I replaced the shocks on my '97 shorty with KYB gassers about 22,000 miles ago. They were adequate but it seems they could have been a little stiffer. they are still as stiff as they were new.
Has anybody got any suggestions for another brand that is stiffer, or are the KYB's the way to go?
Thanks, Beaned

 

I've heard good things from Bilstein shocks. You might try giving them a try later on down the road.

 

I am happy with my Monroe Sensa-track progressive type gas/oil shocks. I have about 100K on my 2nd set. When I R&R'd my CV axles last week I had to fight the Sensa Tracks off & back on again, so I'm sure they're still fine. Then we ran about 500 miles thru the Smokey & Blue Ridge mountains on our vacation. My Aero cornered & stuck like paint of the centerline. Of course I also run progressive springs with "Poly-G" bushings in critical places a good set of Michelins too. It all helps alot. I guess they all work together like tuned suspension.

The progressive design of Sensatracks works like this. The harder you "load them" the more they resist compression. progressive coil springs do the same.
Thus the vehicle handles as well with 7 people on board as with 1 or 2 or 4 etc. It also handles my 16", 2 axle, tag along, flatbed trailer, I pull around home too. Those Sensa Tracks were not pricey shocks either.

Anyway I'm happy with the performance with that mileage on my suspension, plus we still had enough $$$$ left to take our vacation again too. That's my $.02 on this topic, however, to each their own I suppose.

FBp

 

I installed Sensatracs a long time ago on my van, and my feeling is that they do not damp any better than the Ford originals. They still allow the van to wallow a little when going over bumps on the road. A good damper should do just that: damp out the suspension motion in 1 bounce or less. But it seems the Sensatracs are designed more for "comfort". I would prefer something with more damping for better control over bumps.

 

Anybody tried Bilstiens?

 

Without an independent rear suspension you are never going to get a good feel on bumps. It's hard to explain unless you drive both. IRS offers superb control in bumpy turns, a straight axle does not. At least we have independent front suspension!
The world is a compromise.

 

I've driven cars with IRS, and yes, they do handle bumps a lot better than stick axles, especially around turns.

But I'm talking about going over bumps while going straight down the highway; certain low frequency bumps make the front end all "floaty", like it's going to take off. During those underdamped rebounds, the steering feels very light and disconnected. If i happen to be in the middle of a turn during these bounces, the upward motion causes understeer, and when the front end lands, the tires grip again and the van does a more abrupt turn toward the direction where the tires were pointed. It's almost like the dampers were worn out, but they behaved this way since new.

 

I felt the floaty feeling from the time I installed the KYB's. They were a big improvement over the worn oem shocks, but I think the Aero needs more damping in front. Do the Monroes do a good job on the front of the Aero?
I removed the rear seats and installed a platform to haul plywood and tools, so the rear seems to behave OK. Lighter.
Speaking of live axles, I have a '38 Plymouth P6 coupe with a Dodge 230 and it has live axles in the front and back with leaf springs all around and has pretty stiff shocks. It corners like a go-cart, but rides pretty rough on rough roads. Plymouth came out with coil springs and IRS in the front in '39. Smoother but rolled more in the corners.

 

The problem with man of these shocks, is regardless of brand, they try to imitate OEM, which may of may not have been the best move. I would go for a shock of the same stiffness, but stronger dampers for the front. I just which I new the part numbers, but maybe a shock meant for say, a Ranger or Explorer may work better. I think the critical fit issues are the stroke of the shock, and the mount size.

 

I have installed Koni gas front and rear, originals were worn (15 years!) and one year late I had to tune them stronger cause I had driveability problems, I was false cause problems where in the worns bushings; after changing them I can see that my Koni are clearly tuned too hard, nice with full load and a trail but too much with a empty car!!!!
Black Diamond build nice bumpers but I think only for bigs 4WD trucks, and Koni live with their reputation, but quality have decreased along the years, even if they build bumpers for the TGV ( french hi-speed train)

 

I'm afraid that the front damper for a 4wd Aerostar is unique; there are no other cars that use it. So you can't look up the part number in a catalog to try to find another application. A number of after market companies make direct replacements, but I don't know whether they're tuned like the stock dampers.

The critical dimensions are: 11" compressed and 16" extended, but there is also a maximum diameter that will fit into the chassis. It uses a stud mount top and a T-bar bottom.

