[Crabnife]

Didn't know where to put this. Not lifted, or lowered, but I want to upgrade to aftermarket things. It was either here or General.

Okay, searching around on here I found that the recommended things are a rear sway bar (can I use a front sway?) and a new set of shocks. I am aiming for a tighter and comfier ride, if that's possible.

Parts:
There were 2 recommendations for sway bars:

Belltech
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/BEL-5528/?image=large

Hellwig
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HEL-7534/?image=large

Now, from what I read, the sway bar really helps with body roll, but nothing else. So I guess I need new shocks for a better feel? Should I look at springs? Some people tell me just lowering the van can increase handling, but I have a hard time believing that. All you're doing is moving the center of gravity a few inches down, or am I missing something?

Helpful quote I found:

-As for Bilstiens, they are a very stiff shock and will give a very stiff and choppy ride. If you really want to improve handling, then I would recommend a rear sway bar (Belltech or Helwig) with a set of Munroe Sensa-Trac or Reflex shocks to tune-it up properly. This will give you good handling and ride.

I looked up the Munroe shocks and got a little confused. I am a beginner. I know there are some differences in AWD, just don't know everything. I looked them up on summit and found an AWD specific front end set for the Sensa-Trac but not the Reflex. I don't know if I should look anywhere else for them. I don't know enough about them yet.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/year ... s=Rank|Asc

(dunno if that link works for you. went to summit put in van info (2000 gmc safari) and looked for Munroe Shocks and Struts)

Is there anything else I should look at? I'm not completely sold on any of these things yet. Throw some opinions, please.

Install:
If you have any tips about it, I'd love to hear them. Do I have to drill holes in the frame for the sway bar?

Any ideas about the shocks? For front I've read to cut, or get a large amount of torque on, the top bolt and make sure to jack it up high enough to slide the old one out and the new one in. Is anything different because it's AWD? Haven't seen much on the rear shocks, I assume they are easier?

That's it for now. Thanks for reading.

P.s. - I love pictures

 

[ihatemybike]

As far as I know, all of these vans come with front sway bars. I believe there is a larger diameter front sway bar available from the aftermarket.

Looking at my current vans they both have hexagon holes for installing nutserts that the stock FE2 package rear sway bar connects to. If your handling goal is to jam through curves/corners then the anti-roll benefit of the rear sway bar will help.

New shocks will probably help your handing the most. They are seriously easy on the AWD vans just a matter of pulling a couple bolts. Putting them in, I support the body to let the suspension hang, install the top bolt, then use a jack to raise the lower mount till it lines up.

Springs tend to last a pretty long time under these vans as most don't have them loaded to capacity very often. If the van is noticeably sagging then you'll definitely want new springs, but I doubt you'll really need them.

Grumpy is still on it's original shocks and springs. The ride height is good and the shocks were ok, but I recently had a front shock puke oil. Not too bouncy yet, but I really should get to replacing it.

 

[Jasen]

You'd be amazed at how a few inch's lower will improve cornering.
I took an 80 Buick S/W from 7" down to 4.25" Them little coffee can mufflered lowered honda's couldn't get out of my way fast enough in the turns.
I could take a right hand turn at 40 mph and barely chirp a tire. I would turn so quickly at speed that in a left hand turn many a passenger would smack their head on the side window. That's what they got for saying things like, whats the point of lowering a S/W.
Add in the roll bars to reduce the body roll and some good springs, shocks and some 3 ply side wall low profile tires and your going to be cornering at break neck speed.
But cornering and smooth ride don't really go together. You can come to a happy medium, but you can't have F1 cornering and a smooth 72 DeVille boat ride.
These day's they give you a smooth ride and good handling with computer controlled active suspensions.

 

[Crabnife]

Doing this on my phone, hope it works. Thanks for the quick responses

So, sway bar and shocks are going to happen. Lowering may happen. I just don't know if there are any differences between the two sway bars I listed. Same deal on the shocks. I don't wanna get the wrong ones.

 

[Jasen]

Bigger is better. The Belltech is 7/8" the Hellwig is 3/4" It doesn't say, but the red bushing might be urethane. Urethane is stiffer, but sometimes they get squeaky. Go the the Mfgr's sight.

 

[doyoulikeithere]

Big is good. But -
how much weight are you usually packing around.
Do ya have fibersprings?? You could easily build an astro to ride like a rock with all the heavy duty stuff out there.
My stock rear sway bar is way less than 7/8s but it works real good. My van is light.
How much weight?
Do yo tow heavy trailers? is your van loaded up with tools and cement mixers, or nothing but a subwoofer and one passenger ?

