Suspension Bump Stop advice please experts

[leedauny]

Hi folks, New on the forum. Love it so much info available. I'v had a good ready of some topics and am still a bit confused about the bump stops. I ahem a limited 290, that currently only has about 200kg in the back max, as it is a day van , so lined, windows, seat etc. When i look at the rear suspension it is sitting about 2 mm off the bump stops. Is this correct, I find the ride a bit bumpy and harsh sometimes and would love to soften it up a bit as I have our two year old boy in the back a fair bit.

Any help would be awesome, i'm an ex T5 owner and have to say I love the Custom!

[Altransit]

Welcome to the forum

Maybe getting it weighed as is would be a good start, as it sounds like it's pretty much fully loaded, unless someone has lowered it or put in lighter springs

[leedauny]

It has no more than 200-250kg in the back maximum. RIB rock and roll bed is 100 kg, has a ply floor and vinyl, trimmed and insulated walls, so really not very much. So can't be overloaded.
Any other ideas?

[khould]

I had the same problem the bump stop only mm's gap. I cut the bump stop off at the first joint so now only has 2, it helped but didn't cure the problem totally. We run it as a camper so little wight in the van and as such lowered the psi to around 48 from 56, this along with the larger gap on the bump stop has made a huge difference to the ride. There was a post on here some time back re the size of the bump stops

Kev

[sparker000]

They are not bump stops. They are rear suspension assisters and are a part of the suspension system. It has been discussed on the forum, try a search "rear suspension". Some owners did try swopping the rubbers for Sport van versions which I believe are a little shorter, otherwise leave them alone, there is no fault with your van.

[Hans Wynants]

indeed , i posted some pix to that topic.

just get down under your van, give a pull to the stops and pull them out!.

i did this when the van was 3 days old. never regred it. and even fully loaded sometimes it wotn never bottom out!

[bigjohnthomas]

Yeah its part of the suspension fools
My mk7 has massive big rubber bump stops sits close to them all good perfect


Hth
Mr t
Allcock

[khould]

There is when you run light and every bump in Road bangs through the van, cutting shorter or using the sport rear suspension as sisters hells with the ride

They are not bump stops. They are rear suspension assisters and are a part of the suspension system. It has been discussed on the forum, try a search "rear suspension". Some owners did try swopping the rubbers for Sport van versions which I believe are a little shorter, otherwise leave them alone, there is no fault with your van.

[bigjohnthomas]

Its a van not a car your supposed to feel every bump in the road
Let your tyres down a bit

[khould]

If you read my previous post you will see that I have!!

Its a van not a car your supposed to feel every bump in the road
Let your tyres down a bit

[bigjohnthomas]

Oh yeah
Let em down some more then?
But those rubbery bits sure ain't bump stops

Why would the sport have different rubbery bits?
Show me your bump stops

(That arnt bump stops )
I'll get a pic
Hang on ....
Just chocking a chicken

[bigjohnthomas]

Now then
Now then
Odd this is the mk7 it rides on the stops

[bigjohnthomas]

Howz about that then?
Sport van stops
So what's a non sport ones like?

[khould]

Van being converted at present so cannot take photo but the same as sport except it has 3 pillows not 2. This means it rides with the pillows about 2 mm away from the metal stopper. I cut the lower pillow off so now have 2 let the tyres down to around 47/48 and it drives so much better. I guess if i used it as a van it would be ok but its a camper not a work horse, perhaps if i got the 270 instead if the 290 it might have been better who knows

[andythenorth]

Got a 290 Limited DCIV Euro 6, running around mostly with just my kids in it.

Can see clear daylight between the bump stops and the axle. Couple of mil.

Ride was very harsh. Figured I'd be cleaning up kid sick.

Ford had the tyre pressures at 52, I've dropped rears to 42 and front to 45, much nicer.

After 500 miles something eased out, maybe back suspension wore in, it's pretty nice now, floats around.

I've left the tyre pressures down, I'm getting 34mpg, happy enough at that.