Looking in my QA1 catalog, I see something called "Stocker Star", P/N TC1576P, that matches the stroke, but has an eyelet loop lower mount that needs to be converted to a T-bar mount. It has 12 step adjustable compression and rebound damping. Looks like it might work. List price is $173 each (!). Lower T-bar conversion is $20 each.

 

I've used one set of Bilsteins on my Aero since about 1998.

The stock shocks would let my then 70k mile 3.0 2WD bounce 3-4 times in a parking lot after going over a speed bump fairly slowly!

I replaced with a stock replacement and could hardly tell any difference. I brought them back.

Then I tried 4 Ranchos which felt noticeably better in the rear, but front end was still too bouncy especially at high speeds. Then the right rear one blew its oil out, so I took them back.

Then I ordered the Bilsteins for the front (but cheaped out with air shocks rear). The front end finally held its own, handling ANY bump or hole without losing composure. All high speed handling was safe now, even large trucks and crosswinds didn't affect it . This is to be expected from superior German quality & workmanship, & autobahn type tuning. The van is well composed even doing manouvers at close to 100 mph. No bounce, sway, wandering etc. Feels safe driving with just one hand most the time.

It imagined the suspension movement was now mostly in the control arm bushings as the stiff Bilsteins had tightened it up so much, and wondered if it might ruin them in short order.. But the stock suspension bushings have just now begun to go bad at 250,000miles / 400,000km. Maybe there wasn't that much detrimental effect on the bushings after all. How long do normal Aero's bushings seem to last on average?

I also installed 15" wheels, low profile tires & solid outer tie rod ends. It almost seemed too stiff, but it sure handled well. It had loud noise transfer to interior over some bumps (bye bye Ford's NVH work!). I learned to live with it and explained to people that I'd given it a beefed up truck type suspension. It was mainly a load carrying work truck, with out of state passenger road trips just once a year.

Now I realize the heavy factory alloy 'star' shaped wheels off my '84 Ranger 4x4 may've caused much of the thud sound when hitting bumps. Just last evening I realized how HEAVY they are compared to light stock Aero wheels! Stock alloy wheels & tires from '97 AWD weighed about 30lbs each while the old Ranger/BroncoII star wheels are about 40 lbs each & feel heavier than that! (with very similar tires about same size) No wonder they pounded into the holes!

I think the Bilsteins may be even better with stock wheel sizes & softer tires. You get a little stiffer go cart feeling with performance wheels & tires, but not bad.

Too bad the rear end was still willowy & wallowy & sometimes steered more than the front end. I never did add a sway bar back there. I was a bit reluctant due to being in a couple crashes due to stiffened rear ends oversteering & breaking loose at the limit. My rear air shocks & overload springs tightened it up sufficiently.

All Bilsteins have a lifetime warranty and after 8+ years the left one began leaking. This is rare for Bilsteins. It was replaced for free after they received & tested the old one.

You will not be dissapointed with Bilsteins. I think they are about $60-70US each. It's a matter of added handling, safety and comfort. Even passengers who know nothing about cars notice the secure safe feeling at speed. The good quality remains after higher price is forgotten.

They'd be great for off roading too. I don't think I've ever gotten air with the Aero but have hit some big dips & bumps at speed & it always takes it with aplomb. Other cars would crash the suspension. I put Bilsteins on any of my vehicles that need shocks.

It looks like my old Bilsteins may fit my 'new' AWD Aero, except I should add some boots as the upper shock shaft is unprotected. If the travel is similar to the AWD it should work splendidly .

 

We always get good results from Bilsteins.

 

love my KYBs on the front of my AWD, get the GasAdjusts not the cheaper softer ride GY2s or whatever they are

Bilstein and Tokico no longer makes AWD front shocks
Koni no longer makes Aero shocks
the Tokicos I had were even better than the KYBs but wore them out mountain road photography

the best Monroes and Ranchos don't hold a candle to a real nitogen high pressure charged shock

with the poly bushing, air bags and roll bar in the back end she handles like a Ferrari van

the Tire Rack, an FTE linked sponsor has KYB's on a good special right now

 

I put 4 monroe Reflex shocks on mine. Alot better than the ones I replaced. I like the feel especially on the front, really made a huge difference. Its a 90 xtended so I needed something stiffer to keep that front end more stable.