About 3 cm higher. Because now the tyres wear faster at the inside because the wheels tend to go outwards on the bottom when loaded.
I found some springs fitting for a constant load of 300 kgs and more. But for that price I can buy 2 sets of original springs, so I have not sorted it out yet.

 

[WelshGas]

Each spring has its own characteristics. The 4 pink painted dots on the springs stand for a certain weight class. If you go softer (other colors) or stiffer (again other colors) the behaviour of the van may change.
I would also like some springs that lift de back from the California up to 'normal' level. About 3 cm higher. Because now the tyres wear faster at the inside because the wheels tend to go outwards on the bottom when loaded.
I found some springs fitting for a constant load of 300 kgs and more. But for that price I can buy 2 sets of original springs, so I have not sorted it out yet.

The back of the California is Level. The wheel arch is higher on the front by design. Measure the Height from the Top of the Wheel Arch to the Body line. A & B on the diagram B is greater than A. This is by design to cope with a heavy load , road conditions and steering.
The rear wheels have height movement vertically into the wheel arch the front wheels only have this movement when steering straight, hence the higher front wheel arch to cope with upward wheel movement when turning.
The measurements C & D are equal.

 

[Skewif]

Each spring has its own characteristics. The 4 pink painted dots on the springs stand for a certain weight class. If you go softer (other colors) or stiffer (again other colors) the behaviour of the van may change.
I would also like some springs that lift de back from the California up to 'normal' level. About 3 cm higher. Because now the tyres wear faster at the inside because the wheels tend to go outwards on the bottom when loaded.
I found some springs fitting for a constant load of 300 kgs and more. But for that price I can buy 2 sets of original springs, so I have not sorted it out yet.

T32 rear springs (3 grey paint marks) will give you a small lift normally of around 20mm. Can be as much as 30mm when new spring rubber mounts fitted at same time. They are a little stiffer but a much better match for the weight of the Cali. Will get less roll, better handling, and better feel when loaded. Many people have done this and several threads on here about it. Pair new springs with new HD dampers ~£130 pair and it transforms the handling / ride for the better. Nearly new / delivery mileage 3 grey springs can be picked up for a few £ from eBay or most VW van conversation company’s as lots of people remove them to lower. Paid £10 for a pair.

 

[TripleBee]

Many thanks TripleBee. We had a few days away taking it easy and all was well..actually totally normal.

I wonder if anyone has experience of spring options? We don't want to raise or lower the van; I have ordered SACHS shocks (313 031) and the garage say they are ordering SACHS springs. Do I need to be careful about the spring specification? This is our first move away from VW servicing so I feel the need to take more responsibility.

You are welcome. I am glad nothing happened and you returned in 1 piece.

 

[Mike Maguire]

08 Cali now on 70 K mls. When first bought, at 60 K mls, found the rear dipped so much over speed humps that the towbar bottomed & scraped. Got B6s fitted together with Graystone's rubber insert spring assisters in the original springs.

Now 10K later, pre MOT inspection reveals broken spring & disrupted spring mounts. All being replaced by trusted main dealer here in Exeter. Requested T32 springs but not allowed to fit as nonstandard.

The conversion to higher spec shocks plus inserts produced a wonderfully transformed controlled tight rear end. But suspect that the inserts restricted spring deflection so much that huge pressures were transferred to the spring mounts. Leads me to cease recommending this type of spring assister which has done sterling long term duty on 3 prior estates. But these ain't going back on the Cali!!!