130 suspension

just bought a 130 double cab and am loving the space. I do however find the rear suspension very stiff especially for the potholes of ireland where i live. I do not carry heavy loads nor do I tow regularly. Can anyone advise me if I can change the rear coil springs to reduce the harshness of the ride. If so which ones would you recommend and how easy is it to do? Would I need any special tools? The springs on there at the moment are the twin coil type.
Any advice very welcome. steve

surely it depends on what you are wanting to put into the thing?
how much load are you likely to take?

I will not for the foreseeable future be using it for more than a couple of hundred kilos. The reason why I went for such a big yolk is that I intend to do a pile of overlanding in a few years time at which point I intend to return it back to the stiff suspension.
steve

Your rear springs will be the ones with inner helpers. You can just remove the helpers until you need them, then refit. If you can't be bothered with the hassle of refitting when you need them, then remove the inners and fit air helpers. These are airbags that you just inflate as and when you need them.

Thanks a million that sounds like good advice. Is it a big job and will I require special tools beyond the usual jacks and axle stands?
Thanks steve

no special tools beyond normal spanners/sockets req, if you have the OE tyres fitted (12pr steel radial) that could be causing part of ride problem, as they specify high inflation pressures, and are stiff to start with . Dropping pressure of rear tyres can give quite an improvement .

She does have original tyres on what pressure do you recommend I try before sparking up the spanners and do you think that it will have an adverse effect on tyre wear?
Mike thanks for the link.
steve

The original michelin XZL 750X16 tyres are probably not the best to drop pressures on. Like a lot of truck tyres, lower pressures will lead to uneven wear on what is effectively a lugged tyre. Will show up as alternate lugs wearing unevely. And as previously mentioned they are a rigid tyre to start with - great for heavy loads which is what the vehicle is specc'd for.

Run mine at 70psi front and rear and they wear totally evenly and good for 70 - 80K. Did drop pressures to 40 psi in the front tyres once (early on) and would have halved tyre life if I kad kept them there.

Might be better to find another set of rims and put some lower cost, softer walled and less aggressively lugged tyres on them at a lower pressure and keep the good original tyres for when you need to carry the load.

alanw

Is there a self leveler fitted?

The smaller helper springs inside the main springs help keep the ride soft while giving the load carrying capability. I have fitted genuine HD springs on a previous 110 that was fitted with a self leveler and the ride was rock solid. I've fitted helper springs in my current 110 which doesn't have a self leveler and they do not give a hard ride.

There is a self leveller fitted.Anyway I just took the plunge and removed the helper springs I couldnt believe how easy it was I didnt even need to remove the bottom retainer plate i just fed out the spring from the top. I havent been for a long run yet but a quick spin up the road and it seems a bit less harsh. Many thanks for your inputs.
steve