Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
-
Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Just wanted some opinions from you guys with lifted 2WD vans on how your ride quality has changed after the lift. I am currently running the stock marshmallow/jello ride suspension, yes it's comfy but a bit too soft for me. I am going to lift my van and need pointers on how to maintain decent ride quality on different setups, I'm thinking of a 4in lift, but I am also not completeley opposed to a 2in lift if there is a significant difference in ride quality for the better. I dont want a stiff bone jarring ride that rattles your fillings out, I have a lifted Jeep for that! My van is a family van, daily driver that will need some road manners, it will also be used for towing, camping, fishing, outings, and will see some limited off road/trail time nothing too hardcore, my van specs are in my signature.
So if you guys could please list your type of lift, gearing, components, shocks, tires, and anything else pertaining to the ride quality, and a brief description on how she rides after the mods, and mileage drop.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
So if you guys could please list your type of lift, gearing, components, shocks, tires, and anything else pertaining to the ride quality, and a brief description on how she rides after the mods, and mileage drop.
Thanks in advance for any and all replies.
![Image](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1116/dsc01441x.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2862/dsc01442.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5262/dsc01447y.jpg)
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Hey Slim, Welcome to the board. Check out this site. It may answer some of your questions. Jim
http://chevroletforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25553
http://chevroletforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25553
-
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 2770
- Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 2:57 am
- Has thanked: 1 time
- Been thanked: 2 times
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Thats a great link, excellent pics. Does anyone know if this guys a member here? the van looks familiar but the name he is using on that site isn't. We have had many great lift threads but I don't ever recall seeing anyone show the Overland's van 2" lift kit going into a RWD.
Astroturf, are you a member of that chevy forum? if so, let me know, thanks. zam
Astroturf, are you a member of that chevy forum? if so, let me know, thanks. zam
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Yes Zam. I am.astroturf wrote:Hey Slim, Welcome to the board. Check out this site. It may answer some of your questions. Jim
http://chevroletforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25553
Edit: and I dont like green eggs and ham. Sorry had to go there. Jim
-
Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Thanks, for the link, awesome tutorial for OV 2in lift. Anybody here with opinions on ride quality after a 2 or 4 inch lift? Anybody using additional components with their lift like timbrens or helwig sways?? Comments on ride quality after the lift would be much appreciated
![Image](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1116/dsc01441x.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2862/dsc01442.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5262/dsc01447y.jpg)
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
-
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 724
- Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
- Location: Mission Viejo, CA
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
I first upgraded my shocks to Edlebrocks IAS and was BLOWN away by the handling improvement. I then lifted the Astro with a OHV 2" and loss some of the handling improvements (top heavy). I then added a rear Helwig anti-sway bar and again handling was vastly improved. I also have rear air bags installed for towing and the addition of the sway bar greatly helped with bounce. I strongly recommend a rear say bar.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
-
Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Hey, thanks for the reply, looks like everyone here is happy with their hellwig rear sway bar, is there any need to replace the front also? I have what appear to be new kyb's in the front and leaky original shocks bathed in oil in the rear, heard bilsteins are good but pricey, is there a cheaper equivalent? I'm pretty sure I'm going to go with OVL's 2in lift and 29 in tires, to keep the hassles down to a minimum. Also, would I be able to use timbrens with a drop shackle? I've just never been big fan airbags, my father in law has them and seems to always have trouble with them
![Image](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1116/dsc01441x.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2862/dsc01442.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5262/dsc01447y.jpg)
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
-
- I have my van tatooed on my cheeks
- Posts: 3148
- Joined: Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:55 pm
- Location: The Pacific North Wet
- Has thanked: 48 times
- Been thanked: 25 times
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
I don't agree with sway bars. My back doesn't sway, the front does and that's ok because I bought a van, not a sports car. Sway bars limit your articulation anyways, and isn't that the reason you lifted the suspension?
-
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 724
- Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
- Location: Mission Viejo, CA
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
"sway bars limit your articulation"
I believe this is true, but I mostly am on the street and the improvement on body roll and bounce is enormous. On the dirt, the van is killer, I'm always so impressed. As for loss articulation, I'm not really rock crawling per say.
As for shock selection, if you can find a deal on IAS, go for it. They adjust on the fly, are rebuildable and last forever. Without a rebuild and still going strong, mine have over 100k on them!
I believe this is true, but I mostly am on the street and the improvement on body roll and bounce is enormous. On the dirt, the van is killer, I'm always so impressed. As for loss articulation, I'm not really rock crawling per say.
As for shock selection, if you can find a deal on IAS, go for it. They adjust on the fly, are rebuildable and last forever. Without a rebuild and still going strong, mine have over 100k on them!
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
-
Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
@ LaGrasta- which edelbrock shocks are you using? They have a classic, performer and extreme series?
![Image](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1116/dsc01441x.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2862/dsc01442.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5262/dsc01447y.jpg)
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles
-
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 724
- Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
- Location: Mission Viejo, CA
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
The "red" ones. Haha
I don't actually know, let me run out and see if they say on them.
I don't actually know, let me run out and see if they say on them.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
-
- I sleep in my van
- Posts: 724
- Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2007 2:07 pm
- Location: Mission Viejo, CA
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 3 times
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Nope, they don't say. They are red with black gaters (boots) and are installed with the rod end down if that says anything about them. Sorry.
1998 Astro, 246,000 miles
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
K&N air filter
TruCool trans cooler
2" Overland lift & 15" BFG Terrain, 3.73 gears
JET Performance SCU-2000 (Speed Control Unit)
Gabriel Ultra shocks, rear AirLift bags & sway bar
Draw-Tite Dual Port Hitch System, hitch-mounted bike rack (4), hitch-mounted cargo tray, Thule roof-mounted cargo box
-
Topic author - I get chills without my van.
- Posts: 83
- Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:42 am
- Location: San Jose, CA
Re: Lifting your 2WD van and ride quality
Those should be performer series judging by pics I've seen, the "classic" are silver, "performer" are red, and "extreme" are also silver, performers are around $340 for a set of four, free shipping. Found some Bilsteins heavy duty for $301 for 4, free shipping! I'm gonna have to keep looking for a cheaper price, since it'll be a while before I'm able get anything, with it being Christmas and me having more than enough family to shop for
![Image](http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/1116/dsc01441x.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/2862/dsc01442.jpg)
![Image](http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/5262/dsc01447y.jpg)
1999 Astro 7-Passenger Van
Federal Government Fleet Vehicle
Cadet Blue 4.3L V6
Rear A/C & Heat
RWD G80 posi with 3.42 gears
40,000 miles