Suspension problem....

[paulcbr]

First off happy new year to y'all.

Now my van is a Y reg 2.5 turbo smiley face ex ambulance.
I've had it 2 years and the ride was smooth to begin with(as you'd expect from an ambulance) but has gradually got harsher and now picks up every bump in the road with a bang, making for an unpleasant ride.

It was moted a month ago and they could find no problem.

So, any ideas folks? Can springs or dampers go "hard" with time?

Thanks in advance.

[Altransit]

I would start by checking the rubber bushes in the shock absorbers

[AndyG]

Does it have air suspension
Have you been removing the "load"

Can you not tell if the problem is with one particular corner, front or back suspension

[paulcbr]

Rubber bushes each end of the shocks are good.

The problem seems to be front both sides, no air suspension Andy.

I'm doing a camper conversion on it, so with the kitchenm wet room etc I would say it's carrying around the same weight as when it was kitted as an ambulance.

[Ollie]

Is it on leaf springs? have they rusted up through lack of use? try excercising it a bit fully loaded!

[paulcbr]

Although I'm converting it is still used daily so not lack of use.

It has coil springs and shocks front, leaf springs and shocks rear.

[ericspets]

I've just got a similar problem. mk6 T260.
Just went over a speed bump (not fast by the way) and there was an almighty bang from the front nearside, and then a smaller bang every little hole.
I can't see anything that is obviously broke so i drove steady home, only about a mile. When i got home i've noticed that the clearance above the wheel to the wheelarch is only about half of the drivers side.
I'm leaving it till tomorrow now, but will be suspecting a broken spring.

On my old Sreg tranny i had about 6 front springs in 8 years due to the road humps and i consider myself to be quite careful. I do do a lot of local delivery milage over the bloody things though.

[paulcbr]

Thanks for the replies so far folks.

I've had another look at it, no broken springs, but I did notice "rub" marks where the first and second bottom coils (on both front springs) have been making contact with each other.

Is this normal?

[MinorMatt]

Given its an amby I would expect to see anti roll bars front and back... If the springs arnt broken I would be having a good look at them and the bushes