So, my brothers truck has been suffering from a sagging rear end for a couple months now. He has also had some issues with the rear end swaying when you get on the gas. He brought it in to the dealership, and was told that his rear coils needed to be replaced, and his rear control arm bushings were worn & needed to be replaced as well. They gave him a quote for about $800 in parts, and $700 labour to do the repair.

I told him that I would find him better quality parts for cheaper, and help him install them as well. So, we ended up ordering the Spohn rear suspension package which included non adjustable upper & lower control arms with polyurethane bushings, as well as a track bar with polyurethane bushings. Total cost, shipped to Canada was $600. Then we ordered a set of TufTruck rear coil springs with 25% greater carrying capacity. He hauls a camper from time to time, so these seemed like a good fit. Total cost of these, shipped, was $210. So all together he was out $810, which is $10 more than what the dealer was charging for OEM parts, but he also got a new track bar out of the deal, and obviously better parts.

The install took about 3 hours all together laying on the shop floor, and getting covered in melted snow & salt off the truck. The control arms were the biggest pain in the ***. The bolts had to be torqued to 225 ft-lbs. He gained 3/4" unloaded at the rear wheel well directly over the axle, so his springs were definitely shot. As we found out, most of the rubber bushings were shot as well.

After half a day, he already says the truck feels better than the day he bought it. It's solid now under acceleration, and he has more traction in 2wd than he's ever felt before.

Anyways, here are some pictures:

Lower Control Arms:




Upper Control Arms:





Track Bars:



Coils (Factory coils are on top)

 

Usually its best to replace parts with aftermarket. Also great job on doing it yourself and not handing money over to the stealership

 

Good job on that install.

TotalLoadControl.com would have probably given you the same or better fix for a few hundred less.

 

I have a 2012 Express. On hard acceleration if there is a bump I hear a bang, I also hear it on braking when I hit a bump. It is the soft bushings in the rear trailing arms, so I just ordered the Spohn rear trailing arms and panhard rod. My truck only has 8000 miles on, but it made the noise since new. The stock bushings are fine if you don't intend to hot rod it a little. I can feel the rear moving on hard acceleration and cornering, so I am sure this will correct the problem.

 

looked at the web site for the same kit, keep us updated on how well the truck handles after been driven a while.

 

the new track bar looks a little longer, does that keep the axle centered due to the higher ride height? with 3/4" lift i wouldnt expect the axle to move off center much

 

I installed my Spohn Performance rear suspension about a week ago and it made a real difference. Around corners and over rough road the rear seemed a lot more planted. On acceleration a lot more solid. for rdculus the panhard rod is the same length, must be a optical allusion.

 

Thanks Dawizman!. I like the looks of those parts (springs). So far I don't feel any of the problems that some have talked about, but I only have 8000+ km. on the truck so far. I am carrying 60 kilos (132 lb.) of salt at the tailgate, never felt it bottom out on any bumps even under hard acceleration with the weigh of the salt bags. And if anyone knows how the roads are in Nova Scotia in late winter you know how rough they can be.

Great info