Oh ya, no matter what sway bar you use, good shocks can be the biggest improvement of all.
The GT came stock with :
RPO FE3 : SUSPENSION SYSTEM, SPORT
RPO FG3 : SHOCK ABSORBERS, FRT & RR, GAS PRELOADED
RPO F61 : STABILIZER SHAFT,RR

 

[Crabnife]

I may help with the occasional "move" and I've got a hitch, but no trailer. So my normal load is passenger based. Nothing crazy.

If we come stock with fiberglass then that is what I have. Other than that I have never looked and as of right now I am far from my van so I can't tell ya.

I looked into the bushings, on both bars they are polyurethane. As far as noise goes, if greased properly it shouldn't be a problem. So that's good news. It's sounds like I should go with the 7/8 Belltech over the 3/4 Hellwig if all it comes down to is diameter.

Now to shocks!

Do I need to get specific ones for AWD?
It looks like I can't just get 4 of the same. I have to get 2 front and 2 rear specific.
Sensa-trac or Reflex?
Other brands?
Other places to buy?

 

[Leeann_93]

For a 2000 AWD Astro:

http://www.shockwarehouse.com/index.cfm?mode=results&selected_model=3769&selected_year=2000

I don't know about their prices, but they have the part numbers listed for you, at least. And yes, they are AWD-specific.

 

[Crabnife]

Okay, time to share. I looked around for some more info on shocks. That site that Leeann posted is great. I think I will be buying the Sensa-trac for front and rear.

I found this on Monroe's site. Thought it was worth posting (in case someone finds this in a search):

http://www.monroe.com/catalog/shockselector.asp

I plan on ordering these and the sway bar soon and I will post more when I get them. I'll try for pics of what I receive and pics or maybe video of install. Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.

P.S.- just changed my mind about the sway bar. Gonna go with the hellwig, it's made of 4140 chromemoly and looks like it may be an easier install.

 

[doyoulikeithere]

:thumbup:

 

[91astroluv]

Glad to see you have gained perspective and direction!

Sometimes in order to make the decision we astro beings need to talk it out and
share with everyone.

Direction is good it leads to productivity. A very kindered spirit once told me "It takes steps to walk the path, sometimes many steps"

Trip

 

[Crabnife]

Couple months old. Been busy

Updates!

Sway bar came in.

In that picture you can see up at the top of the box there was another box. All of the parts that aren't the bar were in there. Not the best design in the world. I think someone dropped the box on it's side and out came all those parts. Not a big deal, they are all heavy duty items and if they were to get messed up from hitting each other, well it just wouldn't be good. So I consider this a sort of test. It passed. :lol:

He's what the small parts look like.

I have already installed the bar and I will be getting pics of it to you soon. My shocks came in the other day, I'll be keeping you updated. I'd be installing today, but it's raining.

P.s. - If the pictures look cut off, try maximizing your browser window or right clicking on the pic and hitting "View Image"

 

[astroturf]

What brand did you end up with? Who did you buy from? Thanks, Jim

 

[Crabnife]

That is the Hellwig bar and I purchased it from summit.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HEL-7534/

.

 

[Mr_Bowtie]

That is definatly a nice addition that our Vans should have had from the factory! Can't wait to hear how better the handling is. :chevy:

 

[astroturf]

That is the Hellwig bar and I purchased it from summit.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HEL-7534/

.

Any reason for Hellwig over Belltech? Thanks, Jim

 

[doyoulikeithere]

Just FYI.
I have now been daily driving my safari GT with a factory sway bar for about a month or so.
I really notice a huge diffrence in cornering traction and way less one wheel burn out or slip if your on the throttle around a corner.
I like it. I bet Crabniite will like his too. PS My 4x4 stro project is getting underway finally.
Your right, it should have been a stock part. It was an option instead. Sure helps it corner!

 

[Crabnife]

I picked the Hellwig because it is 3/4" chromoly as opposed to the Belltech being 7/8" Steel. And it looked like a much easier install. It really was very easy.

As far as a difference in performance goes, for normal grandma style driving I haven't seen a lot. But, for higher speeds it seems to help a lot. Hopefully these new Sensa-Trac Shocks seal the deal.

 

[astroturf]

I picked the Hellwig because it is 3/4" chromoly as opposed to the Belltech being 7/8" Steel. And it looked like a much easier install. It really was very easy.

As far as a difference in performance goes, for normal grandma style driving I haven't seen a lot. But, for higher speeds it seems to help a lot. Hopefully these new Sensa-Trac Shocks seal the deal.

Did you complete the install yet? Jim

 

[Crabnife]

I'm not very good at updating.

Maybe it's because my van feels so nice to drive that I do that instead of posting on here. But really, these shocks are great. My having an AWD van helped a little

They weren't bad at all to take out or install. I am very happy with the end result. I recommend these shocks and a sway bar to everyone on the forum. I'll try and remember to get some pics of the sway bar installed.