Good video on how to tell if you need new shock.. April 09, 2023, 04:30:38 pm We are investigating new shocks as we get a little more movement on the unlevel Baja roads then we get on the U.S. roads.This was a good video we saw I thought might be useful to others. https://youtu.be/ICTOl5aBqUsWe do not get most of these symptoms (and no road wandering or other symptoms) but we get some body roll (not nearly as bad as the video) so we figure it is time for new shocks. Great mechanics and shops here (like everywhere you gotta check them out) and labor costs about 25% of US costs, so looking at getting work done here.
Re: Good video on how to tell if you need new shock.. Reply #1 – April 09, 2023, 04:36:15 pm Quote from: Jane and Scott - April 09, 2023, 04:30:38 pmWe are investigating new shocks as we get a little more movement on the unlevel Baja roads then we get on the U.S. roads.This was a good video we saw I thought might be useful to others. https://youtu.be/ICTOl5aBqUsWe do not get most of these symptoms (and no road wandering or other symptoms) but we get some body roll (not nearly as bad as the video) so we figure it is time for new shocks. Great mechanics and shops here (like everywhere you gotta check them out) and labor costs about 25% of US costs, so looking at getting work done here. Our 1983 G-30 LD needed the strongest shocks possible due to the front shocks being less effective due to the steep mounting angle and the limited suspension travel.A set of Bilsteins helped a lot and is recommended.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Good video on how to tell if you need new shock.. Reply #2 – April 09, 2023, 09:20:21 pm Larry, yes I read bilsteins were recommended for our 89 Chevy g30 also (by LD folks on this forum, I did a search earlier this week because I know some didn’t like the bilstein in the shorter LD).Nice to know it was some of the early 90 Ford LD owners felt bilsteins are too stiff for them.We haven’t had some of the other issues that the earlier 80s Chevy owners had like porpoising or any type of lower front end.Larry - did your 1983 Chevy LD come with leafsprings? We have those in the rear and they look stock to us.
Re: Good video on how to tell if you need new shock.. Reply #3 – April 10, 2023, 02:43:27 am Quote from: Jane and Scott - April 09, 2023, 09:20:21 pmNice to know it was some of the early 90 Ford LD owners felt bilsteins are too stiff for them.Larry - did your 1983 Chevy LD come with leaf springs? We have those in the rear and they look stock to us.Bilsteins would probably be too stiff for a lightweight E350 chassis but were fine for our G30 Chevy.Our 1983 LD had leaf rear springs, just like every other LD. Air bags were added to the rear to adjust the ride height along with a Helwig sway bar and Bilstein shocks. For our usage, the G30 chassis was at its limits, and upgrading to an E450 was a night-to-day transition.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Good video on how to tell if you need new shock.. Reply #4 – April 10, 2023, 02:10:41 pm Larry, yes from reading your posts and others pre 1989 G30s were very different than ours, so I can believe that. We don’t have many of the issues you had though we do finally feel it when we are towing - on the 10% grades ww are hitting here. No performance change but we can feel we are towing (we couldn’t at 6% grades). 1 Likes
Re: Good video on how to tell if you need new shock.. Reply #5 – May 31, 2023, 11:26:26 pm I replaced the shocks in Harvey (1989 22’) with Koni’s in the front and Bilstiens in the rear. I also had the front suspension rebuilt and put in a new steering box. Now it drives really well and makes the long drives much more pleasant. 1 Likes