I need some advice from GRM, recently picked up a 2009 kia sedonna for a beater. The rear springs were starting to sag slightly already, then I added a hitch and it's squatting badly. The problem is, dealership wants $300 PER spring and nobody makes an aftermarket spring for this vehicle.
It's an IRS with shocks not in the coils. I'm trying to think of the best solution here.
1. try a set of those urethane spring spacer kits. Have my doubts on this since the springs have 140k on them and are rusty. I imagine I'd get a year or so before a coil snaps.
2. Find the next closest match from a different vehicle and somehow make it work. Problem is there are no listed specs for the spring online. I could pull the spring off and take some measurements, but I would hate to get said measurements off and do all that work to mistakenly get an even softer rate with more sag.
Any thoughts?
You can always try the MOOG catalog
https://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/universal_coil_springs.asp
Air shocks or air bags inside the coils like we did on chevelle?
Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:
Air shocks or air bags inside the coils like we did on chevelle?
I considered this since I will be towing. but the paint is flaking off the stock springs and I live in the rust belt. I'm worried the bags won't last very long in this environment.
84FSP
UltraDork
10/7/20 11:21 a.m.
I would just get your length and diameter then update accordingly. Speedway motorsports has a massive clearance section where I always buy my springs.
In reply to 84FSP :
You also need the number of coils and the wire diameter
twowheeled said:
Dusterbd13-michael (Forum Supporter) said:
Air shocks or air bags inside the coils like we did on chevelle?
I considered this since I will be towing. but the paint is flaking off the stock springs and I live in the rust belt. I'm worried the bags won't last very long in this environment.
Been a long time since I lived in the rust belt. However, paint the springs so they stop rusting and the bags should last as long as the rockers and quarters....
+1 for the moog catalog. takes some time, but find your spring in the list and jot down the specs. then find another with your desired atributes that has the same end's and a similar diameter.
thats how i did a DIY lowering kit for my wagon since no one really makes one for it. running camaro front springs and chevelle rear springs
Go online and find a spring rate calculator. Measure the height of the spring as-installed, then you'll need the spring out of the vehicle to measure unsprung height. You measure wire diameter, inside diameter, and number of active coils as well as the distance between coils. That will get you really close to the spring rate of what you have. Once you have the rate, you can calculate the difference between installed and non-installed. Let's say it's a 400 lb-in spring and it is 2" lower when installed. Bingo. The spring was carrying 800 lbs.
Then you can open an Moog, Afco, or Summit catalog and pick from one of 6000 springs that will fit. If you want to select something a bit stiffer, you can select a free height and rate that (knowing they're going to carry 800 lbs each) will compress to a ride height you want.
The factory may also list a spring rate that was installed from the factory. If you know that, you can just select a spring from the list that will fit the bill.
Basic point is, coil springs are coil springs. If they're the right rate, height, and diameter, the car won't know the difference. My 66 Bonneville has front springs from a 96 Caprice 9C1 and rear springs from a Dodge something or other
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