Changing Front Springs E150
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
Here's a thought - as easy as it is to swap springs, hit the pick-n-pull on Commercial or Monterey Rd for front springs off an E350 (~$30 each tax and fees included). Measure the relaxed height of your springs and coil thickness. Also spring diameter and bring pictures top and bottom to make sure they fit your perches. Look for something with a thicker coil and not much taller (or how will you install them?). You can't bring your spring as a sample but maybe keep one in the parking lot.
As I write this, I'm checking if a guy I know kept the front springs of his '06 E350 when he got taller springs.
You said nothing about rear springs. Does is not oscillate as much when you shake the rear?
Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 191K miles
As I write this, I'm checking if a guy I know kept the front springs of his '06 E350 when he got taller springs.
You said nothing about rear springs. Does is not oscillate as much when you shake the rear?
Sixto
93 E150 Chateau 5.8 191K miles
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 487
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
Those are symptoms of bad shocks or roll bar issues (mounts/links). I know you said you changed shocks, What did you install ?
You need to compare ride height of similar model vans from the same year or have a good suspension shop measure the ride height before thinking of doing the springs.
You need to compare ride height of similar model vans from the same year or have a good suspension shop measure the ride height before thinking of doing the springs.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
I have done some really stupid things to this van like hiring a Craigslist idiot to do some body work on the cargo door and rear quarter panel-cost me more to correct his work. Next, I added the E350 steering stabilizer before I replaced ball joints, tie rods, and drag link. It was handling terrible and every mechanic said there was nothing wrong with the van.
Front brake calipers were sticking too and I replaced those. I replaced tires with Michelin LTX and R&R the factory shocks with KYB gas adjust. It handles much better, but still sways.
Now I am thinking it's the coil springs/and or leaf springs.
I really should take it to a reputable suspension shop. They might say "It's a Ford E150 van, of course it handles horrible. What do expect?"
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
We have the same year. But my van is the 4.2 liter version. Is the sway bar located on the front?
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
Those are symptoms of bad shocks or roll bar issues (mounts/links). I know you said you changed shocks, What did you install ?
You need to compare ride height of similar model vans from the same year or have a good suspension shop measure the ride height before thinking of doing the springs.
You need to compare ride height of similar model vans from the same year or have a good suspension shop measure the ride height before thinking of doing the springs.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 487
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
It is pictured here in white primer. This is when I was replacing my bumper.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
M...I don't recall seeing the sway bar on my vehicle. Never looked. I will look when I get home. I have a hunch the sway bar is the problem!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 21,253
Likes: 1,656
From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
The front---and rear sway bars---are merely adjuncts to the more typical suspension. They improve handling but they're not intended to be a massively important part of the springs, bushings and alignment of the E-Series suspension.
Mind you if familiar with a tight front suspension with fully functioning sway bar its absence or reduced effectiveness would be immediately noticeable. From your OP it seems more than a missing sway bar is problematic.
Mind you if familiar with a tight front suspension with fully functioning sway bar its absence or reduced effectiveness would be immediately noticeable. From your OP it seems more than a missing sway bar is problematic.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
Something definitely is wrong. Everything that I have replaced was worn. I may take the easy way out and get a free estimate from a shop that deals with Ford truck suspensions. There is not much more that I can replace other than coil springs/leaf springs.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
And yes, it is still a great long distance cruiser as well as the extended family "moving van" !!
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 3,087
Likes: 24
From: Central Florida
Coolfeet
"When I step on the side of a similar E150 van and shake it from side to side, I notice that the van almost immediately stops rolling from side to side. I have checked this out on other '98 vans. My van continues to roll for 2-3 cycles and this concerns me."
This perfectly, exactly, and ONLY describes an issue with the shocks. Continuing to sway/roll/bounce is completely unrelated to springs, sway bar, or other steering/suspension parts.
You said you got KYB gas adjust shocks..? Are they adjustable? If so then maybe they need adjustment. What part number did you get? I bet you got the wrong ones. Tell us more about the shocks you installed.
This perfectly, exactly, and ONLY describes an issue with the shocks. Continuing to sway/roll/bounce is completely unrelated to springs, sway bar, or other steering/suspension parts.
You said you got KYB gas adjust shocks..? Are they adjustable? If so then maybe they need adjustment. What part number did you get? I bet you got the wrong ones. Tell us more about the shocks you installed.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2008
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I did that several years ago and am very happy. It does ride a little high when empty but it sagged so bad when my pop-up camper was connected, that you could not swing down the trailer jack with the wheel attached.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
I checked my van and it does not have the sway bars. I see where I can attach the sway bars. Are these stock Ford parts? It may be worth installing them to help.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
I found this
on Amazon. It looks close to the one in the photos. It's almost $300. I am sure I could find one from a salvaged vehicle for considerably less.
Thank you everyone for all the help. No need to hire an expert to tell me what to do. I will take a video of the van rolling this week and post it. When I shake it real hard, it continues to move for 2-3 small cycles after I stop. This may be normal for the E150.
Thank you everyone for all the help. No need to hire an expert to tell me what to do. I will take a video of the van rolling this week and post it. When I shake it real hard, it continues to move for 2-3 small cycles after I stop. This may be normal for the E150.
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,558
Likes: 26
From: Bay Area
"When I step on the side of a similar E150 van and shake it from side to side, I notice that the van almost immediately stops rolling from side to side. I have checked this out on other '98 vans. My van continues to roll for 2-3 cycles and this concerns me."
This perfectly, exactly, and ONLY describes an issue with the shocks. Continuing to sway/roll/bounce is completely unrelated to springs, sway bar, or other steering/suspension parts.
You said you got KYB gas adjust shocks..? Are they adjustable? If so then maybe they need adjustment. What part number did you get? I bet you got the wrong ones. Tell us more about the shocks you installed.
This perfectly, exactly, and ONLY describes an issue with the shocks. Continuing to sway/roll/bounce is completely unrelated to springs, sway bar, or other steering/suspension parts.
You said you got KYB gas adjust shocks..? Are they adjustable? If so then maybe they need adjustment. What part number did you get? I bet you got the wrong ones. Tell us more about the shocks you installed.
The Monroe, like the KYB gas adjust is a premium shock. Both were essentially new and I still have the "roll".