MK3 heavy shock absorbers from different vehicle

[axxez]

Hi there!
On my MK3 100L the rear shock-absorbers are not working very good. When I bought the van I had air-compressor absorbers from Monroe, but they where old and the rubber had cracks. Though they worked perfectly. I changed them to stock heavy duty as I am travelling right now, so not to have problems with the old parts. I destroyed 2 pairs of rear shocks during the trip (now 20.000km more or less bad roads) and am at the moment having GAZ Gazelle shocks in the rear. Let's say it like that: They are the minimum you should have on a Transit 100L... To be honest: the car has some load on the very high roof and lot's of load on the rear axle, probably overloaded right now but don't know. So I am searching for really good shocks, maybe from another car. Any suggestion what could fit (Iveco, MB 508, Sprinter,..)? Did anyone try out?
Cheers!

[ceurieusneus]

Just bump this tread back to the top...
Nobody who can help our friend with this problem... ???

Alex, could it be that due to the reinforcing off the back springs, before you left, the body now has a higher position to the back axle.
Maybe the shock absorber should be a bit longer.
How did you measure the replacements before you started?
Good luck

[axxez]

Thanks! Yes, it is a bit higher, but not too much. I think still in the range of standard shocks. Had OME directly after the lift, which are longer but didn't help. The ride is far from stable but handleable, at least compared to the airshocks. Also walking inside the car makes it move a lot. I think it is just too heavy and too high for standard and standard heavy duty shocks for Transit.

[ceurieusneus]

"Normal" (now)... Your van stands a bit higher, due to the extra leaf spring.
What happen if in the rough country, where you are driving in now, the back wheel coms from the ground?
What happen when the top loaded van is (wageling?) bouncing, one side to the other?
At that moment the shock absorber will probably be extended to, or over, his maximum lenght.
(bump)

[axxez]

After searching for a while I found Sachs 125443 from MAN L2000 rear axle (with air-suspension), which are very near in length to the Transit ones (371mm / 594mm). Would need some adjustment on the rubber and screws, but might be possible. Only question is if they create a far too hard ride, as they are for 7,5to vehicles and Transit shocks are probably for up to 3,5to. Though heavy duty Transit shocks didn't do the job for me and I though about going for a double-shock system. With my simple calculation that would be kind of the same (2 x 3,5to / 1 x 7to)..
Any ideas on that thought?


@ceurieusneus:
Bouncing was not that bad, usually wheels stayed on the ground. Only a few times I had one wheel in the air, which was always on the front axle and at extremely low speed. For serious and fast offroad use cars get upgraded with rebound straps, but I am not drivng rallye xD Anyway, length is important with the shocks, but the car is not soo much lifted in the rear.

[axxez]

Just ordered for a try, let's see if they will be nice for my car. Right now with OME shocks in good condition the car starts to swing a bit when standing at a signal light and other cars are passing by... I hope this will be solved and still driveable!

[axxez]

So lets see if they will work. On the weekend I changed the shells on the MAN from 14mm to none (upper part) and 12mm (lower part) from old Transit shocks. How did I do that? Basically by heating the shells with a gas blowpipe, or better said: setting them on fire XD Not too good for the rubber, but I think it shouldn't be damaged too much, mostly on the outer part.

Old Transit shocks and MAN L2000 (for vehicle with air-suspension); Transit normal / MAN normal / Transit extended / MAN extended



Original MAN L2000 left and modified MAN L2000 right



Upper part original MAN left and modified right



Lower part original MAN left and modified right

[axxez]

Thinking about longer bumpstops right now.. There are different versions by Ford, I got the 54mm I guess. Still that's not enough, so probably it's a good idea to modify the mount. The main problem could be that the shocks are too long, so they will cut through. Anyway my car is lifted a bit but I will measure myself to be sure.

Those are different bump stops from Ford:

http://www.fordopedia.org/parts-catalog ... -mk3/C2.11

[axxez]

A small update. Actually, the car drives quiet nice now and after the lift with one additional leaf it is not cutting through and destroying the shocks in daily street use. For rough roads and traveling I'd definitely modify the seating. So what I did those days is getting a brand new pair of SACHS front shocks, which are also from a MAN 7,5to vehicle (but different to the rear shocks).
Those fit quiet good, they are a bit longer but compress to the same length. The lower part has different diameter: 20mm to original 13mm. So after initially failing on creating a shell myself, I just bought some that work good. Also it is necessary to get longer screws. Original are 12 or 13cms, 14cm would do but I got 15cm screws now. The screw-rating / strength is 10.9 so don't just use any screw for that purpose! The shocks are directly held by the screw, so better no compromises. On the upper part it is necessary to destroy the original parts and drill them through. This results in problems while installing the shocks: you will have to hold them, so they don't turn while tightening. After this upgrade the car drives like a formular1-machine! Quiet stiff, but nice cornering

See the pics below, but now I am using this forum for pics instead of photofucked. Don't know what is wrong with this, some images are flipped... Just right-click / open them in a new tab instead of directly clicking on them and you won't have that stupid problem.. Or maybe it's just my browser?
Now the pics:

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[axxez]

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[axxez]

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[Chug]

Good job, glad you got it sorted and useful info for others, thanks for the update

[axxez]

But keep in mind: it's not long-term tested yet

[dumper]

I remember whe we ran a fleet of mk3s their was a recall on the front shocker mountings the body was splitting and cracking I think on the recall they drilled two or three holes in the body and bolted the two skins of thr mounting together l can remember ten of the independent front surspention vans had this mod done along with my own mk3 campervan I’m not sure if any of the Leif spring vans had it done but with you putting more shock loads into the van it maybe worth looking at this modification