HD suspension components from Marquart Germany
for the Mercedes Sprinter
The Mercedes Sprinter and its special features
The Sprinter is generally considered to be very comfortable. However, its rather soft suspension is also the subject of the most frequent criticism. Its handling is spongy and the body sways considerably. Many complain about unstable handling and a body that sways – particularly in alcove motorhomes or vehicles with a long rear overhang. This can become a problem, especially on bends and uneven surfaces. The vehicle almost feels like a ‘rocking boat’.
Overall, many feel that the rear suspension is too soft – the vehicle sways and rocks. The Sprinter ‘floats’, which is particularly noticeable, for example, when moving in and out of the slipstream of a truck that has been overtaken. Susceptibility to crosswinds is also a major problem. To make matters worse, the converted motorhome often has a very low payload capacity.
Another major point of criticism is that the Sprinter sags at the rear axle. Many Sprinter owners have already raised this issue with new vehicles. This is not just a visual problem. The ‘sagging’ at the rear axle also means that the suspension travel is too short. This, in turn, gives the impression that the front end is bottoming out – particularly in fully integrated motorhomes.
Do motorhomes bounce, sway or roll?
All of this suggests that your motorhome’s shock absorbers are too weak or even faulty. Genuine shock absorbers from a Mercedes Sprinter van are usually not up to the diverse demands of motorhomes or special-purpose vehicles, as they do not take into account the significantly different usage and the fact that motorhomes almost always operate at their weight limit. The standard chassis is often not designed to cope with this sustained load:
- a completely different vehicle height and width,
- a long rear overhang,
- additional tanks (moving load),
- a motorcycle bridge at the rear (shifted centre of gravity) or
- a boat on the roof (raised centre of gravity).
Failing to adjust the dampers to these new requirements is negligent.
A particular challenge with motorhome chassis
Marquart Germany offers suspension components for the Mercedes Sprinter to suit every need: stiffer and firmer shock absorbers for the rear axle, and firmer yet comfort-oriented struts for the front axle. In addition, not only do we offer different characteristics in the rebound and compression stages for the dampers, but we also supply the struts with springs tailored to your requirements. We stock these in various configurations, differing in both stiffness and height. You decide how comfortable or sporty the handling of your Sprinter will be.
Reinforced shock absorbers for Mercedes Sprinter campervans offer you
- Greater stability in crosswinds and when crossing bridges,
- Improved handling in stormy weather and gusts,
- Stability on winding roads; no more body roll or being pushed out of bends,
- Excellent handling in roundabouts,
- Swaying, bouncing and spongy steering are a thing of the past.
Tailored solutions for improved road safety
We are often asked by Mercedes Sprinter owners: “What can I do to improve the handling of my motorhome? What are the benefits of air suspension for my Sprinter?”
An additional air spring on the rear axle is particularly useful if you frequently drive with varying loads and need to raise the vehicle’s ride height. This is especially beneficial for vehicles with a long rear overhang (from the centre of the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle). For example, if you frequently use ferries or drive on steep ramps. An air spring can also be beneficial if the vehicle is sensitive to wind. However, an air suspension system only works vertically.
However, to improve driving safety, it is particularly important to take account of horizontal forces (lateral roll and sway, and all pitching and rocking movements). To significantly improve a vehicle’s handling, fast-acting shock absorbers are the first choice. As soon as the body moves out of its horizontal position, it must be held in place by a strong yet finely tuned rebound damping. The compression stage of our dampers allows for rapid compression without letting the cab ‘bottom out’.
Reinforced shock absorbers for Mercedes Sprinter motorhomes, with perfectly matched rebound and compression settings for the front and rear axles, keep the vehicle safely on track even in tricky situations. No matter which bodywork you’re driving – whether it’s a Hymer or Bimobil, La Strada or Euramobil, Dethleffs or any other bodybuilder – the handling of your Mercedes Sprinter will become significantly more confident and safer with our chassis optimisation.
We offer a wide range of suspension upgrades for the Mercedes Sprinter. These range from raising the rear axle using an additional spring layer and/or shims, through to completely new spring kits and coil-over springs on the front axle (including certification). We also offer weight increases following an individual assessment or the installation of an additional air suspension system (including certification). And, of course, reinforced Marquart shock absorbers and struts. There are restrictions for Alko chassis.
We are happy to take your preferences into account when determining the perfect suspension setup for your needs. The result will be, for example, a more comfortable ride, improved directional stability, greater ground clearance and a level vehicle alignment.
‘My Hymer MLT 580 motorhome is unrecognisable since you replaced the original shock absorbers with yours.’
Jean Michel G. from Ambleteuse 
In an interview with Reisemobil International, Christian Marquart explains the importance of suitable shock absorbers for the handling of motorhomes.
Click on the testimonials from our satisfied customers below to see how we can optimise the suspension of your Mercedes Sprinter. Send us an enquiry!
Tipp!
Special measures are required to optimise the chassis of the Mercedes Sprinter 910, as this Sprinter model is front-wheel drive and very often fitted with an Alko rear axle.
On vehicles fitted with load-dependent brake pressure regulators, it is not possible to raise the suspension.
When fitting coil-over springs, we also fit track shims depending on the offset of the rims.
For lifts above a certain height, we replace the standard brake hoses with more durable steel-braided hoses cut to the correct length.
Satisfied Mercedes Sprinter drivers report…
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