Rear springs on a van that works for a living
A vehicle that carries weight every day is working its rear suspension constantly, and rear springs are the component that shows it first on a van or a loaded pickup.
What happens is gradual sag. The springs lose some of their height over years of being compressed, and the vehicle settles lower at the back than it left the factory. Nothing breaks and nothing rattles, so nothing gets reported.
The consequences are easy to miss individually and add up.
Less travel left. A vehicle already sitting low has less suspension movement available before it reaches the end of its range, which means bumps are taken harder by everything.
Changed geometry, which affects how the tires wear. See alignment.
Headlights aimed higher than they should be, which is a courtesy to other drivers as much as a safety item.
Reduced effective capacity, because the vehicle is starting from a lower point before anything is loaded.
How to check for it
Measure, rather than judging by eye, because the change happens too slowly to see.
The gap between the top of the tire and the wheel arch, unloaded, taken at each corner. Compare left against right on the same vehicle, and compare the vehicle against another of the same model and age that does lighter work. Written down, those figures tell you something no amount of looking at it will.
For a fleet of identical vans, that comparison is available on your own premises for free.
The other symptoms
A ride that has changed, poor settling after bumps, clunks over rough ground and cupped tire wear are on the national suspension repair page.
An alignment that will not hold is the common route to a shop, and the parts come first with the alignment after.
About this store
The Springdale store runs eighteen services and is managed by Jackie McAfee.
See the national suspension repair page for all 34 locations.