Towing

[BigLick Round Roundabouts]

After picking up my 1 year old 3.2v6 from Vx today they have told me that the car requires 2 rear shocks.
I was shocked that it required 2 as both were gone and not just the case of changing the other one to keep them the same.
I have fitted a tow bar and I am towing a caravan a rather big caravan but within the limits of the Vx spec. Should I invest in a set of coil overs (if that is what they are called to protect my rear shocks as this is the only thing that I can think that may have caused them to go.
VX will not cover the shocks under warrenty but if it was my fault I dont mind paying.
If coil overs are the needed where should I get them from and are they easy to fit.
Cheers Irv

[Kevx11]

Spring assisters is the name I know them by. Stop your suspension from bottoming out. Might help. Cheap fix. Its a big van you say...and is within Vx towing limits...could it be your noseweight is too heavy? Its easy measured..a bit of wood and some kitchen scales. Think Vx specify 75kg..they do for mine. 1 year in seems very early to lose your shocks if everything mets Vx tolerances. !?

[Andy]

Yes, it’s a cheap fix that is basically a hard rubber ring that slots in between a couple of coils on your rear springs. I would guess even somewhere like halfords my sell them.

Failing that, there are plenty of aftermarket shock absorber companies that do rear shocks specific for towning with. Monroe spring to mind as being one of the market leaders in this field. Eithe rbuy them mail order an fit them/get them fitted, or ring somewhere like kwikfit etc who may be able to source them. I think vauxhall may even do something along the same lines. Lots of options

first quick look on the net came up with this...

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

[BigLick Round Roundabouts]

have a nose weight gauge and never go above 75k. Do the assistors inhibbit the performance of the car. cheers

[Kevx11]

Assisters will improve ride when towing...doubt they're to detrimental when driving solo as its a common mod. Ask your local 'van dealership. They'll sort you out.

Give the Caravan Club a call aswell....their hepldesk is superb. Or try their website..plenty 'how to' guides.

...and yes, Halfords sell the assisters.

Good luck.

[BigLick Round Roundabouts]

cheers mate

[Ste]

Would'nt the assisters basically stiffen the springs by preventing some coils from compressing?


I would bang on at VX about getting them replaced under warranty. and keep banging on, as Bainy got his changed at 2 years old. Worth a try.

[Maverick]

My personal thoughts are, forget the spring assisters. It does screw up your everyday handling. I have an SRi 1.9 CDTi 150, I have a Coachman Amara 500/5 caravan which is 1431kg fully loaded.

I used to have spring assisters but it lifted the rear of the car, and it will effect rear tyre wear, Vectra C's don't need any excuse for wearing rear yres, so why help the situation . I have towed several times with mine with no problem on standard springs.

But to be honest, I normally tow with my Zafira GSi.

But here is a pic.

[grumpano]

I tow a van with a fully laden weight of 1450k with no problems what so ever on my CDTI SRI 120. So i cant see towing being the reason for your shocks going mate. The spring assisters will make the ride a bit naff when you are not towing.If you keep to 75% the car should be fine.

[Maverick]

I tow a van with a fully laden weight of 1450k with no problems what so ever on my CDTI SRI 120. So i cant see towing being the reason for your shocks going mate. The spring assisters will make the ride a bit naff when you are not towing.If you keep to 75% the car should be fine.

The General rule according to the caravan club etc is to ideally tow at 85% of your kerb weight.

So if yours is a Vectra SRi 1.9 CDTi 120, you have a kerb weight of 1521kg according to Vauxhall's own figures.

So with your gross Caravan weight at 1450kg, you are towing at just over 95% of your cars kerb wiehgt.

My CDTi 150 has a kerbweight of 1532kg and my caravan tops out at 1431kg, therefore I am towing with the Vectra at 93%.

But they do say that with a well packed outfit you can go up to 100% of the cars car weight, personally I would not want to do this.