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96 Town & Country LXi Leaf Springs

I'm posting this as informational only should it be of help to anyone else. My T&C van was dragging bottom for quite some time. 200 lbs of weight in the back and we were riding on the axle (rubber stoppers touching). I searched high and low for replacement springs, however, I found that these were dealer-only items. So, I went to the dealer and dropped $194 x 2 for new springs (one was a special order). Also bought new bushings. On a Saturday, I removed the old spring and replaced it only to find that the ride height did not change at all!!! So, I quickly removed the part and went back to the dealer (Maxwell Dodge in Austin, TX) to beg for my money back. 10% restocking fee and a little begging and they refunded my money. Thanks Maxwell!

During my search for new springs, I did find a few places that carried "helper" springs, which are a second spring that sits under the mono-spring. I can personally recommend Crotty's

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for their professional and prompt handling of my inquiries.

Supposedly, the van came with 1100 lb. springs and the helper springs were

750 lb springs. Discounting the lift of the mono spring to 700 lbs (since they aren't working now), I figure that I now have about 1450 lbs of capacity. Who knows for real. Installed the helper springs - it was really easy. The van is now about .75" higher than it should be, but it's hardly noticable. The great thing is that the van still has a good ride. I was worried that the additional lift would convert the van into a truck! :-( Luckily, it didn't. :-)

It appears that Chrysler went through many springs on these vans. They had to use my VIN number to match the exact spring. Maybe the later year editions have better springs.

--brian

Reply to
Brian Pellerin
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Some more info to add to this as well.

For starters, stiffer/stronger springs if they are made for the vehicle will not change ride height. They aren't supposed to, unless you get special "hi-lift" springs. The difference between them and the grotty old springs on your vehicle is that the new springs take more weight before compressing down.

For cheap springs you can buy them from JC Whitney. Unfortunately they don't carry springs for the later (1996 and onward) T&C's but they do for the earlier ones. Their springs are $90 each, a lot cheaper than the dealer and are rated at 1400 lbs. I've used them for my 68 Torino and they are indistinguishible from factory springs.

Just about any good auto parts store carries helper springs, you don't have to order these in. These are the "poor man's" solution to sagging springs and don't last that long.

Most major cities have at least one or more spring shops, which can build custom leaf springs to any stiffness/ride height/vehicle you want. Cost is about the same as buying new springs from the dealer. It is also possible - but risky - to re-arch springs, a spring shop can do that. However springs can fracture during the re-arching process, espically older ones.

Ted

Reply to
Ted Mittelstaedt

mono-spring.

professional

Reply to
jdoe

Thanks for the comments. Here are the facts. Went to the local spring shop and they don't custom make the mono-springs that go on these vans. Checked with a few others as well. They *all* said to go to the dealer or get the helper springs. Also, other places like JC Whitney don't carry these springs. I was stuck with only one option.

As for ride height, yes it did change. By about 2-3". The springs on this van were really sagging. Further, the new dealer springs did not change the ride height or the carrying capacity. New springs didn't help. Old springs didn't work. Looks Chrysler engineering couldn't figure out how to make a proper spring. Count the number of tries that they changed the spring on this vehicle over the last 8 years. I'm sure that every custom mod made to a vehicle is not recommended by the dealer. The way I see it, the van is where it needs to be, not bouncing off the axles.

--brian

Reply to
Brian Pellerin

I've had 5 Chrysler mini-vans from an 85 to a 99 and have never experienced the trouble you're indicating with springs. I do load them up too. I put the luggage topper on, load the back end, hitch the boat AND load it up too, plus the kids and so on and I've never once bottomed out a van or had to modify or replace anything on the rear suspensions with anything other than stock components (read shocks). Hell when there's a sale on softner salt I"ve never been afraid to even 8 or 9 50lb bags of salt in the rear and still have never caused this with any of my vans. Yeah the older ones did run a little lower and the 99 brings itself back up but I"ve never had an "issue" like you're indicating. The reason for all the different spring numbers has nothing to do with lack of engineering. More to do with options. I.e. tow group, FACTORY load leveler shocks, AWD, handling package, extended vs. standard length etc. And again, your braking system is calibrated to ride height. If you make a change causing the ride height to be higher than it would normally be with a load you are not getting all the braking power you need from the rear brakes. You're now throwing excessive braking forces onto the front which could severely limit braking effectiveness when you need it most. Larry

Reply to
jdoe

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