I just bought a suspension nightmare please help.

[beazleybub]

Hi everyone,

I just purchased my first Astro today primarily to use as a workhorse pulling a small trailer and for trips to Lowes Etc.

The Astro was lowered and the seller said he had lowered it by cutting the front coil springs and flipping the rear axle". I Personally wasn't searching for a lowered Astro but came to like the way it looked so I went ahead and bought it.

On the drive home the rear suspension literally rode like it was straight out of a "Cheech & Chong" movie, constantly bottoming out and bouncing. When I got home I broke out the floor jack and received the shock of my life.

Instead of the axle being flipped the springs were flipped! Not only was the axle "NOT" flipped but it was completely missing a u-bolt nut on the drivers side and the u-bolt itself could be wiggled by hand. It has air shocks on the rear and they were completely shot. ( Completely explains the bounce and frame to axle slap. )

With all of this mess I painfully decided to set it back to stock but can't justify spending so much money on rebuilding the suspension. It looks like the springs are destroyed and I'm sure I will need new hardware. I tried searching locally for a donor Astro near the same year with no luck.

Here's my question...
Can I use a S10 or Blazer rear suspension to fix the Astro if I can find one? Does anybody have some suggestions on how I can fix the Astros suspension without going broke in the process. I'm willing to Frankenstein my ride a bit if I have to.

Please oh' won't you please help. I'm heartbroken!

[chevymaher]

Yes S-10 parts fit.Alot of threads on here with the information you need.Go to suspension and use search.Or just wait someone who has dealt with it will be along to help you shortly.Welcome to the site.

[trapper20]

S-10 springs will give you a lift, though. Do you mean your leaf springs are flipped upside-down? Are you sure they are shot?

[beazleybub]

Wow, Thanks for such fast replies.

Do you mean your leaf springs are flipped upside-down?

Yes, and they look like archery bows. ( I don't mean to imply my Astro has glass springs.)
The typical spring "U" shape is more like an "W" now this is why I think they are ruined.

If I can manage to get some stock Astro springs can I use these plates instead of the factory stock ones to mount the axle to them?
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Leaf-spring-plates_p_1486.html

[Lumpy]

If I can manage to get some stock Astro springs can I use these plates instead of the factory stock ones to mount the axle to them?
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Leaf-spring-plates_p_1486.html

To use those plates you'd have to grind off a bunch of metal from the existing spring perches. You also probably couldn't use them unless you lifted the rear or the edges of those plates would strike the body/frame channel above the axle.

Go, as Maher suggests, have a look through the LIFTED section of this category. Several of us have done a bunch of leaf and coil experiments. The "Build your own leaf pack" thread details my experiments with Astro and S-10 leaves AND with those very ballistic fab plates you're looking at.

Replacing the front coils is not the simplest job in the world, but ShadowExcalibur has done it like a dozen times. He's the expert in that. I've replaced mine but used 1 ton chev truck coils. Unless you're looking for mammoth lift, those probably aren't the most sane choice.

But there's lots of leaf and coil threads. From stock to lowered to 2-4-6-8 and more lift. Spend a few days rooting around there and ask about specifics. Benefit from our mistakes.


Lump

[beazleybub]

Thanks Lump,
I'll search those threads.

I'm not looking for any specific lift or drop but the most afortable means to restore my suspension to a useable state.
I really don't mind if I'm a bit higher than stock if it's going to be cheaper to go that route.

I'm open to any suggestions available.

[trapper20]

Pull the spring packs off and see if they retain their original arc. If they still look messed up, then they probably are. You will probably need to get coils and leaf packs from a junkyard from an Astro or Safari, 2wd S-10 springs might just work without giving you a lot of lift.

[beazleybub]

Thanks for all the replies. Trapper20, S10 Blazer or Pickup?

[Lumpy]

What part of the world are you in, beaz?
I've got all those parts, front and rear. If you're down the street, I'll sell 'em to you cheap. If you're across the universe, shipping would prolly kill you.

My garage is an AstroSafari lift experiment bone yard.


Lump

[beazleybub]

Lump, I'm in VA 24401.

Do you know the stock pack height off the top of your head? 97 Astro

[Lumpy]

Lump, I'm in VA 24401.

About 2500 miles from Phoenix.

You got U-Pull-It yards there? We can advise you on what to get.


Lump

[beazleybub]

No unfortuneately there's not any good salvage yards close by and the ones that are charge you like you owe them shark money. Lump, you are around 1800 miles from me.

