Help with lowered shocks

[meetthespeakers]

Hi guys, been a while since I've been wrapped up in my other car project. Anyway my question is the rear of my van has been lowered via drop 2.5" drop leafs. When I did this I replaced the shocks with Belltech drop shocks at the same time. I would like to replace them, and was wondering since it was not that huge of a drop can I go back to stock length shocks? Would they just be more compressed all of the time or not really?

Reason I ask is my current rear shocks are noisy as hell, particularly the passenger side rear one. The bolt came undone from the frame some how, and the bushing inside of the eye hole of the shock came out. So I replaced it with a universal bushing last week, bought a new nut, and put it all back together. When I put it together I really didn't have to compress the shocks much since they are pretty short, and I am kind of wondering if they are reaching there travel and thats what is making all the noise? It is absolutely driving me crazy.

Anyway, bottom line: Can I replace the shocks with standard stock length shocks for just a small 2.5" drop? Thanks guys, and happy new year.

[safarirod]

When I lowered my 93 Safari, I used the belltech lowered shocks and didn't like the ride, I put on stock shocks and what a difference in ride quality. I have since instaled steel leaf springs and put in 1 inch lowering blocks with the stock shocks. The ride is still great. Hope this helps.

[meetthespeakers]

So the stock length shocks should work for my mild drop? I may go back to Bilstein shocks, however I have started looking into Monroe Sensa Load Adjust Shocks. Anyone ever here of these? Should I be the guinea pig?

[d3athm3talh3ad]

i'm currently dropping my van, and was wondering the same thing...was also wondering if stock shocks would work for the front of my van with dropped springs and spindles for a 4" drop...would like to go with kyb gas-a-just as darren has recommended, but i'm not sure if i can use stocks or have to look for another application that has the right range...

[kings-x59]

I don't know about the stock length shocks on a dropped van, but the kyb shocks are good. I have kyb monomax on my older jeep. I like 'em a lot.
The bilstiens are better. I had monroe sensatracs (not exactly the same as the monroes you are thinking about) and they weren't up to the task in my opinion. Ditched the monroes and went bilstiens. Most money I ever spent on shocks but I was satisfied with the result.

[GnarliSafari]

I would think if you had to compress them that much to get them on that would mean they would be under a lot of stress and would blow the seals that much easier, just my 2 cents.

[SoCalli V8]

You don`t need lowered shocks when you lower our vans, plus they are all a piece of junk anyway.

I recommend stock height KYB gas-adjusts (the white ones) or ajustable airshocks for the rear if you tow or have heavy speaker equipment, no matterif you are 1 or 5 inches lower.

Use quality drop spindles on the front with stock height KYB gas-adjusts for a comfortable but firmer ride.

Bilsteins would be the next step up for and even firmer ride.

[meetthespeakers]

I know a while back SoCali I believe we talked about this. I dropped the van and switched the bilsteins I had on there for the current setup (Ground Force Drop Shocks). They ride fine, I was just getting concerned because the passenger rear side was getting noisy. I lost one of the big washers and the bushing inside of the eye of the shock. So I replaced it with a universal shock bushing and sleeve. I got a washer on the setup and it rode great for all of 3 hours then the noise started up. The washer was not quite big enough and worked its way into the bushing which in turn I guess was either hitting the frame tube and sleeve. I took it apart last night and refitted it with a larger washer and so far so good.

The unusual thing I found was that I was able to compress the shock with my bar hands, and then when I let go it would slowly expand back out. So I am assuming that Ground Force shocks are not high pressure gas, unless my shock is already worn out after 8 months.

[d3athm3talh3ad]

thanks for clearing that up...off to order some shocks i go...i've never bought lowered shocks, i'm a glutton for punishment and end up measuring shocks on people's vehicles until i find a shock with the right travel i need and buy a quality shock for that application...it is nice to know i won't have to go that route on this van...thanks again!!

[Rebel]

I ran across this site after I won a pair of Aldan's on Ebay. Has some good information concerning travel and proper spring size for weight and if your swappng rearends, the proper angle to mount shocks.

http://www.aldaneagle.com/

[SoCalli V8]

i'm currently dropping my van, and was wondering the same thing...was also wondering if stock shocks would work for the front of my van with dropped springs and spindles for a 4" drop...would like to go with kyb gas-a-just as darren has recommended, but i'm not sure if i can use stocks or have to look for another application that has the right range...

Stock KYB gas-adjusts will work great for you.

I have -2inch spindles and -1 BellTech springs on the front with 245/40/18 tires, with stock height KYB gas-adjusts and my van rides firm and comfortable. My next pair of front tires will be 245/45 or 50 /18 > for some extra ride quality due to a little more "tire sidewall "

Curbs and driveways can be steep here in LA, and freeways taken at speed can have whoops in them, so I`m not into scraping or grinding anything, because I`m building my van to drive anywhere and tow my toyz.

Just an fyi.... when you fit lowered spindles (which you should do first) the actual shock size is the same length, > because it is only the spindle mounting point that has been cast 2 inches higher up. This makes the body of your van 2inches lower, but the ride quality is exactly the same, hence you can use the stock shocks.

And a note on buying drop spindles.... Do NOT buy the Cheap junk that I see advertised in the truck mags, because they crack, fatigue and break due to poor/ cheap casting quality. Pay the extra, and choose a well known make, for your own safety and piece of mind, knowing that they are not gonna break on you.

[d3athm3talh3ad]

thanks darren...i've already installed djm spindles and eibach springs, along with new rotors, bearings and brake pads...i had to drill out the bolts holding the top of the shocks since they were really seized up, and i threw them out (having a blonde moment!! #-o ) before measuring the travel on them...i've ordered some kyb front shocks yesterday, they should be here wed or fri....i'm in the middle of installing the flip kit right now...i have air shocks already for the rear, just in case i need to haul anything...

[SoCalli V8]

what size wheels and tires are you running? These are my rears, with some used 35 series profile tires that I use to burn-out and waste.

[d3athm3talh3ad]

i've got some eagle series 203's 17" x either 7 or 8, i got them from someone with a lowered astro on the other board, and i've got 4 different sets of tires after i get the van lowered, i'm going to see which size sidewalls i like the best fit wise...i have one set that's 1 step up from stretching rubber bands around the rims, but i doubt i'll use them...i like having some sidewall to protect the rim from the roads around here that haven't been paved since the '50's...most places i go are flat, but bumpy...