anyone mod their vans?
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New User
Joined: Dec 2008
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anyone mod their vans?
i have a 98 E150 and would like to do maybe a 2" drop in front, or 3 or 4 in front and 2 in rear... but i can not find anyone who makes drop springs or other suspension components for them...
also, will a set of 17" rims from an 97-00 F-150 fit my van properly?
thanks
joe
also, will a set of 17" rims from an 97-00 F-150 fit my van properly?
thanks
joe
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,011
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From: Maryville
OK, the front I beams have camber inserts, so it's possible to get it adjusted if you can get it dropped 2" in the front, but I have no clue where to find the springs, because I want to do exactly that with my 99 E-350. You may possibly get some coils made at a spring shop if there is still one in your area, but if camber can't be corrected, you'll need to find a big rig shop to see if they can bend the I-beans to correct the angle. I was told by a vanner that truck shops can bend the I-beams to set camber, these guys had the old non adjustible bushing style, pre 90's, it's still possible on ours. The rear is easy to get 2" out of, drop shackles, you can use the ones designed for trucks, made by Bell Tech.
Trucks changed the bolt pattern in 97 to Metric, so you can only go as high as 96, wasn't only a body style change, vans retain the old standard 5 on 5 1/2.
Trucks changed the bolt pattern in 97 to Metric, so you can only go as high as 96, wasn't only a body style change, vans retain the old standard 5 on 5 1/2.
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Ok thanks. I was thinking they were the metric pattern.
Wonder what is different about the truck springs? If they are the same dimensionally maybe I could get a spring rate and find a spring length/ rate to suit my needs
Wonder what is different about the truck springs? If they are the same dimensionally maybe I could get a spring rate and find a spring length/ rate to suit my needs
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,011
Likes: 131
From: Maryville
The vans are I-beam, trucks are a totally different suspension, won't fit. I do know you can lift your van using 3/4 ton van coils, the heavy duty 1/2 ton coils are the same ones used in 3/4 ton vans, found that out after installing a set in a friends E-150 to correct sagging caused by the handicap equipment wearing it out. The coils mount in a special way due to their design, I've had them out before, so they have to be for your application.
Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 58
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From: Woodbury
I put a 3in. front 4in. rear drop on my 01' E350 from airbagit.com, wish I wouldnt have it rides like crap,the front sway bar would hit the frame so i had to put coil spring spacers on the front,the rear bottoms out if you hit a moderately sized bump, this is handicap van,when i first got the van back from the shop that lowered it,it was leaning a good three inches to the right,wheel chair lift vans usually lean a little due to the weight of the lift and the fact that me and my chair weigh over 600lbs,lowering the van made the lean worse so i took it back to the shop and they put a spacer between the leaf sping and the rear end to fix the lean.
Elder User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 627
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From: NY, NY
People have de-arched the leaf springs and that has lowered and softened the rear. In front, I am not sure if any lowering has been successful. I went to a smaller profile tire for my E-150. For the 350 that might be not a good idea.
What components did you use from airbagit.com?
What components did you use from airbagit.com?
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Cross-Country
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Woodbury
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From: Beverly
My ex brother in law did this to a van once and though I don't recall all the effort it took I do recall he simply drilled new holes in his front spring towers and moved the tower up on the frame to achieve a lower stance. He had to do a little cutting on the bottom and reattach the bump stop. He took it to a shop for alignment but I am not sure what they did but it worked great, tires wore evenly and it maintained the factory ride comfort. I think in the rear hejust used shackles. Wish I remembered more.
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