AX, would you advise I give Bilstein the static measurement of mounting points for shocks and tell them it's for a heavy truck? Is there a specific model you recommend?

 

Since you have the truck on the road I would highly recommend taking it to a place with a set of certified scales and get two weights, first for the entire truck (with you in the seat) and then back the truck up so only the front wheels are on the scale platform, the rear wheels on the ground (and you in the seat). Give both weights to Bilstein.

 

I will try the recycler ,(dump), scales first to see if they'll dance with me. Last year at said scales,it weighed just at 4000 lbs with me. I'm 185. That is close to same weight when i weighed it at truck stop with original suspension and heavy 428 engine. Will report back my weights soon for anyone curious. Thanks for the advice of weighing procedure.

 

Weight with me in driver's seat, (I weigh 192 ) 4120 lbs.
Front end weight with me in drivers seat ,front tires 2' onto scales = 2260
For those interested; weight was with spare tire, speaker box and
About 9 gallons of gas.
Not that it matters for a van, but that's about 55/45 weight distribution...lol
Will be contacting Bilstein with figures to see what they have to flatten this wandering rhino out. Sooooo, with front sway bar and 4 heavy duty shocks, I'm hoping for markedly improved handling and body roll reduction

 

I would just do the sway bar and try that first before emptying your pockets on Bilstein's

 

As it turns out, that's how it will play out....tubular upper control arms & sway bar, then shocks. BTW, The shop that did my alignment...(they build pro mod race car chassis and street rods), highly recommended quality shocks front and back in addition to swaybar. As they will only be installing the bar and control arms, they have no monetary stake in the shocks or brand of any parts. Bilsteins and the like are rich for my habits, however, I do want this tank to handle much firmer. Your prudent advice is welcomed as always.

 

Shocks are THE most under appreciated important component in the suspension system. I always find it "interesting" that people think an additional 50.00 per shock over the absolute garbage they put on is too rich for something that can make such a vast difference while they are driving, but then go out and spend 3-400. per wheel for something that the only function is to improve the appearance when parked??? Follow the advice of the experts, spend the money where it matters!
A swaybar and shocks serve two completely different, albeit complimentary, functions.

 

But you are no expert

 

Shocks are THE most under appreciated important component in the suspension system. I always find it "interesting" that people think an additional 50.00 per shock over the absolute garbage they put on is too rich for something that can make such a vast difference while they are driving, but then go out and spend 3-400. per wheel for something that the only function is to improve the appearance when parked??? Follow the advice of the experts, spend the money where it matters!
A swaybar and shocks serve two completely different, albeit complimentary, functions.



Lol...i agree...have seen AND done it. It looks like shocks for me will cost $75-110 per shock, depending on vendor. I will share my results...probably in a couple of weeks.

 

You can drive any car or truck from any dealership with the customary shocks and take any corner on the average highway without any problems, you'll on find high end sports cars with handling packages that have upgraded shocks and suspensions. I have no trouble whatsoever driving our winding highway here and don't need to slow for any of the corners unless they are ice covered.

 

OK let's compare credentials: My cars I set up have won 2 SCCA National Solo Championships, over another 1/2 doz or so National Tour and Pro Solo events, and trophied at more events than I can count. I have studied suspension theory and practice up to undergrad automotive engineering level. I have worked with some of the top people in the industry from Koni, Penske, GM, and the shock specialist from a F-1 team. I had the Kappa platform (Solstice, Sky, Opal GT) chief engineer at GM on speed dial from the day I took delivery of my Solstice until the day the government forced GM to shut down the plant. My car was sponsored by Rick Hendrick automotive. So yah, that kinda makes me some kind of expert.

Here I am on the cover of the 2010 National Championship competitors program:


Some of us know what we are talking about, while others just talk to hear themselves make noises...

 

Anyone who says a quality set of shocks don't make a difference or aren't worth the money have never been behind the wheel of any car with a quality set of shocks on it. Their opinion is worthless. Anyone that thinks a car off the showroom floor (with only a very few rare exceptions) handle curves well is delusional. The factories all set up their suspensions to plow like a dump truck when pushed to try to keep those people from killing themselves and to keep themselves out of court. Even the 23 '07 Solstice GXPs with the factory "secret" race suspension option like mine still needed a lot of changes and adjustments to reach it's full potential.

 

Holy ego
Making adjustments within the factory suspension and adjusting preload, compression and rebound clickers does not make you an expert especially when I'm sure there is a proven setup everybody knows about . I've built my own suspension a number of times while you've googled it. I agree with you on shocks but it's really hard to agree with you on any subject

 

"I'm sure there is a proven setup everybody knows about" Really?
You obviously don't know what YOU are talking about. The 2007 Solstice GXP was a limited edition model first released to the dealers in about 11/06. Mine was special ordered 12/06, delivered 4 weeks later thanks to a rush put on the order by Rick Hendrick himself. (wait time was being quoted at the dealers as 4-6 months for a GXP) As I said there was only 23 sets of the "secret" ZOK (secret because the option did not appear on the standard dealer order sheet) racing suspension produced for the '07 model. the first 4 went to the GM factory road racing prep shop to be prepped for their 2 pro road racing teams and one went to a group of 3 factory engineers to test in Solo racing. #7 went to me. The factory teams were certainly not talking about their setups. We raced the Kanary while it still had it's 30 day temp plates on it! The head of GM's Kappa platform development would call me regularly to get my input. The shocks on my car are a one of a kind custom built set, and still are. No one except me knows what the valving is or how I have them set or adjustments I make for the race conditions, and even if they did it wouldn't help them. With thousands of possible combinations of adjustments available it takes a very knowledgeable person with a high level of understanding of how the suspension works to know when and how to make those adjustments to produce the best combination for the particular event. I bet you didn't know the Kappa platform is the only US made independent rear suspension that has rear caster adjustability? Try googling the best race setting for that adjustment! I got tired of having to teach the alignment rack jockeys at the dealership how to determine and adjust it to my specs, so I bought my own electronic gauge that was originally only sold to the dealers, and do my own. I also designed the Solo Performance GXP 3 way catback exhaust system, the prototype is on my car.
I could certainly say the same about your claim of "building your own suspensions" It doesn't take a rocket scientist to put a set of springs between an axle and a frame, almost any way you do it, it will go down the road, and there are literally tens of thousands of examples on the internet anyone can google and follow. I'd be willing to bet you are not making your own springs or swaybars or shocks, or have invented anything new.

 

You can set rear castor on a H1 Hummer and it only requires turning a cam bolt.