Installing rear Sumo Springs on 4x4 Sprinter Van
This is an extension of our earlier post on installing the Front Sumo Springs. Read up on that install here.
This is what you’re going after. the before and after. We had these sumo springs installed previously and wanted to illustrate the install procedure. So don’t mind the rust on some of the hardware, that’s from a couple winters in Utah. Gotta love salt. A new set obviously isn’t gonna have any rust.
On the left is the OEM top rubber bump stop and the lower metal contact point. Both of those are replaced for a two piece sumo spring that comes together to create what looks like a single airbag when the van is sitting on it’s own.
Before
After
First
Remove the top OEM rubber bump stop. You can pull it out of the tab by hand or use a screwdriver to pry it out if needed. Do NOT bend the metal. You’ll be using this later. The rubber bumpstop has small winged tabs on either end that keep it from coming out easily. Just move the whole thing to the side and it will come out.
Top Mount
These are the pieces of the top mount of the Sumo Spring.
Left is the slot that fit’s into the OEM tabs on the sprinter body.
Middle is a spacer
Right is the sumo spring top perch that screws into those two threaded holes in that far left tab.
Top Tab install
Both left and right install the same ways but they are a bit different front one another in their positioning and offset. You want to make sure you have the proper one for the left vs right. The Sumo Spring itself will sit offset to the outside and back on each side.
Slide the top tab into the OEM slot from the rear. The frame curves on the front and will not allow you to install from the front. Don’t try and force it.
What you don’t see here is the spacer sandwiched between the top plate that slid into place. This spacer allows the top spring mount to sit off the body a bit. Two counter flush Alan bolts will attach to the top plate.
Top Mounts
You can see each plate is a mirror of itself and allows the upturned supports to sit on the outside facing portion of the frame rail. The two available holes in each plate show where you will locate and attach the sumo spring. The outside hole is for the bolt and nut, the inner hole is like a pin for alignment and to prevent rotation.
Left (Driver side)
Right (Passenger side)
Lower alignment
It’s a little tough to see, but there is a tab on one side of the lower Sumo mounting plate. This tab should perfectly locate itself between the leaf spring U-bolts to prevent any rotation on the axel.
Mate the springs
While the van is still jacked up and the suspension is extended place the lower spring on the axle. You can see how it’s placed over the old bump stop mount. As pictured above, the tab on one side will slot into the area between the U bolts. Don’t bolt down the lower mount just yet. First, slip the top sumo spring over the lower sumo spring. The lower spring is the male end and the top spring is the female. And get things generally aligned. This is where you can double check to make sure you have the right matching springs. If they’re not aligning properly, you might need to swap for the one from the other side.
Last Step
From the outside, above the wheel in the wheel arch, you can attach the single bolt. The Sumo Spring will have a 4 holes where a locator pin will use on the holes and your bolt will us one of the other three. This allows you to position the sumo spring in a bit of an eccentric way for best alignment. On the right side of the van (passenger) you’ll sandwich a heat shield in place (pictured) to protect the sumo spring from your exhaust.
The two mated Sumo Springs allow you to position the top (female) spring from the wheel well.
Position the heat shield so it’s parallel to the exhaust but not touching.
Tighten it all up
Lower the van down so the top Sumo Spring sits down on the lower Sumo Spring, with the weight of the van on the lower spring it should self align allowing you to tight up the bottom spring perch in the ideal alignment. Now you’re ready to and feel the effects of the sumo!
