Page 1 of 1

Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 9:55 pm
by Azz03
Evening people I know many people have tried to stiffen the rear end of their vans after lowering as it’s a pain in the back side when you look in your wing mirror to see the rear wheels flapping all over. The obvious ones people have done are blocks in the hangers poly bushes and I guess changing the rear anti roll bar to a thicker one.

I’ve been looking into a panhard bar which are used in all sorts of car related sports.

Has anyone else ever looked into it or know any info on one being used on a caddy

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 10:48 pm
by Hardknocks
At risk of advertising (not intended) when we do suspension work on leaf sprung vehicles we ditch the leaf, create what's known as a 3 link rear. So 2 trailing arms to the axle, and a panhard rod. You can use a panhard with leafsprings, but you need to be 100% accurate with your pivot points and panhard will shift the axle left to right in droop and bump.

Or get real fancy and 4 link it with a Watts linkage. Image

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk


Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 11:03 pm
by Azz03
Yeh I’ve seen the whatts link as well I’ve not done a huge amount of research on them yet but I do plan on wanting to know more before I try and Knock anything up, I’d imagine there’s lots involved

They set up of yours looks pretty beasty haha I’m guessing you know all about these types of systems


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Mon May 18, 2020 11:06 pm
by Hardknocks
Watts linkage is easier to design, but harder to fabricate. The opposite is true with panhard rod.
With leaf sprung vehicles its always going to be a problem with axle movement I'm afraid.

Haha yeah reasonably clued up. Built probably over 40 4 link set ups /air ride systems for American trucks, hotrods etc.

Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk


Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 12:45 am
by Azz03
I guess it’s a tricky one then with there not really being any other way to fully stiffen the rear axle so it doesn’t sway other than swap it out for a rear suspension subframe off a golf or something maybe. It’s mad thsh not many people have looked into it as I know it’s annoying seeing the movement and having the axle move and sit funny when you park on an angle.

Haha I can tell by that photo quality work


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 8:59 am
by Jabs autoworkz
I looked in to this theres not a way to stiffen up the rear well u can add like you all ready said a uprated arb but your still have movement and knocking noises the only possible way iv noticed you can swap out the the rear end for a subframe from a golf but it's a lot of welding or the other way Is like what has been mentioned

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 9:31 am
by dan@biali
The trailing arm setup that Intermotiv make for running air suspension on the Caddy has a watts linkage. I’m wondering if it would be possible to modify it to run a coil spring. I get very little axle movement with it although my Caddy had very little when it was stock or running the KW kit either.

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:06 am
by Barbel330
I think somebody on here run the intermotive rear setup with coilovers when they first released it? It’s an expensive fix for a little wheel movement that is perfectly normal though and not dangerous in any way :? If it was a performance car I’d be inclined to deal with it but on a van i don’t think I’d bother tbh. Mine has the intermotive rear set up but only because of the air. When I was running static suspension I found the best way to avoid seeing the rear wheel movement was to tilt your mirrors up a little, that 100% cures it :D 8)

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 11:29 am
by Azz03
Yeh it’s not dangerous as if it was it would
Fail an MOT it’s just something I’ve looked into and always thought about trying to solve the problem. I wonder if vw will ever make a caddy with its own independent suspension on the rear just like the transporters. Barbel330 love they idea just tilt the mirror slightly

What sort of rear shock setups are people using as I’ve not gone the coilover way I’ve got lowering springs on front and axle flip kit at the back but again want t try lose some of the bounce on the back what shocks would you guys recommend. I’m a builder but don’t carry any materials due to the size of things I do so never really any huge weight in there also have the rear seat conversion


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Stiffening up the rear end?

Posted: Tue May 19, 2020 1:31 pm
by Barbel330
I’ve had Gaz adjustable on the back of mine for a few years. I transferred them from the standard lowered axle flipped suspension to my watts linkage air set up and they’ve never give me any trouble. They certainly sort the bounce out. I fitted them due to the Vmaxx lowered shocks being way too bouncy. I have then set somewhere around the middle.