The Iveco Daily has metal blocks between the underside of the suspension leaf springs and the axles.  The blocks on the left side of the vehicle are 10 mm taller than the ones on the right.  This is the same for both the left-hand and right-hand drive vehicles, so it does not seem to be intended to correct for road camber (as I have seen suggested on some forums).  Some have suggested that it is to compensate for the driver, fuel and spare wheel sitting on the left side of the vehicle. I have considered the maths on this point as follows:  the specifications for the leaf springs state that they deflect by 10.57 mm per 100 kg, so the two 10 mm blocks would mean the vehicle would be level if it was loaded by an additional 189 kg on the left side.  The fuel tank holds 90 litres, so half a tank of fuel is 36 kg, plus the tank structure approx 15 kg. The average driver is probably about 75 kg, the spare wheel and holder is about 90 kg and the APU pump about 10 kg. Adding these all together, the basic vehicle is about 226 kg heavier on the left, so the maths is quite close for this theory.

With Cuthbert having a motorhome conversion, the unmodified vehicle balance from side to side is not very relevant.  Cuthbert’s weight variation depends more on the amount of water and fuel carried. Water loads the right side and fuel loads the left side.  But whatever the real reason for these different block heights, it is a real pain having the vehicle leaning over by 10 mm to one side, especially when levelling-up the vehicle at night to sleep. 

I have therefore replaced the smaller right hand blocks with the larger type fitted to the left side.  The Iveco part numbers for these larger blocks are 504337943 for the front and 504355111 for the rear.  At the rear I also had to modify the Goldschmitt air suspension bracket by cutting through the bracket and welding in an additional 10 mm section to allow for the increase in the new block height.

Here is a photo of the original small block from the front right with the new larger block I replaced it with:

Not only is the vehicle now level, it also seems to drive slightly better 🙂  I still use the air suspension to ‘fine tune’ the level when driving based of the actual load and this is easier to do now that the suspension is level to start with – see more information here

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