96 Town & Country LXi Leaf Springs

[Brian Pellerin]

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 (www.crottys.com) 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

 

[Ted Mittelstaedt]

I'm posting this as informational only should it be of help to anyone

else.

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

 

[jdoe]

You're playing with fire. If your van does not have the load leveling shocks
(oem) and you do things to effect ride heght/spring calibration you are
throwing off the calibration of your braking system. If you read your
owner's manual you'll find this specifically warned against. Hopefully you
are not sharing the same roads I am on either way make your vehicle stock
and if you're loading it THAT much get a truck. You need it. Ohterwise for
your safety and that of others around you quit fooling with this!
Larry

 

[Brian Pellerin]

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

 

[jdoe]

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