[Lumpy]

Mine are the same way. They're hurtin in the economy crunch.

Can you post pics of what you have in there now?

Look on CraigsList for S-10 (or Astro) steel springs. The 4 cyl S-10s have less lift in their leaves than the 6 cyl. They are reversed to Astros. Rear eye on the S-10 becomes the front eye on the Astro.

Front coils aren't horribly expensive new from LAPS as Moog parts. ShadowExcalibur knows all the part numbers and how stiff they are. U bolts are cheap and you'll want new ones no matter what. The top and bottom pieces to the spring plates are going to be the most critical part of the project because they aren't made any more.


Lump

[beazleybub]

Thanks for the info. Can you sell me the spring plates?

I also found some springs
*95-04 S10, S15
*Leaves 4(3/1)
*Width 2-1/2
*Eye 26 x 28
*Pack 1-5/8
*Cap 1350 Lbs (A bit light though)
@ $129.99 ea.

I think they might fit. I just need to measure my pack thickness.

[trapper20]

How much free arc? I think that those will give you some lift. Which might just be a good thing.

[beazleybub]

Doesn't say how much free arc.

I'm probably just going to have to wait until a doner vehicle becomes available in my area.
Thanks for the help.

[Lumpy]

Here's those springs you're seeing as I experimented with them -
viewtopic.php?f=40&t=12783&start=100

Those will give you 2 inches of lift. That's the heavier of the two S-10 stock springs. The ligher version is 1100 lbs - 2+1. 1350 lbs seems to be the stock 3+1 Astro steel spring. In the pics in that thread they are the taller of the two S-10 spring sets. Once you gain 2 inches in the rear, you'll likely want to consider gaining 2 inches in the front. That 2" front boost is one of the simplest. You add 2" polycarb pucks to the three mounts on each side of the front subframe. The parts are pretty cheap. The most elaborate tool you need is a floor jack or something to lift your body a few inches off the subframe. Look around here for threads on body lift and you'll see pics and descriptions.

Those S-10s are 26" center hole to end eye on one side, 28" center hole to end eye on the other side. On your van you'll want the LONG, 28" side forward and the SHORT, 26" side rear. They are reversed in an S-10/Blazer. FRONT/LONG, SHORT/REAR in Astros.

If you have to replace the coils, but you're replacing them with stock coils, that too is pretty simple. Borrow a spring compressor from LAPS at no cost. You'll find several threads on that as well. You won't have to replace shocks if they're stock. Plenty of "How to's" here in this forum, this thread section.

If you do the above, you'll have a very mild 2" lift.

Sure. I'll sell you the plates, rubber things, bottom clamps etc. I'll gather them all up tomorrow and see what they weigh. Luckily that's the lightest part of the whole assembly.

Still be a great idea for you to post pics of what you have now. If you've got some parts and they're fine, no need to buy new stuff.


Lump

[beazleybub]

If you're interested I've found a place that sells brand new...

Upper spring plates @31.56 ea.
Lower spring plates @14.95 ea.
Front hangar @78.41 ea.
Rear shackle @30.19 ea.
Leaf Spring @159.50 ea.
Axle bumper @41.16 ea.
U bolt @7.13 ea.

They also carry the bolts.

gmpartsdirect.com also carries these parts and a bit cheaper too.

Upper spring plates @26.27 ea.
Lower spring plates @12.44 ea.
Front hangar @65.25 ea.
Rear shackle @25.12 ea.
Leaf Spring @159.50 ea. Don't carry
Axle bumper @34.25 ea.
U bolt @5.93 ea.

[trapper20]

Once you gain 2 inches in the rear, you'll likely want to consider gaining 2 inches in the front. That 2" front boost is one of the simplest. You add 2" polycarb pucks to the three mounts on each side of the front subframe.

If you want a little lift, this is the way to do it. Doesn't affect steering geometry at all, and makes spark plug changes and such a lot easier. I would replace those coils with stock coils, though, rather than leaving them, especially as this is a work van.

[Big_kid]

Pick N Pull here in Va Beach shows no Astros or Safari's in stock. Not surprised, they don't always have them. I guess that's good, keeping them on the road here. They do show 4 1st generation S-15's, s-10's are 89, 92 & 93, no S-10 blazers or Jimmy's.

Pricing is on the website.
http://www.picknpull.com