Looking for some help here. I have a 93 E150 van that I have had sence new. The last year or so the handleing has gotten REAL bad. Feels like there is 3 tons on the roof. Start to go around a corner and all is well, then it just LEANS over. All seems tight in the front and rear. It still has the OE shocks on the front, and I will be changing them, but anything else to look at? Almost dangerous to drive. REALY don;t want to drive my kid around in this. Any help would be great.

 

Check your anti-sway bar might be loose or broke. Maybe you tire pressure.

Kaleo Q.

 

Check what Kaleo said, but I bet a good set of shocks will be just the ticket. My explorer was pretty darn scary on the curves, put Monroe Reflexes on it, corners great now.

 

TP, good, and the bar seems fine. Got to do the shocks though. Just woundering if thers anything else I should check. Thanks

 

I can't think of anything. Let us know how it is after you replace the shocks.

 

I had a 94 that started handling the same way. Shocks helped a little, but I traded it a short time after. Read my thread about anti-sway bar that I just installed on the rear of a 2002 e-150. It's worth every penny!

 

I agree the rear sway bars are going to help, but you still need to figure out what is causing the bad handling lately. Might be something major that will just be covered up by installing rear bars, until it's too late! Just my $.02

 

mine already has a rear bar on it. And the point is it happand last year. Van was parked over the winter, then in the summer it started. Maybe something happand wile sitting??

 

I suggest you go ahead and replace the shocks like you already planned to do. If that doesn't entirely fix the problem, it will at least help, and also narrow down the possibilities.

 

Well, with life getting in the way, and not needing the van at all, I finly JUST got around to doing the shocks. Easy job except for the snapped off lower stud.[WHY did they desing it that way??]

Well the van rides much better. Still has that feeling of tipping though, just not as bad. Now that its a little better, I can probably get a feel for it, and explane it better. We all know the steering on these things is not real tight. Eaven new, there is a little wonder in the system. Well the feeling it has now, is when you get a little of that wonder, it feels like it is vering to one side. Like instead of a little wonder, you are cranking the wheel over hard. Now it does not turn off the road or anything, its just that feeling. I checked everything out under the van when I did the shocks, and cant SEE any problems. Tie rods seem good, sway bar is connected, nothing broken. All looks well. Only thing I can see is there is a steering box leak. The fluid is full though, and it seems that ALL the Ford boxes leak. Any other ideas??? I need to get this fixed soon. At least it is now drivable, and feels safe with the new shocks, just kinda a PITA. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

s1120, If the swaybar bushings are good (center bushings as well as the end bushings where it fits in the I-beam) then I will bet the track arm bushings are bad. These are the arms that mount on the frame rail and run forward to locate the twin I-beams. They meet the I-beams out near the shock mount. The bushings are back where it mounts to the frame. When these bushing go bad the van will wander and self steer all over the place. TRW makes a eurathane replacement bushing kit which fixes the problem entirely.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

I put heavier front springs from NAPA, in the back Add-a-Leaf from RoughCountry. New Ranchos on back. Big improvement. But before all this make sure ball joint are good(if you haven't replaced them then it is time to!). The factory ones have no grease fittings and do wear out. Also your truck came with extra load (XL) tires. If you didn't replace with them ride will suck. Most tire dealers will sell right size wrong rating. I think mine are 108S. This alone will make truck wallow down the road. Let use know how the cure goes.

Chris
'92 Chateau, 5.8l, 220,000 miles

 

The ball joints seem to be nice and tight. I had them replaced once before. It was under warranty, I think around 30K.I am still running the OE tires,[replacements, but same size and rating] Goodyear HT's XL's. All the swar bar bushings look good. I did replace the ones in the arms once.[REAL PITA] The track arm bushings SEEM good. Any tips on checking them?

Thanks for al your help guys, I realy want to get this thing running nice. After a few years of being just for towing, and to fill in when someting is busted, it is back to being my daily driver.

 

BTW the van has 93K on it now, and has new Sensa tracks on the front, and sensatracks, with helpers on the rear that were installed at about 55k.

 

I put Sensatracks with helpers on the back, they pushed to top through the mounting hole. Then Ranchos and add a leaf from Roughcountry. Much better.

Chris
92 Chateau, 5.8l, 220,000 miles