What did you do to/with your van today?

oldsmoker · Post by **oldsmoker** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 8:57 pm

Took the van into Firestone, got the lifetime alignment & a one time rotation for $112.00.

Still pulling to the right??

Idler arms are nearly new, all new bushes, all new b/joints, new springs, shocks....rest of steering linkage is good, not mint but good.

any ideas??

Post by **WoodButcher** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:37 pm

oldsmoker wrote:Took the van into Firestone, got the lifetime alignment & a one time rotation for $112.00.

Still pulling to the right??

Idler arms are nearly new, all new bushes, all new b/joints, new springs, shocks....rest of steering linkage is good, not mint but good.

any ideas??

Beergut, if you drive from the passenger side is it better?
sorry, I couldn't resist, I think I would rotate the tires, one at a time with your spare if possible. eliminate that as a cause and then adjust the toe a bit yourself. Move the adjustment sleeves 1/2 turn at a time, one side, one direction, at a time. Make an adjustment test drive, rinse, repeat ill you have what you want. If you screw up take it back and tell them you hit a bump.
I do my own alignments as the bigger tires and lift in the rear make my truck drive like crap if the shop does it. Factory spec is toe in a hair, I run toe out to allow for the slight castor angle change the lift causes and she rides good.

Smiliesafari · Post by **Smiliesafari** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 4:26 am

Could also be right side caliper sticking causing the brake pads to drag on the rotor.

ihatemybike · Post by **ihatemybike** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:52 am

Green: Attracted the attention of local law enforcement with a 3/4 throttle 2-3 shift. LEO hit the lights and siren as soon as my wheels broke loose. Luckily he was traveling the other direction, hampered by stop light traffic and a bigger median, and I took the on ramp to the interstate.

oldsmoker · Post by **oldsmoker** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:58 am

Woodbutcher!!.

hahahahaha....damn you made me laugh!.....i was a little slow on the up-take there.....maybe ill try that!

wow, i like your approach but that sounds like a chew to me!!....might be the only way though??...thank you for your input....

right side caliper....hmm, will check it out, damn i dont wanna spend anymore $ on this van!!

thanks guys.

Post by **WoodButcher** » Wed Aug 31, 2011 7:23 pm

oldsmoker wrote:Woodbutcher!!.
hahahahaha....damn you made me laugh!.....i was a little slow on the up-take there.....maybe ill try that!

Good deal, Mom always said a smile from a stranger means their no longer strange,,,,

that doesn't sound quite the way I think she meant it.

Yep, I like the low budget fixes first myself, my Dad used to say,,,,

umm, no,
I'll leave that alone.

Now that you have Town Fair on the hook for free alignment, (you paid for it!) I wouldn't feel to bad about using it. Check the fine print though, I'm sure they put limitations on it.
Smiliesafari hit on one that got me before.

To check the if brake is rubbing start by feeling the temp of both wheels with your hand after city driving. I just replaced the rear end on mine and smelled my fronts yesterday after some aggressive driving. Both were equally hot so I need to adjust my rears, the self adjusters are not cutting it. In your case your looking for one hotter than the other.

JTalley · Post by **JTalley** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 3:26 pm

Spent $22.50 to get the registration renewed.

maing bus · Post by **maing bus** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 6:27 pm

drove the van over to my buddy's place to replace the alternator in his jimmy...he's back on the road thanks to another astro van!

1Gary · Post by **1Gary** » Fri Sep 02, 2011 7:36 pm

Took out the passenger side seat with very rusty nuts setting the stage for work to be done for doghouse off.I suggest everyone take out both the passenger and drivers seat so when you need to they come out easily.It makes a world of difference while doing engine work inside.Very hot in the shop,so in 90 degree heat end up with alittle effects of heat stroke and had to go home.

safari kev · Post by **safari kev** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 9:08 pm

took her to the junkyard for a parts run (I do alot of those)
picked up:
a rear fan for the safari exclusive to explorer conversion vans (will be much needed in the winter)
2 4x6 and 2 6x9 kenwoods. they're quite nice
an antenna for the second radio thats going in the safari/ fixed mast antenna and about 15 feet of cable for the antenna from a mid 80's continental. will be hidden in the woodwork to give the aftermarket radio reception
a power cable for a rockford fosgate amp (in case I need any heavy gauge power wire in the van). the amp was gone :(
a 15 foot rca cable
a mirror with map lights for the cadillac.
lincoln hood ornament , town car emblems, and 1 center cap for dad''s gf car.
not bad for $25

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Sat Sep 17, 2011 2:12 pm

97:drove to bank
98:installed new ignition locking cylinder and managed not to break anything

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 1:23 pm

97: changed trans filter and fluid doesn't slip as much still slips though also did gm procedure to remove air from power steering system seems to have helped a little going to have to try again. the guy i git the van off of came over today and i found out he has never changed the trans fluid in it and i think he drove it since new......

safari kev · Post by **safari kev** » Sun Sep 18, 2011 7:35 pm

tried hooking up rear fan I scored at the junkyard. conversion fan hookup doesnt work, and the stock fan hookup runs constantly. at least the fan works.
I'm not really sure what to do now since theres no repair manual for explorer conversion vans

oldsmoker · Post by **oldsmoker** » Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:24 pm

Cobra wrote:97: changed trans filter and fluid doesn't slip as much still slips though also did gm procedure to remove air from power steering system seems to have helped a little going to have to try again. the guy i git the van off of came over today and i found out he has never changed the trans fluid in it and i think he drove it since new......

Dude, I had a very similar problem with my Tranny recently, i dropped the pan, changed filter and added Valvoline Fully synth' DEX VI with 2 bottles of "lubeguard red" that i got from NAPA. at the same time I installed my cooler and and in-line Magnefine filter.

At first, it wasnt much better, still slipping, but as time has gone by, prob 3 months, it doesnt slip anymore, admittedly i do drive her gently, i never accelerate real hard...so far so good, at some point im gonna do a full fluid swap. Lubeguard make great products, and i think fully synth is the way to go too

just wanted to share my experience with you...good luck!

Cobra · Post by **Cobra** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 3:33 pm

98: installed evap vent solenoid finally defeated the P0446 could i've had since day one

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