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The easiest suspension upgrade for your van
Well here we are again reviewing another great product from Super Springs International. If you havn’t read my review on the rear Sumo Springs I wrote, click on the link and be prepared to be adding them to your wish list. For now let’s talk about the front Sumo Springs designed to sit in your front strut coil.
Why I Decided To Add These
This was really a no brainer after seeing and feeling how the rear Sumo Springs performed. After experiencing the increased stability and control in all driving conditions, I knew I wanted Sumo Springs on all four corners of my van.
After you own your stock suspension van for awhile, you will notice how soft and bouncy it feels on the road. In crosswinds or when passing big rigs you will feel how the body tips and leans. Sumo Springs give you a solid, comfortable ride with added control and stability.
Features
- Increases coil capacity by 30%.
- Made of a micro-cellular polyurethane .
- Decreases vibration.
- Stabilizes sway.
- Tightens up your existing factory coils.
- Creates a cushioning effect.
- Stops unwanted factory suspension dip and roll.
The Installation Process
Before you install them I recommend you watch the installation video on the Super Springs International website. Before I installed mine I watched numerous videos where the install took anywhere from 15 seconds to 5 minutes per side (once the car is on jack stands). It’s a pretty simple process that just requires some pushing and twisting. Let me walk you through the install process and let you in on some things I learned that might make your install a bit easier.
- Equipment you will need – jack stands, jack that came with your van or a floor jack, soapy water in a spray bottle and a rag. Rubber gloves might be nice to stay clean and protect your knuckles.
- Before you start, many people like to measure the distance from the lower van body to the ground to see how much lift the Sumo Springs give you.
- Place wheel chocks or pieces of a 2×4 in front of and behind the rear tires. SAFETY FIRST?
- Jack up the front of the van until the wheels are just off the ground so your coils are as open as they can be.
- Place jack stands at the van’s jack locations. Do a google search if you are nor sure where these are.
- As you look into the wheel well you will see the black springs that coil around the shock. Spray your rag with your soapy solution and give the coils a good cleaning.
- Now it’s time to slip the Sumo Springs between the coils. Spray the groves of the sumo springs top and bottom. Do not use too much or you will have a slippery mess that makes it hard to hold and maneuver the Sumo Spring.
- If you have a newer Promaster there is not much spring exposed so you will need to start feeding the Sumo Spring onto the very first coil turn at the base of the spring. Getting it started is the hardest part.
- Once the bottom groove of the Sumo Spring starts to track on the coil, try to get the top groove on the spring.
- Once the top and bottom channels are on the spring, keep feeding the Sumo Spring around the coil.
- Ok now it’s time to get it in its final position which is in the middle section of the coil. Take your hand and feel how many coils are above the Sumo Spring and below the Sumo Spring. Rotate it until it sits right in the middle of the spring. Make sure the springs are sitting in the Sumo Spring grooves all the way around. Make sure the right and left Sumo Springs look like they are in the same spot on the coils.
- Take the van off the jack stands and lower the van.
- Congratulations. You did it!
The Speed Bump Test
When I was on my way to get my rear Sumo Springs installed, I accidentally hit a speed bump at 25 mph. The van bounced and rocked like crazy. It shook me too and I wondered if I broke anything in my cupboards it was so bad.
After the Sumo Springs were installed I decided to hit the same speed bump at the same speed to see if there was any difference. Yes, there was an huge difference. The van hit the bump, and the front end went up the air and came down with a few bounces. T
he rear hit the bump and came down with just one firm controlled bounced. The intensity of the bump after the springs were installed was way way less than before. I didnt hear any clanbging of glasses or pots like I did the first time I hit the bump.
So you can probably guess how the speed bump test went after the front Sumo Springs were installed. Yep, so much more control and far less nose dive and bouncing. After I went over the bump the nose of the van dipped down, came back up and settled right there.
On road and off road, you will be treated to a much more controlled and safer ride.
Freeway Driving
I did get some freeway driving on the Sumo Springs this weekend. The front feels much more solid and controlled than before the installation. Let’s be clear though it is still a big van designed to carry heavy loads of cargo. It will never handle like a car, but the improvement on handling and stability is well worth the price of admission.
Wind And Curvy Roads
As of this writing I have not experience any significant crosswinds. I will update this post as I get more miles on them in difference weather conditions. We did get a chance to drive it on some very curvy mountain roads and it handles great. The front end dove less into corners and the lean of the entire van was far less. Both of these factors made the driving experience much more relaxing and took a bit less effort.
My Conclusion
My conclusion is quite simple. If you want significantly better stability and control in wind, bumpy roads and curvy roads, get yourself some Sumo Springs. Putting Sumo Springs on all four corners of my van has been the best modification for making my van safer, easier and more fun to drive. Let me know what you think if you end up getting some Sumo Springs
Click this Amazon link for current product pricing This specific link is for a 2023 RAM Promaster so make sure to search your specific van.
If you have any questions or comments about this product, please submit them in the comments section below.
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