2008 Impala Helper Springs

[78 Chevyrado]

I'm hoping somebody knows the answer...

I have a 2008 Impala LT.  It has a Class II hitch and a cargo platform on the hitch.  It carries a 250lb. Wheel chair for my grandad.  The chair and platform is too much for the car.  With the chair on it it lowers the car like 4 or 5 inches.   if I stand on it and bounce it good I can make it hit the ground.  It would be ok for smooth roads, but it would be bad if i hit RR tracks or a brigde transistion on the freeway.

It has a macphereson struc rear end, IE the coil springs around the strut.  This means I cannot use an airbag inside the coil, and I cannot use the helper spring that goes on the shock absorber, which usually one or the other is what I do.  Since it's an impala, would the police springs do anything for me?  If this doesnt work, I'll have to get a small trailer for it, which I want to avoid if I can so with just the platform I can still backup easily like with no trailer.   BAsically, either way, if the impala goes anywhere, that chair goes with it.

Also the platform has a ramp on it, and if I was to use an adapter to raise the platform relative to the car, I don't think I could get the power chair up the ramp anymore, though it would be at a good height with the chairs weight on it.   Even springs would raise it somewhat,  crap this sucks.

I'd guess the chair and platform and all is about 330lbs.   If I could get grandad in my truck, I'd just use that, but it's a major ordeal to get him in the truck, both for me and him.

Thanks for the help..

The Platform:


The topmost part of the hammer head is where the bottom of the platform is when the chairs on it...   It's like 5 to 6 inches.

[zieg85]

I had a similar problem with my SUV and a platform hitch off the back.  I just raised it 3 inches by cutting and re-welding the 2 inch square tubing.  I didn't have to contend with a ramp but 3 inches shouldn't make that big of difference with the wheelchair getting up it.

[Irish_Alley]

A form I used to be on might be able to help you naioa.com. theyhave a couple sponcers that deal with after market parts but there was a couple that had performance suspention parts

[bobcooter]

I wonder if those rubber coil spring spacers would work in this application. The round kind that yopu can put under the spring.

[frogman68]

See if they make a air shock for it.

[eventhorizon66]

Check into police springs first.  I can't tell you for sure that they are even heavier, but I'd be willing to bet they are and might just do the job for you.

If not check these out.  They are designed for the Police Interceptor Vic but maybe you could contact them and see if they might work for your Imp.  http://www.roadmastercoilpro.com/coilpro.htm

[bobcooter]

Here are some more police springs for your car.
http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductModelDetail.cfm?InventoryId=735316

[eventhorizon66]

Here are some more police springs for your car.
http://www.northernautoparts.com/ProductModelDetail.cfm?InventoryId=735316

If you look at the applications, those are just factory springs.  It says "Exc. Police".  For that matter, I tried and could not find a source for the police springs.  Maybe the guys at the naioa.com site Irish suggested can help.

[Stewart G Griffin]

First off i didn't realize you had an impala.  Congratulations!   i was going to get an 06 SS last year but bullcrap happened at work and a promotion fell thru.   Now that the promotion finally has happened, in a way i'm glad things panned out the way they did----now that i am in a position to buy one i realize i don't really need one and financially it's better i don't get one;  Why spend 16K (at carmax) if you don't have to?

Anyways, concerning the question, do you have load-leveling system on this LT?

[78 Chevyrado]

no load leveler, It's an LT, second from the bottom, Fairly low on features.  I'm just not sure what I can put on it, because it doesn't have a rear axle....  looks wierd under there....lol

[howlinwolf]

find a spring off another car that fits inside the spring and around the strut, trim to fit. and tada redneck fix lol.

[Stewart G Griffin]

Sorry i can't help too much at this point;  i was going to take a pic of my parent's deville, but then upon further research i found these are two totally different chassises K and W----i had thought that all gm fullsize cars basically shared the same chassis.   The k body devilles have load leveling, but it won't work as it is not a macphearson strut type design.


However, i "heard" that other W bodys (such as the lacrosse) had load leveling, so you may want to research that.  It seems to me this would be the easiest way because it would be bolt-in---assuming load leveling was/is in fact available.  i didn't have much luck finding out either way.

2) Airlift has a universal kit for struts.

3)  Those spring spacer deals such as the coilpro system listed above maybe worth a try.

[Irish_Alley]

i put a post on naioa but no bites yet ill let you know when i get one

[78 Chevyrado]

i put a post on naioa but no bites yet ill let you know when i get one

I appreciate it!

Sorry i can't help too much at this point;  i was going to take a pic of my parent's deville, but then upon further research i found these are two totally different chassises K and W----i had thought that all gm fullsize cars basically shared the same chassis.   The k body devilles have load leveling, but it won't work as it is not a macphearson strut type design.


However, i "heard" that other W bodys (such as the lacrosse) had load leveling, so you may want to research that.  It seems to me this would be the easiest way because it would be bolt-in---assuming load leveling was/is in fact available.  i didn't have much luck finding out either way.

2) Airlift has a universal kit for struts.

3)  Those spring spacer deals such as the coilpro system listed above maybe worth a try.

That's an idea.   I may go up to the chevy dealer and ask them about it...   I dunno maybe an ltz impala had that available.  I've just never tried to alter a strut setup other than spring compressors...  

[Stewart G Griffin]

Max tongue weight for an 08 impala is 100lbs.   i'm baffled how such a large car has such as low tongue weight and tow capacity?  1000lbs.


Still thinking.......