Hello All,

Satisfied owner of a '01 E150 with full cargo package.

I use the van for hauling dirtbikes and camping and dump runs .

I drive twisty roads quite a bit and was wondering how to make the ride more secure.

The following has been suggested to me:

Hellwig rear sway bar
Urethane front bushings for OE sway bar
KYB shocks in front

Any suggestions ?

Thanks in advance.

unclejosh

 

REAL tires. Use at least 4 ply tires. Passenger car tires (which is what most places will put on it) are too weak in the sidewall, so make sure you are using either LT tires, or XL passenger tires. I prefer the LT tires.

 

Certainly tires are a big one on these vans.

Here is what I did on mine and it made a huge difference. Helwig front bar, KYB shocks all around and an add-a-leaf rear helper springs.

I did the add-a-leaf instead of a rear bar because my clubwagon felt too softly sprung in the rear even when empty. If you think the spring rate is OK then add the helwig rear bar. You absolutely want to go with a bigger front bar as the OE bar is waaay too small.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

16 x 8 wheels with a good tire as suggested. 17s if you can get them. You don't have 15x6's, do you? 15 x 7 is the minimum I'd go.

I put the Helwig and some new shocks on my '85, made a nice difference.

 

Thanks for your replies!

Is there a preferred KYB ?

If I was on a budget, and could only put one sway bar on- would the rear be a way to go ?

Thanks in advance !

UJ

 

As long as you don`t put one on the back thats bigger than the front it should be fine

 

Thanks 76 M.

 

Look into the Roadmaster suspension for the rear. It seems like a great piece, and easy to put on. Too big a rear sway bar will cause oversteer, too big a front bar will cause understeer. Some quality gas charged shocks with adj rebound and dampening will help along with some quality tires as someone else has said, although towing/truck tires don't make good road handling tires all the time.A good alignment is critical on these vans, and it's easy to do it yourself. Front end geometry is never going to be great with the twin I beams, especially as camber varies over irregularities. So a well damped shock will do wonders. Less sidewall obviously aides in cornering, but at the cost of ride, so 18" rims would be my maximum. Urethane bushings will tighten up your handling, but you MUST pregrease them or the squeak wqill drive you insane. Plus you will feel every little irregularity in the road that the rubber cushions. There is a price for everything. Dropping your ride height a couple inches will also give you a more connected to the road feeling, good luck, let us know what you do and what you think of your mods, Ken

 

NO NO!!! Do not do just the rear bar. The OE front bar is waaay too small so if you add a rear bar only you will have too much rear roll stiffness and the van will feel REALLY twitchy.

If you are on a tight budget do what I did; the helwig front bar and the add-a-leaf rear helper springs. The add-a-leaf rear springs were only $26 at Autozone (in the trailer towing section). When I did my van I added the helwig front bar first and LOVED it! If you are only going to do one bar do the front. It will make a big difference.

Just get the standard KYB Gas-a-just.

And as a point of reference, so you will have something on which to judge my advice, I use my van to tow my racecar. I have been racing sportscars for over 20 years, including four national championships. So I know a thing or two on the subject.

Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT

 

I just went with the rear and have the stocker up front. Maybe I'll upgrade, but it was an improvement nonetheless.

 

You guys are super helpful.

What a great forum.

Now that I have offloaded some stuff on ebay, and have some extra $$$, I am ready for mods !

Sounds like Steve's package is a good place to start, will check out Roadmaster as well

Sounds like KYBs all around to start !

Regards,

UncleJosh

 

making it safe off road could be achieved by installing 4x4 conversion since its 150 dana 44 could be used in front with leaf springs fabrication is easy and take only 4 brackets only work that you will need hire somebody is installing different output shaft in trainsmision to allow ataching transfer case look how i did mine at http://exposystems.us

 

Thanks, but a little pricy. Looked into Quigley conversion awhile ago........

 

Nice gallery! Got a write-up on how you did it?

 

Quigley is $9,000 to convert, and have a one year old and newer policy. Even though the F-series and the E-series have some component interchangability, the frames are different so this is not a simple bolt on swap. If a guy really wants a 4WD van buying one would seem much cheaper and much safer than attempting to build one. Unless you have a fully equipped machine/auto/body shop in your yard and the know-how to use said equipment. Ken